Jesse Rhodes, the man responsible for the restoration of San Diego’s famous Hotel del Coronado, also brought the Skylark back to life. Built in 1955 it was once a very cool hangout but had fallen on very hard times. The interiors were gutted, and then restored to their former glory ,along with the original 9ft-deep swimming pool. All 29 rooms were furnished in teak mid-century style. property Expect pool parties and DJs on the weekend in this motel-meets-hotel charmer.

Honourable mention: Hotel del Coronado San Diego, the setting for director Billy Wilder’s classic comedy, Some Like It Hot, starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon. Released in 1959, and voted the  #1 comedy of all time by the American Film Institute