Not sure where to stay when you visit the City of Angels? lastminute lovely Nicole has the answer.
I love Hollywood glamour and romance as much as the next girl. So deciding where to stay for my very first trip to Los Angeles, was an unusually easy choice for this typically indecisive traveller.
Here are my top five reasons why the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is your top pick for La-La land. As soon as you step into the old time Spanish style foyer, you’ll fall in love with it too.
1. The History
Opened in 1927, hotels don’t come much more historic and glamorous than this one. As the hotel that Marilyn Monroe called home for two years early in her career, this place oozes a timeless sexy sophistication that has Hollywood past and present written all over it.
Apart from calling cabana suite 229 home, one of Marilyn’s first modelling jobs was on the diving board at the hotel pool where she posed for a suntan lotion ad!
Image courtesy of www.guestofaguest.com
There are reports that Marilyn’s spirit haunts the hotel: the ‘haunted’ mirror that once hung in her room now hangs in the mezzanine area near the lobby. There’s even a suite named in her honour.
Touches of Marilyn Monroe like this are featured throughout the hotel
Ms Monroe stories aside, the hotel also held the very first Academy Awards with a dinner for 250 in 1929 (which reportedly only lasted five minutes!)
More recently, the hotel has played set to various films (such as Catch me if you Can starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio) and TV shows (including Entourage).
2. Location, location, location
Situated on Hollywood Boulevard, the Roosevelt is right in the middle of the LA action: to the point where when you leave the hotel you literally step right onto the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
I won’t lie, it can be ridiculously busy once you step out of the lush tranquil foyer and onto Hollywood Boulevard. But if you embrace your inner tourist rather than turn your nose up at it, you’ll reap the benefits of having all the usual attractions – such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre and hop-on, hop-off tours – on your doorstep.
A little tip too: if you have had enough of all the fast food options, head to Fresh and Easy just across the road to pick up some healthier alternatives.
3. The burgers (yes this is worthy of its own point)
On check-in, the friendly reservation staff gave us the tip that their burger bar 25 Degrees are pretty special having been awarded best burgers in town a few times.
I was a little sceptical but after a 14-hour flight from Sydney, we were in desperate need of something hearty requiring minimal effort. Needless to say, these burgers exceeded all expectations. So much so that Mr LML proclaimed it to be ‘the best burger he has ever had’, not a bad outcome for the very first meal of our USA trip.
One word: Yum!
He went for the creatively titled ‘number one’: caramelised onion, prelibato gorgonzola, crescenza, bacon, arugula and thousand island dressing. An absolute steal at $12USD (plus tax).
There’s also the option to build your own burger and I can vouch for the deliciousness of the turkey option with pesto, roasted red pepper and avocado. Oh and don’t forget the fries.
The black crystal chandeliers and fancy French style wallpaper create an upscale burger bar experience with a dose of Hollywood glamour and old-school diner thrown into the mix.
Open 24 hours a day seven days a week, there’s no excuse for not squeezing in a visit here however long your stay.
4. The rooms and facilities (including THAT pool)
Located in the original wing of the hotel, the iconic pool is ideal for escaping the LA heat during the day and partying by night. The lush setting plays host to Hollywood’s ‘it’ crowd with exclusive pool parties and you won’t go thirsty or hungry with Tropicana Pool Bar on hand to serve classic margaritas and watermelon mojitos or turkey club sandwiches and pulled pork sliders.
Image courtesy of the Hollywood Roosevelt – A Thompson Hotel
The 24-hour gym compliments the 24-hour room service offering 😉
The classic rooms are decorated with warm chocolate tones. A vintage celeb photo adorns the wall above the comfy bed, adding just the right amount of Hollywood vibe to each room while the flat-screen TV and iPod docking station provided some modern touches.
5. Celeb factor
Let’s be honest, when you’re in LA you’re hoping to spot a celeb or two and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is one of the best celeb hotspots in town.
Everyone from Brad Pitt and David Beckham to Gwyneth Paltrow and Lindsay Lohan has been seen here, thanks in part to unmarked celebrity haunt Teddy’s, a dimly lit nightclub complete with VIP booths and crystal chandelier.
Image courtesy of the Hollywood Roosevelt – A Thompson Hotel
If dreams of making it big in LA aren’t on your radar prior to a visit to Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, they soon will be as you look for any way to make a more permanent stay here possible, ala Marilyn Monroe.
Nicole stayed as a guest of Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.