A huge, old-fashioned neon sign towers over this 1926 landmark hotel, hinting at what's inside: feather lampshades, vintage furniture, bold colors and eclectic decor. Rooms are named for the movie stars who stayed here, and resident ghosts supposedly make regular appearances. Now for the downsides: it's noisy, wi-fi doesn't work in many rooms and street parking can be a headache.
Guests with a penchant for seeing spooks should stay away from the Gary Cooper room, allegedly haunted by two prostitutes who were stabbed here and thrown out its window in the 1930s, and the Bon Jovi room, lorded over by the ghost of a woman who died in its rocking chair.
The Monte Vista's appeal comes from all of its glorious funkiness. Travelers looking for more traditional surrounds and dependable quiet will be happier elsewhere, as the Monte Vista Cocktail Lounge downstairs booms with live music on the weekends. Four rooms have shared bathrooms.