Tucked behind busy Sunset Boulevard on San Vicente Boulevard is The London, West Hollywood. In under a minute you can waltz out of the rather grand foyer along the buzzing driveway to reach the sensational scene that is Sunset Strip. Chomping on an apple while getting my bearings in the foyer and admiring the speckled marble mantelpiece and stately clock, a kindly staffer appeared the moment I finished my fruit and proffered a waste paper bin for my apple core . Exemplary service.
Thirty years ago when the hotel was built, the owner created a ninth floor without a permit, so it functioned as an eight-storey establishment until the current owners took possession in 2013. A $23 million spend and a proper permit has seen the recent unveiling of 21 new ninth-floor suites, adding to the 200 rooms.
As I was led to my room, the bellboy turned to me and shared his excitement, "Oh, the rooms even smell new." Yes, they do. Loved the life-size black and white print of a man in a bowler hat carrying a tea-set adorning the sliding doors of the ground-floor lift.
An item rarely witnessed in Los Angeles' hotel rooms sits on a pretty soft-green hued bench top, next to the single sink and a hearty variety of mini-bar snacks (with "Pops-a-lot: Clandestine Caramel Gourmet Popcorn" a stand-out). It is a Keurig coffee pod and tea machine. Perfection.
The bathroom, with intricate mosaic tiling, a fit-five-people-shoulder-to-shoulder-if-tempted shower and an inviting spa, provides a stylish ambience for sprucing and preening. The pale carpets are soft underfoot and the furnishings are positively sparkling. A contemporary moss green and white striped L-shaped lounge is perfectly positioned for comfort. It is Los Angeles, so it makes sense to have an expansive roof-top pool with delightful cabanas for all those sunny days.
Breakfast is included with a huge selection of delicious morsels including piled-high smoked salmon and the best cream cheese. In the best British tradition, afternoon tea with scones is also on the menu.
Shoppers rejoice. There are hordes of stores including BCBG, Hugo Boss, John Varvatos and Christian Louboutin nearby. There is the outdoor shopping complex, The Grove, with attached farmers' market and a variety of eateries. The pristine landscaped Greystone Mansion, often used for filming movies, is nearby and just a little further from the hotel is Rodeo Drive. The Hollywood Farmers' Market is on each Sunday while the Sunset Strip Market happens each Thursday evening. For those wanting to do more than use the state-of-the-art equipment at The London's new gym, there is the Runyon Canyon hike down the road. Oh, and The Viper Room, where many a star has caroused, is steps away.
Enormous bathroom with elegant amenities.
Albeit delicious, a latte is about $9.
Melding an elegant and contemporary feel with some fine British traditions, The London is relaxed and refined, with faultless service and a supreme location. There is also complimentary Wi-Fi and even free calls to London.
Suites from $415 a night and $590 a night on the new ninth floor.
1020 North San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood, California; see thelondonwesthollywood.com.
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