Cool L.A. Hotel Pools

By Rachel B. Levin
October 04, 2013
Courtesy of the W Hollywood
Los Angeles’s year-round mild weather means there’s never a definitive end to pool-party season. These five hotel pool decks have scenes so sizzling that you’ll need to take a plunge to cool down. Best of all: you don’t have to be a hotel guest to partake in the wet fun.
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Altitude Pool Deck at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

Courtesy of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

The pool is almost beside the point at this Philippe Starck–designed rooftop deck. A glittering crowd of jet-setters comes to survey the city views, nibble on light fare by José Andrés, soak up DJ sets, and chill out in private cabanas equipped with mini-bars, MP3 docs, and DVD players.

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Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Pool and Tropicana Bar

Courtesy of Thompson Hotels

This legendary pool boasting art by David Hockney was once the province of stars like Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. Today, bikini-clad starlets-in-training sun themselves on mod loungers by day, while by night a sexy crowd of scenesters sips cocktails from the Tropicana Bar poolside. Don’t miss the raucous pool parties.

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The Pool at Mondrian Los Angeles

Courtesy of the Mondrian Los Angeles Hotel

A teak deck, blooming vines, comfy wicker furniture, underwater music, and stunning city views make this pool area a rather exceptional “outdoor living room.” After dark, glowing lanterns hung from the trees create a romantic scene, and the poolside lounge Skybar heats up with a hot Hollywood throng.

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The Rooftop at The Standard, Downtown

Courtesy of The Standard, Downtown LA

Floating amid downtown skyscrapers, this trendy pool deck (covered in red Astroturf, no less) hosts an impossibly hip crowd. Never mind the pool: most of the cool kids seem more interested in the dance floor with nightly DJs, the biergarten, and the fireplace (while others retreat to the waterbed pods for some privacy).

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WET Deck at W Hollywood

Courtesy of the W Hollywood

On Sundays from noon to 6 p.m., this Hollywood rooftop deck hosts an all-out Vegas-style pool party. The tunes are loud, the vibe is “see and be seen,” the patrons are perfectly tanned, and “upscale” swimwear is de rigueur. Get there early to nab a lounger, or reserve one of the elite cabanas.

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