Even Locals Would Book a Weekend at These Stylish City Hotels

Every year the Sunset Travel Awards honor the best in travel in the West. This year we had over 600 entries across all categories (a record number!). These hotels are the 2023 winners of the Where to Stay: Best City Stays category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive directory to travel in the West, click here.

Best City Stays

The Graduate Palo Alto

Graduate Palo Alto

Just blocks from Stanford University, inside what was formerly the historic Hotel President, the newly opened Graduate layers maximalist design with bones of the building’s 1920s Spanish Colonial architecture. Far from your typical college bar, the rooftop offers spirits-forward craft cocktails to be savored while watching the sunset over Palo Alto.

Thompson Denver

Thomas J. Story

This hot hotel is located in Lodo, a hip ‘hood chock full of trendy restaurants, bars, and the Insta-famous immersive installation Meow Wolf. The rooftop bar, Reynard Social, boasts sweeping views of both the city and the Rockies, and the downstairs brasserie, Chez Maggy, helmed by chef Ludo Lefebvre, is well worth a visit, too.

Kimpton La Peer

Kimpton La Peer

This art-driven, stylish property in the heart of WeHo’s design district clearly reflects the vibe of its neighborhood, with airy communal spaces adorned with exquisitely curated art. On weekends you can play pickleball on the rooftop while a D.J. lays down tracks to set the pace.

Pendry West Hollywood

Christian Horan Photography

The tone for your stay is immediately set upon walking into the ultra-slick, modern hotel lobby, which includes an oversize piece of LED art by Anthony James. That air of high-end Hollywood glam is made complete while sipping champagne on the rooftop at one of Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants while doing some of the city’s most impressive people watching.

Orli La Jolla

William Edwards, Orli La Jolla

A unique combination of residential perfection and modern hospitality in a beautifully restored 1910-era residence originally designed by Irving Gill. With just 13 design-forward rooms, Orli offers an intimate and personalized experience, complete with yoga events, a music series, and easy access to the best restaurants and shops in La Jolla.

The Hotel Chaco

Nick Merrick

This sleek addition to Albuquerque’s lodging options was architecturally inspired by the Chaco Canyon UNESCO World Heritage Site and combines cutting-edge design and sustainability. Rooms with balconies and the Southwestern-themed rooftop restaurant and bar Level 5 serve up equally spectacular views.

The Beacon Grand

Paul Dyer Photography

The iconic Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco has been reborn after extensive renovation and lives up to its name in grandeur, with a dose of modern style. The guestrooms and public spaces pay homage to its past with an elegant and chic nod to the future: with whimsical custom wallpaper and lush rich blues and oak, and cocktail-centric dining options.