Hotels in Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is the polished, affluent end of Los Angeles's South Bay: a small, wealthy beach city of pricey homes, surf culture and serious beach volleyball, with the long Manhattan Beach Pier and The Strand, the paved path that runs along the sand for walkers, runners and cyclists. The compact downtown around Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard is lively and walkable, packed with cafés, restaurants and boutiques. Be honest: it is expensive, parking near the water is a constant battle on summer weekends, and it is a beach town rather than a sightseeing base.

LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, the Natural History Museum and Union Station all mean a long drive through notorious LA traffic. Its real practical advantage is proximity to LAX, just a few miles north, which makes it a far more pleasant first or last night than an airport strip hotel. Stay in downtown near the pier if you want to walk to the beach and restaurants, or along Sepulveda Boulevard if you need easier parking and quicker airport access.