We are visiting Los Angeles for just one evening and would like to stay in an area where there are lounges, good restaurants (we love all types of food and would probably like something on the trendy side) that might be nearby. We will have a car and last trip we stayed at the Best Western Sunset--but would like to try something new. Would like to keep close to $150-$200 for hotel costs and like boutique style hotels versus chains. Your ideas for both lodging and dining would be greatly appreciated!

I would check out Santa Monica. There are boutique hotels and large chains. There are restaurants on Montana blvd..or if you prefer you can drive to Malibu, Brentwood or Westwood. Its near the beach, and not far from the airport. I'm sure if you search here for Santa Monica hotels postings you will find good information.

Good luck in Santa Monica with that price limit.

You may want to search on my screen name - jlsct - for other, more detailed, posts I wrote this week concerning our own search for LA and San Diego hotels.

We will be staying at the Omni Downtown for almost a week and using it as a base for travels into a variety of LA environs. We got the room for $104 a night on Skoosh and our thrilled with what we think was a real coup d'etat. (Rooms at the Omni are currently going for anywhere from $122 on Skoosh (their own price jumped within 2 days of our reservation) to $259 on other discount websites to not available at all.

If you are interested in the west side of town, this is the best of what what my research uncovered in your price range (Information accurate as of December 3):

Hotel Angeleno - Crossroads of Brentwood and Bel Air
$160 a night with Free parking included on Orbitz, no breakfast. Hip and modern in good area, despite some TripAdvisor complaints about highway/freeway noise...

Best Western Gateway Hotel Santa Monica - $139 a night, plus parking fees, no breakfast, but an IHOP at the ground level. Not "boutique," but in SM, and reputable.

Inn At Venice Beach - $151 a Night plus paid parking. Has a free continental breakfast, plus lots of free snacks. Seems "quaint" but friendly. Positives about customer service, but definitely not a "boutique" hotel.

For just one night, with a car and your price limit, I would try to get a room at the Hilgard House in Westwood. It's next to UCLA, and easy walk to tons of casual restaurants, and a short drive from Bev Hills or Santa Monica. You're just a few minutes from the Getty Center and if it's a Fri or Sat night, The Getty is a great place to have dinner, a unique-to-Los-Angeles dining spot.