"As soon as you check in to this 1930s Hollywood institution, you feel the sudden urge to go absolutely nowhere. You’ll just want to sink into one of the cushy sofas in the baronial lobby. Or amble down to the old-school oval pool, pick up the landline tucked into the white brick wall, and order yourself a bottle of chilled rosé and a side of hot, crispy fries. And come cocktail hour, a gravitational pull will lure you to the carpeted harem-like courtyard for a drink with friends (because when you stay at the Chateau, your friends will want to come hang with you). The rooms—whether you’re in the big main building or one of the cottages past the pool among the rambling gardens—evoke a Los Angeles familiar from noir films: 1950s kitchenettes, Art Deco furniture and carpeting, and tiled bathrooms that are a bit more about charm than function. And, ultimately, that’s what the Chateau is all about: charm. Yes, it can be a bit wonky, and maybe the service isn’t always exactly snap-to-attention Four Seasons caliber. But hotelier André Balazs has artfully found a way to make this relic as vital, fun, and one of a kind as any hotel in the country. PRO MOVE: Will you see celebrities when you’re at the Chateau? Yes. So when you do, just like it's no big deal. Even if it is. THE DETAILS: Rooms from $435" - Condé Nast
