Vegas-loving Angelenos clamor to be part of the pool scene at the W Hollywood.
Annenberg Community Beach House
For the longest pool in Santa Monica, visit this Gold LEED-rated community beach house opened three years ago on the beachfront site of Marion Davies’s 1929 mega manse. Open almost daily throughout the summer (no membership is needed), the four- to eight-foot-deep, temperature-controlled pool isn’t the only reason to visit for a day—stand-up paddleboarding, yoga classes, beach volleyball, and guest-house docent tours provide fun for the whole family. 415 Pacific Coast Hwy., Santa Monica, 310-458-4904
Custom Hotel
This Joie de Vivre hotel’s location near LAX is a bit off the beaten path, but its pool scene is surprisingly hot. Here, the focus isn’t as much about the pool as it is what’s around it, namely an immense deck that holds hundreds of stylish, cocktail-swilling partygoers for all-day blowouts set to the beats of rotating DJs. 8639 Lincoln Blvd., LA, 310-645-0400
Hollywood Roosevelt
This historic hotel is home to the Tropicana Pool, which boasts a David Hockney mural painted on its bottom. The heated pool regularly floats starlets and the fashion set, who sprawl out on lounge chairs and sip mojitos from the Tropicana Bar when they’re not going for a swim. The spot is also well known for its popular Tuesday-night parties, which have seen revelers hanging by the fire pits and going for moonlit dips well into the wee hours of the morning. 7000 Hollywood Blvd., LA, 323-466-7000
SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Six stories up, the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills’ Altitude Pool has all the swagger and idyllic views one could ask for. Open to hotel guests, visitors to SLS’s Ciel Spa, and outside guests for lunch (weekdays only this summer), the vast reflecting and plunge pools—and seven decked-out cabanas—provide the perfect setting for exotic cocktails and summery fare by celebrated chef José Andrés. 465 S. La Cienega Blvd., LA, 310-247-0400
The Standard Downtown LA
One of the most rocking pool scenes in the city, this Downtown rooftop offers a whole lot more than just a cool escape on a sweltering day. Open at noon daily, the pool’s Saturday and Sunday parties—which feature DJs and sometimes live bands—are a hot ticket on LA’s summertime scene. On off days, the Biergarten, poolside waterbed pods, and Quiksilver bikini and board-short vending machine draw LA’s hippest, hottest sunbathers. 550 S. Flower St., LA, 213-892-8080
Thompson Beverly Hills
It’s worth an overnight stay at this sophisticated, boutique-y Beverly Hills spot to gain entrance to the scenic rooftop pool for a day of chic lazing around. Take a seat on one of the plush chaise lounges, or, for a more decadent experience, book a private cabana and indulge in spiked punch, organic juice elixirs, massages, or even manicures featuring Chanel and Dior’s hottest summer shades. 9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, 310-273-1400
W Hollywood
For a scene as close to Las Vegas as you’ll get in LA, the W Hotel’s rooftop pool is your best bet. Not checked in? No problem! In fact, sometimes the scene here is so popular, even hotel guests have trouble getting in. One thing’s for sure: If you’re looking to dance, imbibe, and cool off, get in line. Just remember to adhere to the “upscale beachwear” dress code. 6250 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 323-798-1300
