Lights, camera, vacation: Our favorite Los Angeles hotels from the movies

Everyone knows that LA is the center of the film universe, but it is also home to some of the finest hotels in the country. What happens when the two industries collide? Beautiful onscreen magic. Whether it’s Julia Roberts and Richard Gere rolling around the Presidential Suite of Beverly Wilshire in Pretty Woman or Arnold Schwarzenegger riding a horse into a Westin Bonaventure Hotel elevator in True Lies, Los Angeles loves to give its hotels their fifteen minutes of fame on the big screen.

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1

The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, United States

The Westin Bonaventure's elegant and modern glass exterior has become a common backdrop for some pretty memorable movie moments. In In The Line Fire (1993), a Secret Service Agent played by Clint Eastwood chases a man trying to kill the president, played by John Malkovich, through the hotel. The Westin's best known movie moment also involves a chase, when Arnold Schwarzenegger rides through the lobby and up an elevator on horseback in True Lies (1994).

Other Movies Filmed Here Include:

  • Wonderland (2003)
  • Heat (1995)
  • Forget Paris (1995)
  • Nick of Time (1993)
  • Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)
  • Rain Main (1988)
  • Blue Thunder (1983)
2

Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, United States

The list of movies attached to this classic downtown hotel is one of the longest in Los Angeles. Plus, the hotel was a host to the Academy Awards Ceremony eight times in the 1930s and '40s. Most of the hotel can be seen as Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray's team of paranormal detectives are chased around in the Biltmore's Main Galleria in Ghost Busters (1984). (Hotel not actually haunted.... we hope).

Other movies filmed here include:

  • Wedding Crashers (2005)
  • Rumor Has It (2005)
  • Criminal (2004)
  • Daredevil (2004)
  • House of Sand and Fog (2003)
  • Cruel Intentions (1999)
  • Independence Day (1996)
  • The Bodyguard (1992)
  • Pretty in Pink (1986)
  • Splash (1984)
  • The Sting (1973)
  • Vertigo (1958)
3

The Hollywood Roosevelt

Los Angeles, California, United States

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel sits directly on Hollywood Boulevard and The Walk of Fame, so of course it has found its way onto the big screen. Not only a popular hotel, but a popular party location, The Roosevelt is alive and well with Hollywood culture at all times of the year. Its hallways became a staple in Steven Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002) as Leonardo DiCaprio's con-man character Frank Abagnale Jr. has a close run in with FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, played by Tom Hanks. It was also seen recently in the revival of famous L.A. based tv-show 90201.

Other movies filmed here include:

  • Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
  • Crossroads (2002)
  • Mighty Joe Young (1998)
  • Internal Affairs (1990)
  • The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
  • Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
4

Chateau Marmont

West Hollywood, California, United States

Located on the north end of the Sunset Strip, Chateau Marmont is a true piece of Hollywood history. This celeb favorite has seen its fair share of Hollywood scandals, at least one of which has been portayed in a movie: Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison once hurt his back here while dangling from a drain pipe, trying to swing from the roof into the window of his hotel room, and Oliver Stone filmed on location to depict the event in his film The Doors (1991). Most recently, Sofia Coppola chose the Chateau Marmont as the setting for her new movie Somewhere (2010), most of which was filmed at the hotel.

Other movies filmed here include:

  • Rock Star (2001)
  • Four Rooms (1995)
  • Myra Breckenrdige (1970)
5

Beverly Wilshire Beverly Hills (A Four Seasons Hotel)

Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Beverly Hills, California, United States

The Beverly Wilshire is the #1 rated luxury hotel in Los Angeles on Oyster.com, and for good reason. Edward Lewis and Vivian Ward (playd by Richard Gere and Julia Roberts) shacked up together in the Presidential Suite here in Pretty Woman (1991) -- you may remember Vivian's roommate scribbling Reg. Bev. Wil. on a pizza box in red lipstick. The hotel's location on Wilshire Blvd., across the street from the world-famous shopping of Rodeo Drive, was ideal for Vivian's famous shopping spree.

Other movies filmed here include:

  • Bulworth (1998)
  • Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
  • Beverly Hillbillies (1993)
  • Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
6

The Beverly Hilton

Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Beverly Hills, California, United States

The Beverly Hilton is a true staple of Hollywood glamour, and has been host to the Golden Globes since 1961. The hotel recently was the backdrop for Frost/Nixon (2009), which tells the story of the 1977 interviews between British reporter David Frost and former President Richard Nixon.

Movies filmed here include:

  • To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
  • Bigger Than Life (1956)
7

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Beverly Hills/Bel Air, Beverly Hills, California, United States

The so-called "pink palace" is one of the most famous and historic buildings in all of Beverly Hills. Famous for its beautiful grounds, elegant restaurants, and excellent service, this place was made for the camera. Detroit Cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) can be seen on these famous grounds as he tries to solve his best friend's murder in Beverly Hills Cop (1984).

Other movies filmed here include:

  • Anywhere But Here (1999)
  • Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
  • The Bad and the Beautiful (1952)
8

Sunset Tower Hotel

West Hollywood, California, United States

The Sunset Tower is an iconic piece of West Hollywood Art Deco architecture and is designated as a National Historic Place. Located directly on the Sunset Strip, its beautiful weather and surroundings lent themselves to memorable poolside scenes in The Player (1992), starring Tim Robbins and Peter Gallagher.

Other movies filmed here include:

  • The Italian Job (2003)
  • Get Shorty (1995)
  • Strange Days (1995)