The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel | 7000 Hollywood Blvd | Los Angeles, CA 90028
It must be said that Los Angeles is a city that is absolutely plentiful in chic hotels, beautiful architecture, Hollywood legends, and a story to tell. With architectural landmarks that transport you back to a time when glamor and cool oozed throughout the city, Hollywood is home to one Hotel that embraces the essence of how things used to be. That Hotel is The Roosevelt. While I have frequented the restaurant and bar at Public Bar & Kitchen at The Roosevelt Hotel, I had never stayed at the hotel as a guest. Until now. The evening began with a stop at the bar in the hotel lobby after an evening at Jimmy Kimmel.
(Photos courtesy of Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – A Thompson Hotel)
It’s Monday night. As we walk through the doors just off of Hollywood Boulevard, we take a seat at the bar adjacent to the hotel lobby. Chic and open, there is an air of sentimentality. The bartenders greet us with a familiarity that is welcomed (Alex, Nicole – I think, and Mike the Barkeep). Granted I am with friends that work across the street at El Capitan for Jimmy Kimmel that frequent the Roosevelt after a show wraps but still, there is something to be said about service – good service. Back to this evening. Tonight, I am in desperate need of something; Something fun, something delicious, something sip-worthy, and above all, just a solid night out. Good company is a plus. My best friend orders a glass of red wine and insists I have some too. (It was that kind of a day.) I happily obey and as my hunger begins to gnaw at me with unnatural pangs, I also find myself submitting to it’s whim. This is when we ask for bread. Our bartender smiles and says, “I’m gonna go get you guys the good kind of bread. It’s heaven”. And it really is. We start with the bread, a healthy spread of butter (because sometimes you really gotta go for it), and I peruse the menu. I decide to go for Charcutterie and Cheese and honestly, the selection tonight is on par. The plate arrives with a hearty portion of meats, cheeses, honeycomb, and a compote made with fig. The meats and cheeses range from French and Italian, to Spanish and Californian and are quite delicious. After sipping my wine, happily pleasing my hunger, it’s now almost 11p and my eyes begin their heavy descent. It’s time to say goodnight and head up to my room.
(Not Room 309 – This is the Cabana Garden Room)
Room 309
Once the elevator doors open you step into a hall that is adorned with art by way of celebrity black and white photos, a little Hollywood story, all framed in a black polished encasing. On the walk to my door is Marlon Brando’s encased homage. Very apropos. I enter my room which is modern and vintage all at once. Two beds with white linens atop a metal frame with a photo of what appears to be Sid Vicious, just adjacent to the bed – a mini bar made of dark chocolate woods, a desk, a vintage base with modern shade for the lamp, and a reasonably sized plasma. Just outside my window is the roof. A bit strange and oddly loud but still, you can see the hotel sign and in spite of the people climbing just outside of my window the next morning (that’s another story), it feels oddly calming and strangely familiar. As I make my way through the small room I enter the bathroom. Concrete floors, slate walls, a pedestal sink, a chocolate colored shelf stocked with Bigelow products, and the shower/tub combo. All I can think if is how nice that bathtub will be now that I’ve enjoyed far too much wine and an insatiable charcutterie and cheese plate. And the bread! Let’s not forget to mention that bread (which for the record is NOT the standard bread). The room is quiet and wonderful and all I can imagine doing is writing. This is a rare night where staying in the room is the perfect way to spend the remainder of the evening. Wonderfully quiet with the option to sit and write, go for a late night walk, stroll to the pool (which I never actually made it to) – the night was peaceful and honestly, I don’t remember sleeping so well in a hotel. Waking up the next morning, I pull myself from the sheets and get up to make coffee. Unfortunately, I have a machine that isn’t working (at all) and so I call down to Room Service. Maruf, the gentleman that answers the call, soon after sends someone up to replace the coffee maker but also sends over a fresh carafe of coffee. It’s always refreshing when customer service is a priority. I pick up the Hotel Guide and look through the breakfast menu. I ordered from 25 Degrees brekafast menu.
(Photo above by Dawn Garcia)
25 Degrees
Room Service. This is the one area of EVERY hotel, no matter how lovely, I find where there is lapse in taste, flavor, and plausibility. It seems breakfast is the one safe bet. I should preface that by saying the only menu that has ever been of the quality one should expect at a hotel is breakfast. Lunches and dinners seem to unanimously disappoint wherever I’ve gone. I have yet to taste any other meal outside of breakfast at any hotel that astounded me. Onto breakfast.
Spa Breakfast: eff white frittata with asparagus | roasted tomato | fresh mozarella (I opt for feta)
Served with Hash Browns | Fresh Fruit (I order ALL berries) | Bacon (Well)
The breakfast arrives by way of Maruf – quite possibly the nicest hotel employee I’ve ever met. The food is warm, laid out beautifully, and cooked exactly the way I ordered. The hash browns are more of a hash cake with a balance of herbs and spice, the frittata cooked through and through and I can taste the freshness of the vegetables. The side of bacon is cooked crispy just as I asked. I eat every last bite. The Roosevelt’s Room Service did translate from kitchen to room … this is something I definitely appreciate.
Public Kitchen & Bar
Admittedly I haven’t always been a big fan of Public. I’ve had a few major disappointments but I will continue to give it a try. Why? Because as all things, management changes, menus evolve, and improvements are bound to be made.
So as it turns out, The Roosevelt has redeemed itself in my eyes. After several unfortunate experiences at the Restaurant, I will gladly return to dine, enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine, partake of the full experience, and hopefully stay in a much bigger room. The Hotel is undergoing some new management changes but I suspect it will only continue to improve. If you’re down in Hollywood and want a late night bite, try the bar or venture into 25 Degrees or Public and have a unique experience.
Hollywood Roosevelt | 7000 Hollywood Blvd. | Hollywood, CA 90028
Tel: 323.466.7000 | Fax: 323.462.8056 | Reservations: 800.950.7667
Email: infohrh@thompsonhotels.com | www.thompsonhotels.com
Thompson Hotels | 54 Thompson St. 5th FL | New York, NY 10012
Email: info@thompsonhotels.com www.thompsonhotels.com
GENERAL MANAGER | Antoine Berberi
RESTAURANTS
Public Kitchen + Bar Tel: 323-769-8888
25 Degrees Tel: 323-785-7244
BAR
Teddy’s | Tel: 323.466.7000
Tropicana | Tel: 323.466.7000
The Library Bar
The Spare Room
PRESS INQUIRIES INTERNATIONAL, TRAVEL & TRADE
The Brandman Agency
Ty Bentsen | Carrie Mosner
Tel: 323.807.7333 Email: Ty@brandmanpr.com Carrie@brandmanpr.com
DESIGN FEATURES
Since 1927, The Hollywood Roosevelt has been the playground of luminaries including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Marilyn Monroe and the birthplace of the Academy Awards. Sweeping renovations by acclaimed designer Dodd Mitchell in 2005 heralded its rebirth- a place where Old Hollywood and young Hollywood entwine.
ACCOMMODATIONS ROOMS AND SUITES
All rooms and suites feature custom made 400 thread count SFERRA linens, individual temperature control units, two phone lines with speaker and conference capabilities, and in-room safes. The bathrooms are replete with oversized terry-cloth robes as well as bath apothecary and spa products by C.O. Bigelow. Entertainment options include a flat screen TV, on-demand movie library, I-POD docking station which also serves as an alarm clock. WI-FI and broadband internet access are provided throughout the hotel. In-room pantries offer both Dean & Deluca gourmet snacks.
Gable/ Lombard Penthouse Marilyn Monroe Suite
SERVICES
24-hour Concierge Service
24-hour Room Service
Computers Available
Business Services Available Upon Request
Daily Delivery of Domestic & International Newspapers Multi-Lingual Staff
Daily Housekeeping Service
Valet Parking
Chauffeured Car Services
Priority Reservations at Sister Hotels including Thompson Beverly Hills
EVENT AND PRIVATE DINING FACILITIES
Fine cuisine and specialty menus created by our award-winning chef serviced by our in-house catering and banquet team.
Blossom Ballroom: Site of the first Academy Awards, with its 25 foot high, handcrafted ceiling this 4400 square feet space can accommodate up to 500 standing, 300 seated
Oscar Room: The 3000 square foot space can accommodate 300 standing, 160 seated.
Academy: Former library of the hotel and meeting place of the
Academy seats approximately 100 guests in its 2500 square feet of beautiful appointed space. Conference Facilities: 4 break out rooms that can accommodate15-40 guests Wedding Services: Complete wedding services are available
ABOUT THOMPSON HOTELS GROUP:
Thompson Hotels is a collection of luxury boutique hotels offering unique accommodations, and one-of-a- kind services to its chic, traveled clientele. Thompson Hotels consists of ten urban properties, five of which are in New York City, including 60 Thompson, 6 Columbus, Gild Hall, Thompson LES, and Smyth Tribeca. In addition, properties include the legendary Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Thompson Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, as well as Sax Chicago, and Donovan House in Washington DC. Most recently opened in June of 2010 is Thompson’s first international hotel, Thompson Toronto, with the first overseas venture to follow in 2011 with Belgraves in London. Each hotel is filled with modern designs, thoughtful amenities, end-destination restaurants, as well as popular nightlife lounges; coming together to provide guests a personalized and intimate travel experience.