What it is

A glossy, sceney 140 room, 48-suite retreat on West Sunset Boulevard with a rooftop pool and intimate spa.

What it isn't

Standard Issue. Hotelier Ian Schrager doesn’t believe in ordinary (note the cinematic lobby lined sky-high in stone, like a modernist version of a bank building).

What we think

Perhaps no other Lalaland hotel says “California cool” quite like this one. Take the rooms, where floor-to-ceiling windows turn the surrounding Hollywood Hills into a movie sprung to life. Each is fitted with porcelain floors, a French balcony, blonde wood custom furniture, blackout curtains that shut out the SoCal sun, and, this being L.A., myriad options for entertainment, including Bluetooth speakers and a 55” SMART flat-screen HDTV that can stream whatever you wish. If you find yourself exhausted from a day buzzing around the studio (it happens), The Spa is a must—and the place to get a CBD facial and massage before your next scene.

You're here because

The pristine rooftop infinity pool is flanked by a living wall, full-grown trees and a bar that serves kombucha cocktails—all overlooking the cityscape.

The Moment

This city knows how to do magic right, something that hits you the second you step foot in Ardor, the hotel’s main restaurant. Settled in your Parisian cafe chair under a verdant ceiling of dangling plants lit like a scene from “The Jungle Book” IRL, you find the only thing better than the ambiance is the menu by chef and restaurateur John Fraser (formerly of Napa’s The French Laundry). You order the gooseberry phyllo pizza drizzled in 25-year-aged balsamic and spend five minutes filming it before you eat—it deserves the director’s cut.

Restaurants & Bars

Ardor - Vegetarian Californian cuisine

The Roof - Latin and tropical-inspired cocktails with Southern California flair

Lobby Bar - Bespoke cocktails served in a social setting

Sunset - A club with a focus on great cocktails and great music

Location

On Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Drive, at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. Don’t miss a trip to Greystone Mansion, a 15 minute walk away, to explore the landmark 1928 Tudor estate seen in everything from Gilmore Girls to the Big Lebowski.