W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills
930 Hilgard Ave., Los Angeles, California 90024, USA
Why We Like It
Even with its misleading and often hokey naming conventions, this is still a great hotel for a stylish set looking to eat well and drink well--and also party a lot. The all-suite rooms in the 15-floor tower offer incredible city and slight ocean views, and the location is central enough to make for somewhat easy travel to other, more attraction-filled areas of the city.
Don’t let the name fool you, there’s absolutely nothing "Beverly Hills" about this hotel--including that it is not even located in Beverly Hills. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Nestled into the residential area of Westwood (home to the UCLA campus), this W is a social hotspot that amps up the energy as the sun sets–-literally. The music actually gets louder and the lights actually get dimmer, turning the lobby into an LA wonderland of super hip young people, and they're all ready to party--you have been warned. It's fun!
The W doesn’t have a concierge per se, but what is called a "W-Insider." The insider is a great resource to get you into that impossible-to-reserve-restaurant or find tickets to that sold-out game or show.
room
If you plan on spending a lot of time in the room, this would be the place to do it. This all-suite hotel provides guests with incredibly spacious digs with colorful names like the Fantastic Suite, Spectacular Suite, and Wow Suite. All the rooms have remarkable views--some reaching all the way to the ocean.
YOU SHOULD KNOW Wi-Fi is free in the common areas but you need to pay extra in the rooms.
bathroom
The bathrooms are relatively small in relation to the size of the rooms, but they have raised sinks and mostly dual shower/tubs. Bliss products are typical in W hotels and are used in the hotel spa as well. In the higher suite categories, the bathrooms get much more elaborate with price.
lobby
The lobby takes its design cues from the Pacific Ocean, with water features prominently displayed everywhere and running water careening down the stairs in the front of the hotel (don’t worry, you won’t slip). Modern design elements litter the lobby from low L-couches to elaborate art pieces on the walls. The space is designed to feel like a living room, as there’s plenty of space to "chill" (and "live").
YOU SHOULD KNOW The light in the lobby transitions from day to night and the music from ambient to clubby. It gets real loud.
pool
Like its Hollywood cousin, the pool here is aptly named Wet and hosts one of the wildest pool parties in LA each summer. Every Sunday, DJs set up their turnstiles from noon-5pm. It's basically a Vegas-style party in LA. Cabanas that line the pool have a food and beverage minimum and bottle service.
Want to trim up before you liquor up? There are fitness classes Sunday mornings at 9am that are free for guests and the public.
spa
Bliss Spa can be found at both W locations in LA, where guests can get massages, facials and more from 10 different treatment rooms.
gym
The gym (appropriately named "Fit") isn’t huge, but includes all the standard equipment. The hotel also provides fresh fruit and water.
dining
Trendy steakhouse STK attracts really trendy people, not surprisingly. This dinner-only hotspot also has its own DJ, but the soundproof walls don’t let it interfere with the Lobby’s music. In the back of the hotel is the outdoor oasis The Backyard, which sits adjacent to the pool and serves as the main hotel restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
There isn’t any coffee in the rooms, but if you come to The Backyard for breakfast, they will give it to you for free.
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LOCATION
Getting Around
Unless you want to experience LA’s public bus system, there’s not a good transportation option in this area outside of renting a car or hailing a taxi or Lyft. The good news is that you’re fairly central in the city, so it doesn’t take too long to get to the ocean or Beverly Hills or Hollywood.
Restaurants
Because of its proximity to UCLA, there are a bevy of food and drink options within walking distance. STK (inside the hotel) is still the top steakhouse choice and The Boiling Crab (8-minute walk) is one of the best (if not messiest) crab houses in LA. Inexpensive fare runs the gamut from sandwich shop Fat Sal’s (11-minute walk) to Native Foods Café (9-minute walk) for vegan options.
