Good looking, creative, and nearly always sunny…. what’s not to love about Los Angeles? Surrounded by incredible natural beauty, bursting with creative people and businesses, and loaded with restaurants, cafes and street food outlets supplying any type of cuisine you desire, Los Angeles packs quite the punch. If you aren’t already convinced that you should visit the City of the Angels, then maybe these uber-cool luxury hotels in Tinsel town will…
NoMad Hotel
From the stylish group behind The Line, Freehand and The Ned Hotels comes their latest elegant offering, NoMad in Downtown Los Angeles. Situated in a former Italian bank building, the hotel has 214 rooms, a stunning rooftop pool, an Italian-style cafe, a library, two restaurants and a slick bar. Alike the original NoMad in New York, this hotel has plenty of neo-classical touches but this time combined with the building’s Italian heritage. Doric columns, a coffered lobby ceiling, and grand bronze entry doors are all hints of Italian opulence. Rooms are slightly more tranquil but with the same attention to detail and Italian flare. Textiles are opulent and bright, furnishings are bespoke, and unique collections of smartly framed artwork curated by be-poles design studio adorn walls. The hotel’s culinary offerings are overseen by Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the pair’s first project outside of New York. The 110-seat restaurant, Mezzanine, features popular classics from NoMad NY’s menu plus some delicious Californian extras. We also recommend the innovative cocktails in the Giannini Bar or the Library, both of which satisfy with their rich, sophisticated and slightly over the top décor.
Hotel Figueroa
Following an extensive renovation by design team Studio Collective, the Figueroa is back open with all 268 rooms, outdoor pool, two restaurants and five bars having had a facelift. Originally opened in 1925 as a YWCA hostel, Hotel Figueroa’s new incarnation offers tribute to its heritage and carefully preserves much of the building’s original architecture. Art by female artists adorns the walls whilst the décor running throughout is a homage to Spanish Colonialism – there are wood beams, arches, tiling and columns aplenty. Rooms are elegantly curated spaces with more art, ceiling fans, and Hispanic inspired textiles. Some rooms have vibrant colour themes such as the Classic Room peppered with dark sea blue details. The renowned outdoor pool is shaped like a coffin and surrounded by loungers and cacti all of which date back decades. The main restaurant, Breva, serves up Mediterranean cuisine using distinctly Californian produce, whilst the poolside eating space at Veranda specialises in flatbreads made in the wood-fired oven. For cocktails, Rick’s at the other end of the pool serves up a delectable selection of libations.
The London West Hollywood
After an $11 million makeover, The London West Hollywood re-opened this year much to the relief of its celebrity clientele. Located just off the sunset strip, the hotel is close to popular evening haunts such as the Roxy as well as the shops and restaurants of Beverley Hills, Melrose Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard. Fans of the slick hotel love the monochromatic rooftop pool and sundeck which offer a myriad of Instagram opportunities. To celebrate the hotel’s 10-year anniversary, the hotel added the London bar, a homage to the traditional English country house. Décor is the pinnacle of luxury with a marble-clad lobby and soft muted colour palette with feature lighting by the late David Collins. All of the 200 suites are very spacious, have private terraces for catching some Californian rays and huge bathrooms complete with C.O Bigelow apothecary products. The hotel’s restaurant Boxwood offers seasonal dishes with a definite Californian twist.
Mr C Beverly Hills
Housed in a very Los Angeles white high-rise, Mr C Beverly Hills exemplifies the area’s timeless glamour. Run by the fourth generation of the Cipriani Family, this hotel exudes style, luxury and old-school Hollywood charm. The lobby is marble floored, furnished with dark polished wood, stylish mid-century chairs and a baby grand piano, whilst glittering chandeliers sparkle from above. The feeling of stepping into an elegant 1960’s hotel from Mad Men continues into the 125 rooms where Italian furnishings, contemporary metal lighting, leather reclining chairs and feature bars offer urban luxury with a retro twist. Rooms enjoy city-view balconies with rattan furniture for sunny day lounging. The lobby lounge is a relaxed space for a drink or two whilst cocktails are served daily around the pool. The hotel restaurant has a members-only vibe about it and offers a menu of Italian American classics from the team behind the renowned Cirpriani’s restaurant in NYC.
The Line
In LA’s trendy Koreatown is The Line, with a giant ‘Peace Tree’ mural on the outside and industrial-chic décor on the inside. The area is vibrant and thriving and of course within walking distance of some of the city’s best Korean restaurants. In a rather ugly 1960s high rise building, The Line is all bare concrete walls and rooms full of an eclectic mix of furniture and furnishings. Chairs are upholstered in Mexican textiles, coffee tables made from piles of books and unique, vibrant artworks contrasting with the stark walls. All rooms have huge windows with some even overlooking the Hollywood sign. Whilst rooms are basic they more than meet any modern travellers needs with in-room media hubs and comfortable beds. The Line houses two restaurants: The Commissary, a greenhouse-like space full of potted plants and right beside the hotel’s rooftop swimming pool, and Pot, the Korean food hot spot run by well-known chef Roy Choi.
Loews
Rising above the famed intersection of Hollywood and Highland, Loews Hollywood boasts spectacular views of the iconic Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles skyline. The hotel of 628 rooms and 113 suites boasts a 5th storey, heated, rooftop pool, a 24-hour fitness suite and a yoga studio all within its walls. Décor is sleek and sophisticated. Rooms are decorated in a slate grey, punctuated by pops of vibrant colour in the furnishings and textiles. Furniture is modern and oak with stylish Eames chairs dotted throughout. Although the hotel is right beside some incredible eating spots, you don’t need to leave the building to find an impressive culinary offering. Preston’s offers California-inspired contemporary cuisine served with impressive views of the surrounding Hollywood Hills, whilst H2 Kitchen & Bar is a social hub, perfect for starting your evening.