The definition of "historic," this hotel drips with decadent, crumbling glamour.

Opened in 1923 and dubbed a historical landmark in 1969, the cathedral-like Millennium Biltmore (look up when inside!) won't be undergoing a modern makeover anytime soon. (The hotel's nod to the contemporary comes in their "Contemporary Art" packages, where guests receive passes to LACMA or MOCA, depending on which has the newer exhibit.) Guests have included Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton; films shot here include Vertigo and (sigh) Austin Powers in Goldmember; TV shows like "The West Wing" have also blown through. Golden lighting, cascading stairwells, towering archways: All the elements combine to create an otherworldly experience. The 683 rooms, multiple bars and restaurants (including the Gallery Bar, which serves the infamous Black Dahlia martini, and the Japanese restaurant Sai Sai), and approximately 70,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and exhibit space ensure the satisfaction of gathering businessmen. The scene is more eclectic than stuffy, however—we've dined next to Tony Hawk's posse at Sai Sai. If the Disney Hall is Downtown's crown, the Biltmore is the rusty, gorgeous tiara. —Lonny Pugh