Fairmont Century Plaza

Character and identity

A reborn 1966 landmark on Avenue of the Stars, Fairmont Century Plaza emerged from a $2.5 billion rehabilitation in 2021 with its Minoru Yamasaki curve intact and Yabu Pushelberg interiors layered over the mid-century bones. The 16-storey, 400-room property (85 suites, two Fairmont Gold floors) leans airy and neutral: blonde wood, white linens, grey marble baths. Lumière, a thrifted-in-Paris brasserie, anchors the dining; a rooftop pool, lobby bar with musician-themed playlists, and a 14,000-square-foot spa with biohacking treatments round out the offer. Service is warm and familiar without being stiff, right down to the resident black lab.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw here is the package: a serious spa-and-fitness floor, Lumière's genuinely accomplished brasserie cooking, and a central location that puts most of LA within a 20-minute drive. Couples and business travellers should book a westward room above the seventh floor for ocean-leaning balcony views, or upgrade to Fairmont Gold for the private lounge and martini cart. Watch for the 2025 subway opening to reshape access.