I think Downtown as a "baseline" is OK, but "Or resort area/entertainment district with DALPA concurrence" would be better.

As a ER guy who does a lot of LAX that gets there at 9pm or so, there's not a ton near the hotel after 10pm (soonest you will get there and showered) during the week. Even pre-covid the stuff in the hotel was often closed randomly.

Santa Monica, far better. And faster to get to.

JAX, beach would be better... Downtown kind of sucks now.

SEA (in pre protest times) was nice downtown. BOS is a decent spot.

Detroit, Ann Arbor would be closer, and better IMHO.

FNT? Heck to the no about staying downtown (I went to college there, you want the burb layover, trust me)