The Figueroa Hotel’s Badia Suite with a balcony and canopy bed.

By Leah Hennen

Step into the Figueroa Hotel and you're transported thousands of miles from downtown Los Angeles to the sultry souks and opulent walled gardens of Marrakech. A Moroccan fantasy complete with silk-tented ceilings, sari fabrics, and handwoven rugs, the Figueroa is an out-of-country experience—one block from the Staples Center sports and entertainment arena.

Built as a YWCA in 1925, the hotel has a storied—some would say
seedy—history. Troops awaiting deployment were housed there during World War II . Then the Figueroa spent many decades as a
down-at-the-heels residential hotel, hosting monthly guests.

These days, you're much more likely to spot an up-and-coming starlet poolside at the lush, mosaicencrusted Veranda Bar, where you also get a gasp-inducing view of the glittering Los Angeles skyline. From $134. (800) 421-9092, www.figueroahotel.com.