Last updated on January 31st, 2026
Located less than a mile away from Los Angeles International Airport, Sonesta Los Angeles Airport is an excellent choice if you are looking for a great hotel near LAX.
We recently enjoyed a couple of days at this hotel, and I am excited to share this Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX review with you!
The hotel just completed a $42 million dollar renovation, including upgrades to the guest rooms and public areas, and after experiencing the space I can honestly say it was money well spent! Sonesta balances modern design with practical conveniences – like a free airport shuttle and lots of places to eat. Plus they have 24 hour room service, and if you have ever landed late and checked into a hotel at midnight, you know what a gift that can be!
Here’s what it’s like staying at Sonesta Los Angeles Airport Hotel.
Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX At-A-Glance
- One of the closest hotels to LAX
- Four on-site restaurants with a variety of cuisines, plus 24-hour room service
- Spacious, soundproofed guest rooms (important since you’re so close to the airport)
- 24/7 free airport shuttle runs every 20 to 30 minutes.
- Fitness center
- Family-friendly conveniences like in-room refrigerators and Keurig coffee makers
- Small heated pool
Sonesta Los Angeles Airport Review
If you’re flying in or out of Los Angeles and want a comfortable hotel that works for both kids and adults, the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX is a great choice. This large, newly renovated property offers lots of upscale comforts and amenities for a very reasonable nightly room rate.
We felt at home from the moment we arrived. The lobby and check-in area is cozy and upscale, not cold like you might expect at an airport property. Service was super friendly, from the valet to the check-in staff. There is plenty of seating all around if you need to wait.
Outside the main entrance, there are more comfortable seating areas; perfect if you are waiting for the airport shuttle or valet to bring your car around.
There is a small pool and sundeck, perfect for a quick dip but not exactly for a day of lounging like you’d look for at a resort. The hotel also has a 24/7 fitness center which received a complete upgrade during the hotel’s remodel and features state-of-the-art equipment including Peloton bikes.
Rooms at Sonesta
Before we even talk about the hotel’s guest rooms, I need to mention the ride up our room on the twelfth floor. There was a poster hanging on the elevator wall that immediately made me smile. It read, “You choose your perspective. Your perspective shapes your path forward.”
This motivational message set the tone for our entire stay at the Sonesta. Quirky, fun, and a little bit stylish. Each of the hotel’s four elevators had similar posters with motivational messages and the same tagline.
The theme carried right into our room, where I found inspirational journal prompts leaning up against the pillows on my bed.
The rooms at Sonesta LAX are modern, clean, and well-designed with a desk and small sofa. There are 614 rooms at the hotel.
We stayed in a Preferred King room with a great view of the airport. There was a big TV with access to with streaming apps, Keurig coffee maker, and a mini fridge – perfect for storing snacks and our restaurant leftovers.
Our room had a long, horizontal window facing a runway, which we soon realized was for the international terminal. It was fun to watch all the different airlines from around the room coming in for a landing throughout our stay.
This is the perfect spot to point out that rooms at Sonesta LAX have excellent soundproofing. Before arriving, we worried it might be loud due to the hotel’s proximity to the airport. But in fact, our room was completely quiet even when planes were coming in for a landing nearby.
Dining Options
Sonesta Los Angeles Airport offers a variety of dining options. In addition to these restaurants, Sonesta has room service available 24 hours a day. This is a great convenience if you are arriving late and checking-in hungry, especially after a long flight!
On-site restaurants include:
- Century Taproom – California-inspired pub fare with craft beer, burgers, steaks, and pizza.
- Yokoso Sushi Bar – Fresh sushi and sashimi in a sleek setting.
- Boulevard Market Café – Quick bites like sandwiches, salads, rotisserie chicken, pasta, and pizza—easy options for kids.
- The Landing Restaurant – Classic American breakfast buffet and à la carte items.
Our room package came with breakfast, so we enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Landing Restaurant both mornings we were there. The buffet was a fairly standard spread with eggs, fruit, pastries, French toast, and the like. All the food was hot and fresh and we enjoyed it, but I don’t think it would have been worth the price per person if it was not included with our stay.
You can also help yourself to grab and go items in the Market Café if you don’t have time for a sit-down breakfast.
For dinner, we enjoyed a great meal at Century Taproom. My husband and I shared a big salad and pizza, and it easily could have fed three or four of us. (That’s where the fridge in our room came in very handy for leftovers!)
Century Taproom also has a wide variety of steaks, chicken, burgers, sandwiches, and more. Since they make the pizza in a specialty oven right in front of you, that’s what we wanted to try. It was really good! The restaurant also features a full bar.
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Parking
The hotel offers both self-parking and valet parking. While convenient, fees are on the higher side (typical for LAX hotels). The self-parking garage is shared with long-term airport parking and is very secure. The shuttle to the airport leaves right from the hotel adjacent to the parking structure.
Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX self-parking is $50 per night (including in-and-out access), while valet parking is available for $60 plus tax per night.
Things to Do Nearby
While Sonesta is primarily an airport hotel, it’s also a good jumping-off point for L.A. adventures.
Keep in mind however that dreaded word that shapes everywhere you drive in Southern California: Traffic.
Although something might look close by on a map, L.A. traffic can make getting there pretty rough. For instance, the weekend we stayed at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, my husband and I thought it would be fun to check out the Santa Monica Pier. The 11-mile drive took us nearly 45 minutes.
Traffic concerns aside, the hotel’s central location puts you in close proximity to many of the city’s biggest attractions. The Sonesta is one of the closest hotels to SoFi Stadium, so it’s a great place to stay if you are in town to catch a sporting event or concert at SoFi Stadium or The Kia Forum, both located approximately three miles away.
Visit the iconic Venice Beach for a day in the sun. Griffith Park, Long Beach, Universal Studios Hollywood, and downtown L.A. are all around 30 minutes from the hotel. And you can reach the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim in less than an hour. In fact, in our experience, you can drive to Disneyland faster than Santa Monica, since driving southbound (away from downtown L.A.) is typically a smoother ride.
Final Thoughts: Staying at Sonesta LAX
The Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX is more than just an airport hotel. It’s a convenient, family-friendly spot that combines comfort, great amenities, and easy access to and from the airport and top Los Angeles attractions.
From the spacious, comfortable rooms to the friendly service to the lobby and comfortable seating areas, everything about this hotel is a chance to recharge.
For a one-night stopover before or after catching a flight, or a place to call home base for exploring Los Angeles, this hotel is a solid pick.
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