West Los Angeles Hotel Update
 

For the Los Angeles area posters (like myself!), here's a couple of updates on a few hotels we've discussed in the past:

The Holiday Inn located at the 405 and Sunset Blvd. intersection in Brentwood, by the Getty was, as reported, closed down and renovated. It's slated to reopen this month as the Hotel Angeleno, described as a boutique upscale hotel. The website is hotelangeleno.com

The Doubletree on Wilshire Blvd. in Westwood has been sold to a Texas group, and will be closed and renovated, and reopen as another upscale boutique hotel called the Hotel Palomar. No details on the opening date on this one.

This seems to be a pattern doesn't it, closing the chain hotels in and around L.A., renovating, and opening as a boutique (and usually much more expensive) hotel. It also happened to that old hotel in Santa Monica that is now the Viceroy, and the old Radisson Huntley that is now just "The Huntley".
A good thing for those looking for a nicer and more upscale hotel, but a bad thing for the wallet.

Very true. Hard to find anything on the Westside other than the beautifully renovated Culver Hotel at a reasonable price.

I don't know The Culver but would like to hear more about it. Location?

The Angeleno has a re-opening special at $139...not sure how much parking is, but that looks like a good price and seems to be available many nights for the next few months. Great hotel if you're going to the Getty, and I believe they have a shuttle into the UCLA Westwood district...but otherwise you'll need a car if you stay here.

I've been at the Huntley for 4 -5 days at a time the last few weeks and have enjoyed that location. But these old renovated properties have their quirks, even after the nice renovations. I have learned that you have to go into them knowing that you will need to figure out what rooms are good and what rooms are to be avoided and what the quirks are due to the age of the buidlings ( old ventilation systems that work better on some floors than others, old and potentially noisy elevators, etc.). Once you figure those things out, the stay can be fine.

I plan to try the Ambrose also. Looks very interesting and gets good reviews. From their map it also looks like a good lcoation for the Getty.

Joe, the Culver Hotel is located on Culver Blvd. in Culver City. It is a landmark historic hotel, now lovingly restored, as is most of that area of Culver City. Near the new Kirk Douglas Theatre, which is another renovated old movie house. The Culver is reknowned for being in a few of the old Laurel & Hardy movies, right by Sony and Culver studios, and directly across from the Culver theatre, which has first run movies. A Trader Joe's is across the street, and there are a number of good eateries in the area.

It also was the home of the "Munchkins" during the shooting of the Wizard of Oz.

Cool I'll check it out, thanks.

What suggestions do you have for good restuarnats in the Culver City area?

As an update on the hotels in that area, I stayed at the W Hotel Westwood for a week in May. Nice hotel, very large two rm. rooms (completely separate living area and sleeping area, two TVs). Had a bit of a problem w/front desk but it was taken care of by the manager who moved me to an even bigger suite and sent me up a bottle of wine and dinner gratis. Nice area right around UCLA to walk around w/restaurants, shops, etc.

Now I hope someone will help you out w/Culver City restaurants...

Regarding the Palomar, it will be a Kimpton hotel when it opens summer 2007. This will be their first venture into the LA market and I wouldn't be surprised if they do it up extra-nice. They always have what they call "chef-driven" restaurants in the hotels, which often become destinations in their own right. Wonder who they'll pick as chef? Hotel Palomar here in SF has the fabulous Fifth Floor restaurant.

http://www.downtownculvercity.com/dining.php

Sorry I don't have any personal recommmendations. When I go to Rancho Park for golf, my favorite stop for lunch is the Nizam Indian buffet on Pico. Not too far from Culver City.

For a casual "go back in time" lunch try Apple Pan:http://losangeles.citysearch.com/profile/92490/
Looks like only a few miles from Culver City.

FYI, I have been to the Apple Pan twice in the past couple years and really like it. Great burgers and Apple Pie. And the counter ambiance is a lot of fun.