Silver Lake Hotels

A stay at an independently owned, intentionally small hotel in a cool, locals-only neighborhood is the opposite of tick-the-box travel. Instead of rushing madly through every zip code of a sprawling city, why not cozy up into one especially pretty corner, live like one of those locals, and actually, relax? The Silver Lake Pool & Inn hits all the right style notes when it comes to an intimate hotel oasis far from Hollywood’s tourist trail. Palisociety has renovated all fifty-four former motel rooms and communal spaces to reflect the mid-century modern (with bright accents) vibe of the neighborhood. The al fresco bar and restaurant sit adjacent to the rooftop pool (afternoon Aperol spritzes are encouraged) while the menu is all oysters, tasty pasta, and perfectly grilled steaks. Silver Lake’s little secret is its walkability. Skip dinner in the hotel and hit the streets—a cocktail at Bar Stella, the best Thai outside Thailand at Night + Market Song, stellar shopping at Mohawk, and of course, a lap around the reservoir.