Rooftop views and photo ops: where to get the best city skyline shots
Head to the hotel’s top floors — LA Prime (35th) and the revolving BonaVista Lounge (34th) — or book a high-floor room with a city-facing window for sweeping skyline shots. For dramatic interior skyline frames, use the atrium and Lobby Court for foreground interest; the Plaza Pool Deck also gives elevated outdoor views over Downtown LA.
In this guide
Rooftop & top-floor vantage points
The hotel's highest public viewpoints are LA Prime on the 35th floor and the BonaVista Lounge on the 34th floor. Both offer panoramic views over Downtown Los Angeles and work well for wide skyline panoramas.
For event-style or unobstructed terrace photos, the Plaza Pool Deck and other rooftop event terraces (when open for events) provide elevated outdoor sightlines across the Financial District and toward the west.
- LA Prime (35th floor) — dinner service with panoramic windows; best for dusk and night skyline shots with interior framing.
- BonaVista Lounge (34th floor) — revolving lounge with 360° views; good for sunset to blue-hour transitions.
- Plaza Pool Deck — outdoor deck on the fourth floor with broad Downtown views (use for daytime and golden-hour shots).
| Spot | Best time to shoot |
|---|---|
| LA Prime (35th floor) | Sunset / Blue hour |
| BonaVista Lounge (34th floor) | Sunset to night |
| Plaza Pool Deck | Late afternoon to golden hour |
LA Prime and BonaVista Lounge — skyline dining and cocktail frames
LA Prime and BonaVista Lounge are the hotel's best options if you want skyline photos that include a dining or bar foreground. LA Prime's windows face the city from the 35th floor and are useful for composed shots that combine table settings with city lights.
BonaVista Lounge revolves slowly, so plan compositions around the view you want when you sit. Seating is generally first-come-first-served at the lounge; LA Prime takes reservations and has a semi-private dining room option if you need a controlled setup.
- LA Prime — reservations recommended; closed Monday–Tuesday.
- BonaVista Lounge — casual dress, first-come-first-served seating; last seating is typically one hour before close.
- Ask staff if you can step near windows briefly for a quick handheld shot; be courteous to other guests.
| Venue | Typical hours (published) |
|---|---|
| LA Prime | Evening dinner hours; closed Mon–Tue |
| BonaVista Lounge | Evening cocktail hours; closed Mon–Tue |
Atrium, Lobby Court and interior framing
The hotel’s multi-level atrium with circular balconies and water features creates dramatic interior foregrounds for skyline shots taken from inside the building. Use the glass elevators, balconies and Lobby Court seating to add depth and scale.
Include the atrium’s water feature or circular balcony lines in the foreground to contrast the vertical city skyline outside the windows, or shoot through the atrium glass for layered compositions.
- Use wide-angle lenses to capture both the atrium structure and distant skyline.
- Try vertical compositions that align the cylindrical architecture with downtown towers.
- Respect guest flow near elevators and seating areas; tripod use may be restricted in busy public spaces.
| Interior spot | Look for |
|---|---|
| Lobby Court / Atrium | Water features, circular balconies, glass elevator lines |
| Glass elevator levels | Framed city windows and vertical motion blur possibilities |
| Lobby seating near windows | Seated foreground subjects with skyline backdrop |
Plaza Pool Deck and outdoor pool angles
The fourth-floor Plaza Pool Deck offers a heated outdoor pool, lounge seating, and elevated outdoor sightlines toward the downtown skyline. It’s a good daytime platform for clear panoramas and sunrise or late-afternoon golden light.
Because the deck is an active guest area, plan for candid lifestyle shots (loungers, reflections) or time visits for quieter windows to set up more deliberate compositions.
- Use reflections in shallow pool water to double the skyline in your composition.
- Bring polarizing filters to reduce glare on bright days and enhance sky contrast.
- Check access rules for event setups if you need unrestricted use of the deck.
| Feature | Best use for photos |
|---|---|
| Pool edge and loungers | Lifestyle and foreground interest |
| Deck perimeter | Wide skyline panoramas |
| Fire pit area (for events) | Evening ambience and city-light shots |
Rooms with the best city-window shots
Choose a high-floor room or suite with a city-facing window for private skyline photography. Room types with city views include Traditional Room, Grand Room, Suite, 1 Bedroom, Tower and the various Suite, 1 Bedroom options with tower views.
For long exposures and night photography, request a corner or higher-floor room (subject to availability) and bring a compact tripod or use in-room furniture for stabilization.
- Suggested room names to request: Grand Room; Suite, 1 Bedroom, Tower; Suite, 1 Bedroom.
- Ask the front desk about high-floor city-facing availability at check-in (3:00 PM standard).
- Be mindful of in-room window reflections: turn off interior lights for cleaner night shots.
| Room type | Why it works |
|---|---|
| Grand Room | Typically higher floors with city views |
| Suite, 1 Bedroom, Tower | Separate living areas and larger windows for framing |
| Traditional Room | Good for quick window shots on higher floors |
Timing, gear and composition tips
Golden hour and blue hour are the most reliable windows for skyline images: late afternoon into sunset for warm light, then blue hour for building lights and cooler tones. Los Angeles coastal marine layer can affect early-morning clarity, especially in late spring.
Bring a small tripod, remote shutter or use a stable surface in-room for long exposures. A wide-angle zoom plus a mid-telephoto (70–200mm equivalent) will cover both wide panoramas and compressed tower details.
- Turn off room lights when shooting night views through glass to reduce reflections.
- Use a polarizer during daytime to reduce window glare and enhance sky contrast.
- For reflections, position yourself low at the pool edge or use windows with visible foreground elements (tables, railings) for layered shots.
| Time | Why |
|---|---|
| Late afternoon / Golden hour | Warm light and long shadows for depth |
| Blue hour | Balanced city lights and sky color for dramatic images |
| Overcast days | Even lighting for architectural details without harsh shadows |
