Boulevard of DREAMS
THE HOTELS ON SUNSET BOULEVARD PROVIDE SOME GREAT PLACES TO REST AFTER A NIGHT OF PARTYING LIKE A ROCK STAR. BY GILLIAN TELLING
Hollywood’s Sunset Strip has always been synonymous with partying; famous actors have met untimely deaths, and leather-clad rock stars have been known to barbecue on hotel balconies and throw steaks at passersby below.
While the mile-and-a-half-long stretch of Sunset Boulevard between Crescent Heights Boulevard and Doheny Drive is still full of people looking for a good time, it’s also home to some of the greatest hotels in town.
It’s also one of the only areas of LA where you can stay, dine and barhop without having to get into a car. If you’ve ever been stuck in LA traffic, you’ll understand what a welcome relief that is.
One of the most famous hotels on Sunset is a rock ‘n’ roll classic that recently received a massive face-lift: Hyatt West Hollywood (www.westhollywood.hyatt. com; 323-656-1234). Steeped in history, it first opened in 1958, when it was called the Gene Autry Hotel. (Gene Autry was not only a famous actor, but also a wealthy magnate who owned several hotels. And you thought he was just a singing cowboy.)
So many absurd shenanigans have occurred there that it was nicknamed the “Riot House” in 1976. Example: Jim Morrison lived there until he was kicked out for hanging from a balcony by his fingertips, and a member of Led Zeppelin once rode his motorcycle through the hotel hallways.
However, the days of rioting are long gone. Rooms now feature modern, minimalist design with plasma flat screens, ambient lighting, blackout curtains and glassed-in balconies with floor-to-ceiling views of LA. Not to be missed is the rooftop pool; no other hotel on the strip has such breathtaking views of the city.
Across the street from the Hyatt, you’ll find five great hotels all in a row. First is The Grafton on Sunset (www..graftononsunset.com; 323-654-4600), a chic, small boutique hotel with touches of old Hollywood glamour. Framed black-and-white photos of celebrities adorn the walls, the rooms are painted in earth tones, and soft, zebra-print duvets cover the beds. The inside rooms overlook the swimming pool, so ask for a ground-floor room and you’ll be able to step out the door and right into the pool area. The hotel is also home to Balboa, a steak house and bar, so there’s never a shortage of people flowing in and out of the lobby in the evening.
A few steps down is the Best Western Sunset Plaza Hotel (www.sunsetplazahotel.com; 800-421-3652). Recent multimillion-dollar renovations added Jacuzzi tubs to the bathrooms, and DSL and free continental breakfasts are included with your stay. Some of the rooms have balconies overlooking the city, while others overlook the secluded pool lounge (one of the nicest pools on the Strip). It’s the only hotel without a bar or restaurant, so if you’d prefer your hotel to be a quiet sanctuary without a big party scene, this may be the best place for you.
Next is the Mondrian Los Angeles (www..mondrianhotel.com; 323-650-8999), a Philippe Starck-designed masterpiece that is the height of Hollywood chic, especially on the weekends when crowds line up outside hoping to get into the always-popular Skybar, a poolside terrace lounge that’s always packed with gorgeous young people. The rooms themselves are simple and elegant; 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and down comforters make the beds the kind you never want to get out of. If you’re mixing business with pleasure, rooms are equipped with wireless internet, and speakerphones, fax machines and laptops are available on loan. The Mondrian is the kind of hotel you never have to leave to have a good time. Downstairs is one of the hippest restaurants on the Strip: Asia de Cuba, a Jeffrey Chodorow staple, which serves signature dishes like Tuna Pica (ahi tuna mixed with soy, coconut and currants) at outdoor tables with beautiful views of the lit-up LA sky.
Just down from the Mondrian is The Standard (www..standardhotel.com; 323-650-9090), an André Balazs hotel that was the epitome of Hollywood hip when it first opened in the late ’90s. The rooms are simply and tastefully decorated, with clean, comfortable beds, a few throw pillows and a balcony that either faces the Strip or the pool. The pool can be quite a scene at night, with people eating, drinking and taking in the views at the poolside lounge. The hotel is also home to a 24-hour restaurant that serves haute-comfort food like fried chicken and butterscotch pudding. Tucked away behind the restaurant is The Purple Lounge, an intimate nightclub that you can only get into if you’re a hotel guest.
Next door to The Standard is the Sunset Tower Hotel (www.sunsettowerhotel.com; 323-654-7100), which used to be called the Argyle Hotel. The Art Deco landmark has been around since 1929 and was once home to the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Bugsy Siegel. The interior was renovated two years ago and is steeped in elegant design–think rich woods, silk striped furniture and a hushed air of luxury. The tiny elevators are unchanged since the days of Siegel’s illegal gambling rings held upstairs, and the pool, though small, is the perfect area to sit and have a complimentary peach bellini upon arrival.
A full-service spa (it offers Botox—this is LA, after all) is located on the ground floor, and The Tower Bar and Restaurant has a piano man playing for the diners.
The last hotel is probably the most famous: Chateau Marmont (www..chateaumarmont.com; 323-656-1010). It’s the hotel where John Belushi died of an accidental overdose, and before that it was infamous for being the hotel James Dean snuck in through a window to audition for the role that made him famous in Rebel Without a Cause. It opened in 1929, and Andre Balazs took it over in 1990. Since then, it has been called home by celebrities like Lindsay Lohan.
Regardless of its celebrity history, the Chateau is probably the most private, quiet and elegant hotel out of all of the ones on the Strip, which is why A-listers like to stay there. The two-bedroom penthouse is like a big apartment with a full kitchen, wood-burning fireplace and wraparound patio overlooking the entire city. The poolside bungalows are surrounded by lush greens and walled off from the noise of Sunset Boulevard traffic. The hotel’s bar, Bar Marmont, is conveniently located a few doors down, so you can choose to drop by or avoid it–though it’s recommended you stop by for at least a cocktail. After all, don’t you want to see where Hollywood celebs like to hang out and occasionally dance on the banquettes?
You’re on the Sunset Strip–you might as well party a little like a rock star. It’s practically required.