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Is Reinvented at L.A.’s Hollywood Roosevelt
A Golden Age Throwback
Could anything be more quintessentially L.A. than trotting the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the way to your hotel? Located in the heart of Los Angeles, California, the Hollywood Roosevelt is iconic from the outside in. Built in 1927, Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable were all once hotel guests. But stuck in the past, the Roosevelt is not. With the vision of designer Yabu Pushelberg, the renovated property is a modern interpretation of classic Hollywood replete with the glamor, vintage and playful notes of 20th-century luxury (see: the 60s-style Tropicana pool and delightful throwback cocktails). But let’s be honest. Thread count aside, you had us at Marilyn.
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Who should you bring?
We’ll get the David Hockney in the room out of the way—the ’60s-inspired Tropicana Pool is absolutely the gem of this property, not in the least because of the restored David Hockney mural at the bottom of the pool.
For that reason, if you’re staying at the Roosevelt, you’ll want to be with a crew that can hang happily poolside. Sure, that could mean kids, but we have something involving cocktails and lazy daybeds in mind more so than “stop slapping your sister!” energy.
The consensus? A girls’ or guys’ trip (dare we say bachelorette party?) would be our ideal posse at this spot.
What’s the food like?
The Roosevelt lets you time-travel to the Golden Age of Hollywood with all your modern luxuries (and preferences) in tow, including your palate. Prepare your taste buds for the many dining options, whether it’s a vegan taco poolside, a late-night burger or cosplaying your best Lana Turner at the steakhouse.
A standout meal was at the Shirley Brasserie, which is oozing with the 1940s moody charm of an old-school French brasserie, but its updated California farm-to-table menu is fresh, fun and—not to mention—delicious. Dinner offers a surf and turf fever dream, with items like wood-fired prime rib for sharing, a seafood tower and a duck leg confit all up for grabs. We also got a kick out of the smartly reinvented throwback dishes like chicken liver mousse, beef tartare (for the table) and onion soup. But alas, it was the mushroom risotto and perfectly sweet but light floating island dessert that won our hearts. (How did that ever go out of style?)
We also really enjoyed doing things more casually at the Rosy Café, whose upbeat staff and relaxed atmosphere made the already-perfect almond pancakes even more enjoyable. Psst: Don’t sleep on the burger at 25 Degrees, the on-site burger joint. And…actually, it’d be quite difficult to sleep on it since it’s open from 6 a.m. to midnight.
Did you get a good night’s sleep?
A comfy and firm bed is really all we ask for, but we can’t complain about getting zzz’s in the plush comfort of Hollywood glam. With interiors designed with subtle Spanish accents and mid-century modern furnishings including leathers, soft gray tones and delightful persimmon red accents, the ambiance is enveloping, inviting you to get cozy and doze off.
What amenities are available?
We particularly enjoyed the Ikebana class based on the Japanese art of flower arrangement and Soul Vision Collage, an intuitive collage process for self discovery. There are also pre-dawn hikes, pilates, spin, pickleball, archery and more (Emma Roberts is a fan of the latter). We loved that you don’t need to sign up for most classes and that there’s no penalty for canceling.
Our favorite amenities included the outdoor heated pool, fitness center, complimentary yoga and cardio classes and open-air Massage Garden.
(But the in-room massage was also pretty fabulous).
How was the service?
The staff were kind and engaging, with their signature attention to detail noticeable from before you even set foot on the property with a pre-arrival phone call to discuss your goals, dietary restrictions, favorite exercises and activities.
What was your favorite part?
The food programs on-site are pretty spectacular. Sometimes it feels like a great pool vacation means sacrificing a great meal. Not here. Plus, even though there are ample reasons to stay on the property and just chill, eat and get pampered, you’re right-smack in the center of Hollywood! In a city notorious for crazy traffic, being central to lots of the action makes a visit way more enjoyable and less tense (if you’ve sat bumper-to-bumper on the 405 before, you’ll know what we mean). We especially appreciate how close the hotel is to Runyon Canyon, because what is more L.A. than going for a hike and seeing Channing Tatum on the trails?
Know before you go:
You can definitely recharge here, but it’s also a bit of a party scene, with events by the pool for 21-and-older crowds at night, the two-lane retro bowling alley in the on-site speakeasy and late-night burgers at 25 Degrees—not to mention you’re in proximity to L.A.’s nightlife.
book it
Accommodation options:
rooms and suites
Price:
from $248/night (Queen Superior Room) to $773/night (Cabana Suite)
Location:
Los Angeles, California
Property:
The Hollywood Roosevelt
Basics
Details
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