Individual Hotels, Resorts, Bed and Breakfast, RVing and Camping

The Chamberlain Mondrian Hotel Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas The Chamberlain Deep in the heart of West Hollywood, on a quiet residential street between Sunset and Santa Monica, the Chamberlain is actually quite a bit cooler than it looks. This is no backhanded compliment — in a reversal of what seems to be the standard procedure in Los Angeles, the Chamberlain presents an unassuming public face, and keeps its surprises to itself. From the outside, this ‘70s apartment building doesn’t attract much attention — though someday this architectural style will be back in fashion, at which time West Hollywood will be its Mecca. Inside, though, it’s a different story; rooftop swimming pools, for example, are always in style, especially with panoramic views of LA and the Hollywood Hills, and the lobby sets the tone, . The bedrooms are impressive as well — the interiors are striking, modern-luxe, perhaps more masculine in blues and greys than some of the other Kor Group hotels like the Viceroy or Maison 140. Each room, improbably enough, comes with a gas fireplace for when the temperature dips below 70, as well as more traditional amenities like flat-screen televisions and DVD players. These rooms are for nesting, little homes away from home — some suites even come with kitchenettes. Then again the bistro and bar are probably all you’ll need, and when you’re ready to stretch your legs the Chamberlain is close by to the Sunset Strip as well as the many bars and restaurants of West Hollywood. This one will probably never become the kind of destination hotel that’s the center of its own nightlife universe, but for the Chamberlain’s guests, that’s as it should be — West Hollywood has enough going on as it is, and a stylish place to lay one’s head is a welcome addition indeed. For additional information, or to make a reservation, click on The Chamberlain or on Tablet Hotels. Mondrian Hotel Beige, white, bubble chairs, a log in the lobby, and a concierge table where you hang out and wait for them to come to you. Oh, and the bar with the notoriously strict door policy. You can't get in unless you are 1. a guest, or 2. a megastar. A towering twelve floors on the Sunset Strip, the Mondrian is far and away the most pretentious hotel in LA, and perhaps even in the United States. The rooms, however, are surprisingly unpretentious in their comfort. For one, they are some of the city's largest — furnished in typical white-on-white Starck flair but with a living room and kitchen to boot. The views from the hotel are phenomenal, and all rooms have a floor-to-ceiling window through which to enjoy them. But there is, of course, a gimmick at work. Aside from the Zen messages printed on the walls, each room is an unabashed salute to consumerism. Almost everything is for sale, and there's a big book in the room with all the prices listed. Ultimately, it's a contemporary twist on the hotel room you never have to leave. While many hotels pride themselves on service from a staff that's 24 hours, discreet, and can do anything, the Mondrian is about serving yourself — bedroom-as-shop, mini-bar-as-restaurant, and everything else facilitated by state of the art internet and telephone hookups. The Mondrian is not the place to stay if you're people-shy. Whether you're lunching at the Coco Pazzo, drinking at the Sky Bar, or just hanging out in the lobby, the Mondrian is about being seen. Even the smallish pool—with its proportionally oversized deck of mattresses and lounge chairs—is meant less for swimming than it is for self display. The Mondrian is LA in a nutshell, and like the city, you'll either love or hate it — but no hotel sums up the Strip better. For additional information, or to make a reservation, click on Mondrian Hotel or on Tablet Hotels.   Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas   Hard to believe this is West Hollywood—these secluded suites and villas are so private, and the Whiskey Bar so strict with its admissions, that one need never be reminded of the throngs of celeb-watchers and velvet-ropers that beset most of LA’s other hot spots. This exclusive atmosphere, and possibly the state-of-the-art recording studio in the basement, are the keys to the Sunset Marquis’s rock star appeal. Unlike some rock-and-roll hotels, this one’s decor avoids retro kitsch and glam decadence, opting instead for an understated modern style, all clean lines and rich earth tones—and the low-lying two-story villa construction takes some of the fun out of heaving television sets out windows. So as much as the buzz about this place may center on its music industry connections, this is no Chelsea, no debaucherous rock dormitory. Today’s rock stars are more traveling businesspeople than tortured artists, so it’s sensible that their favorite hotel would be perfect for their colleagues in other less glamorous industries. Soundproof windows ensure that unless you’re cutting an album, you won’t hear noise from the studio—or, for that matter, the pool—and everything today’s harried business traveler requires is close at hand, from 24-hour room service and extensive health and fitness facilities to a business center and airline ticket desk. Guests gain access to the Whiskey Bar, and to be frank, that’s the only way most of us could ever make it past the doorman—the benefit, of course, is that it’s one place in Hollywood that you won’t have to rub elbows with sightseers from the Valley or Orange County. The hotel is located on a quiet residential cul-de-sac off of Sunset Boulevard, and is very private indeed—once off the compound, however, all the sights (and shopping) of Hollywood are close at hand, including the bizarre and legendary nightlife of the Sunset Strip. For additional information, or to make a reservation, click on Sunset Marquis Hotel & Villas or on Tablet Hotels.

Have a suggestion for a nice place to stay in this area? Like to list your hotel on this page? Just send Jim all of the information and he will check it out. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com