Los Angeles Great Values

This recently-restored Art Deco jewel maintains the understated glamour of its golden-era heyday. Head for the Terrace bar for poolside pom-tinis and panoramic views of Los Angeles.

For the young and the hip, the Standard is the hot place to stay, see, and be seen. Set smack dab in the middle of Sunset, the hotel boasts a trendy atmosphere with minimalist decor and outlandish accents. It’s a retro-chic hideout complete with bean bags, shag carpeting on the floor (and even on the ceiling), and blue Astroturf galore – by the pool, on private balconies, and lining terraces. The Standard's pool and quirky cafe are happening spots for the fashionista crowd, who drop by to sip cocktails and nibble some of the best comfort food in town, from guacamole and grilled squid, to matzo-ball soup. The modern and comfortable rooms come with a 60s throwback: platform beds. You’ll also find other evidence of the kitschy decade in the form of Andy Warhol print drapes. The rooms also feature private balconies; aroma therapy oils; mini-bars; 24-hour room service; and top-of-the-line amenities, like cordless speakerphones with data ports. Some of the cheapest rooms face Sunset, so bring your earplugs if you want to sleep soundly.

A downtown outpost of the Standard also exists, at 550 South Flower Street (213/892-8080; www.standardhotel.com).

L.A. owes much of its reinvention as a high-brow culture capital to starchitect Richard Meier's travertine marble art institution, perched in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. A tram ride up the hill followed by a stroll through the museum's gorgeous gardens makes one forget all about the traffic snarls below. Tues-Fri 10am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-5:30pm.

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