Los Angeles really is a love story of sorts that tells tales of the past while trying to navigate through an ever-complex future. The past filled with simple beauty, architectural innovation, design standards that live on to this day and an elegance and charm that lit the town on fire. While Los Angeles has undergone structural change, our need to return to the nostalgia of our past is rising to the surface. In search of a past so graceful and beautiful, below you’ll find an invitation to step through time.
No. 1 + No. 2 | B.H. Hotel
Restored to perfection.No. 1 and No. 2 | The Beverly Hills Hotel is iconic. Not only is it where starlets flocked to once upon the glory of old Hollywood, it’s also been the subject of some extraordinary photoshoots and backdrops for fashion, television, and film.Ā Having opened its doors in 1912, the Beverly Hills Hotel was designed by Elmer Grey and while it has undergone multiple redesigns, it’s the most recently restored bungalows that are all the rage. Having gotten a glimpse when I interviewed Gray Malin when he launched his Beverly Hills Hotel series, I can vouch for how truly decadent these bungalows are. Giving life to old Hollywood glory, the hotel justĀ unveiled two newly restored their bungalows inspired by Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes. Below is a look at two reasons to love L.A.
Bungalow 1.
Marilyn Monroe spent most of her bungalow time at this hotel, in this bungalow. Thoughtful of Marilyn herself, the newly designed bungalow has the delicate and whimsical touches of her career as an actress. Ā “With curvyĀ furniture, bright and abstract floor coverings, colorful travertineĀ stones, and goldĀ leafed ceilings, this feminine space is bothĀ playful and sophisticated. Strong Jean Michel Frank influencesĀ pay homage to her use of his designs in her own home,Ā including extensive use of parchment to envelop aspects ofĀ each room”, says the hotel restoration team. The space is visually stunning with the sweetness, glamour, and youth we all associate with Monroe. The in-room library also features a collection of books on Marilyn Monroe as well as her films.
The oneĀ bedroom bungalowĀ suiteĀ includes a living room withĀ dining area, fireplace and half bath; master suite, full masterĀ bath and dressing room and private terrace. The main suite alsoĀ connects to two adjoining bedrooms making it a three bedroomĀ bungalow (2,620 sq. Ft.).
AMENITIES:Ā Chanel No. 5 perfume bar,Ā Chanel bath amenities,Ā Marilyn Monroe champagne bath bubble experienceĀ featuring ceara pureĀ Atlantic sea salt from the coastĀ of Brazil, sweet orange and grapefruit oils inspired by Some Like It Hot, and a bottle of Dom Perignon.
Marilynās MenuĀ (available via inĀ room dining for anĀ additional cost), inspired by an interview that appearedĀ in the 1952 issue of Pageant Magazine in which shenrevealed the following:Ā ”My dinners at home areĀ startlinglyĀ simple. Every night I stop at the market nearĀ my hotel and pick up a steak, lamb chops or liverĀ which I broil in the electric oven in my room. I usuallyĀ eat four or five raw carrots with my meat and that isĀ all.” She also admitted that she occasionallyĀ treatedĀ herself to an ice cream sundae.
Items from MarilynāsĀ Menu include:Ā Prawn Cocktail, Heirloom Carrot Salad,Ā DiMaggioās Spaghetti and Meatballs, Grilled New YorkĀ Steak,Ā andĀ Marilynās Ice Cream Sundae.
Bungalow 3.
Howard Hughes lived in theĀ bungalows on and off for 30 years. The redesigned bungalow using colors that are rich, bold, and masculine with accents of exotic woods. “ThisĀ bungalowās look and feel is asĀ mysterious and moody as the reclusive billionaire himself. ArtĀ deco references include geometrics and rich sheens, conveying aĀ masculine glamour through the use of glossy leathers, tailoredĀ shapes, and blue bedroom walls.”
The oneĀ bedroom bungalow includes a living room with diningĀ area, fireplace and half bath; master suite, full master bath andĀ dressing room;Ā andĀ private terrace.Ā The main suite also connectsĀ toĀ two adjoining bedroomsĀ making it a three bedroom bungalowĀ (2,620 sq. ft.) . He also requested that one of his meals of choice, roast beef sandwiches, be left under a tree outside his bungalow almost every night which the hotel will gladly oblige.
No. 3 ā HOXTON HOTEL
Bright Lights, No SnobberyThe streets of New York have drawn us in the moment the first marquee went up on Broadway, but the charm and cool of Hollywood lured us in even further and the newest addition to the hospitality landscape of L.A., the Hoxton.The HuxtonĀ has all the je ne sais quoiĀ we adore, including the art deco revival that is sperb. Embodying a mid-century modern influence, the allure of discretion, flashing signs with bulbs that beckon, the Hoxton is a 174-room hotel built generously among 10 stories, and the contrast of neon signs, art, time, the railway and times passed is elemental in its paradox.
Impressing guests upon arrival with cleverly named rooms such as theĀ Snug, Cosy, Roomy, andĀ Biggy, any inclination towards snobbery is tossed out the window, however theseĀ adorably named rooms are nothing short of luxurious. From bespoke timber cedar floors onto their zellige-tiled bathrooms, itās the accents of brass and copper, custom furniture, thought-provoking art, and minimalism that make it easy to harken a little sass of Bette Davis or the cool of Rock Hudson.
When you get hungry, their lobby bar and restaurant will feed any desire you have (well, almost). Their bar has tufted rounds, swanky chairs, and a thoughtful bar program that will excite your palate. Should you want to brave our odd winter air, head to the rooftop to take advantage of their minimalistic pool. The views of the city from the top will whet your appetite for exploration. It’s also in the heart of downtown so art, more culinary choices, and a lot of great people watching is afoot.
No. 4 | the EDITION
Eclectic Meets Slim AaronEnthralled in design and art, a wealth of hotels and eateries is the beautiful and eclectic West Hollywood. A thriving LGBTQ community, WeHo is also where most of L.A.ās poshest spots to slip into a club, experiment with mixology, indulge in a higher caliber of cuisine, and where culture is abundantāand now there is one more breathtaking hotel with private residences to add to the mix, The Edition. Located in a part of town that is full of life and innovation, the Edition feels like a Slim Aaron set and sits on the hillsides where WeHo meets Beverly Hills, and the views are inescapable and thankfully so.
Serving as both a hotel and private residence, this 190-room, 20 luxury residence is meets your luxurious whims with their six-room spa, high-end restaurant, cool and sexy basement club, elegant rooftop pool, and even their top-of-the-line lobby lounge. The design is reminiscent of the sophisticated cool L.A. is recognized for. The dƩcor appeases modernism, while never compromising refinement.
(cover photo of the Edition, WeHo)
No. 5 | the TUCK hotel
Swanky SwaggerSomewhere in the deep chambers of this great city, hoteliers must have realized the endless opportunity to bring in an array of style, ambiance, and choice to Angelenos. That’s where the TUCK Hotel comes in. Simply designed with a minimalist vibe, this hotel is among the rather hard-too-find-gems in the city. With a masculine meets feminine approach to its design, Juan Pable Torre opened this 14-room hotel on Spring Street amid the pulse of the downtown fashion district. Unassuming in every way from the exterior, the moment you step inside rich tones of leather, rustic and sustainable wood, contemporary art, elevated simplicity, and Bar Garcia call your name.
Torre created something unique to the hospitality industry with this hotel. It feels like something you’d hope to stumble upon in cities like Chicago, Mexico City, or Brooklyn but thankfully he set his sights here in Los Angeles. Offering 15% through their Instagram account, this is a little swankiness you deserve to try.
