- Hotel Angeleno: an exterior view. - (c) Norman Kolpas
Back in 1970, the 17-story circular building that is now home to the Hotel Angeleno originally rose as a Holiday Inn. That budget-conscious chain hotel seemed incongruous in such an elite Los Angeles location, at the meeting point of three of the city’s most upscale residential neighborhoods: Brentwood, Bel-Air, and Westwood (home to UCLA).
Yet, one aspect of the location also seemed wholly appropriate: its setting alongside the Sunset Boulevard off-ramp of the always-busy San Diego Freeway (also known as Interstate 405). The constant rush of traffic put some of the most popular Los Angeles tourist attractions, including Santa Monica and Malibu, Universal Studios, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and even Disneyland, within an easy drive. And the constant traffic noise—well, that wasn’t so bad in light of the convenient location or the reasonable prices.
A New Life for Hotel Angeleno
But a chic new life awaited the tower-shaped relic. In June 2006, it reopened as the refurbished and remodeled Hotel Angeleno, part of the San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre group of hip boutique-style hotels.
Today, Hotel Angeleno exemplifies a hip, cool Eurochic aesthetic, from its minimalist lobby done in earth tones to its austere Southwestern-style pool area; its stylishly spare rooms with ultra-comfortable beds, efficient work stations with free Internet access, and large wall-mounted flat-screen TVs to excellent dining (and occasional live jazz) with spectacular city views at West Restaurant & Lounge on its penthouse level.
Room Rates at Hotel Angeleno
Joie de Vivre prides itself on creating hotels filled with luxurious amenities that, combined with streamlined services, provide comfort and style at prices offering good value for money. Rooms of comparable quality and flair at nearby upscale hotels can sometimes cost as much as twice as a Joie de Vivre stay.
That’s certainly true at Hotel Angeleno, where room rates can start at well below $200 per night. (Check online travel services such as Expedia for good deals.) Bear in mind, though, that depending on the purpose of the trip to L.A., the hotel’s pluses can outweigh its minuses, or vice-versa.
Pros: Reasons to Stay at Hotel Angeleno
Value and convenience are key reasons to stay at Hotel Angeleno. Consider:
- Price. Room rates can be surprisingly reasonable.
- Location. The location is incredibly convenient. The Getty Center is in sight and a five-minute drive away. Via freeway at non-peak hours, Santa Monica is 10 to 15 minutes; Universal Studios about 20 minutes; Hollywood 25 to 30 minutes; and Disneyland 45 minutes to 1 hour away. On surface streets, Westwood and UCLA are 5 to 10 minutes and Beverly Hills 15 to 20 minutes away.
- Views. Especially from higher rooms, the views in every direction can be breathtaking.
- Comfort. Excellent pillow-topped mattresses and 300-thread-count cotton bedding provide outstanding sleep comfort.
- Dining. West Restaurant & Lounge on the penthouse level offers a contemporary grill-style menu and good wine selections.
- Hipness. Joie de Vivre tends to attract a hip younger crowd of guests.
Cons: Reasons to Think Twice About Hotel Angeleno
As much as an advantage as the location can be, it also brings distinct disadvantages worth considering:
- Noise. Despite double-glazed windows, traffic noise from the 405 Freeway still filters into the rooms, and may disturb the sleep of guests not used to such an urban setting.
- Traffic. Especially during peak commuter rushes, streets surrounding the hotel can be very congested.
- Service. Joie de Vivre sometimes seems to pare down its service-related amenities, such as newspapers or hotel shops. Hotel Angeleno guests don’t automatically get newspapers at their doors, and there’s only a lobby-level coffee bar open from 6:30 am to mid-afternoon.
In short, consider Hotel Angeleno for a budget-conscious but comfortable business, shopping, or sightseeing trip focused on such Westside communities like Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood, or Beverly Hills, but bring earplugs if noise is likely to be an issue. For a more relaxed or leisurely stay, a family vacation, or one less concerned with the hipness factor, look elsewhere.
Contact Information
Hotel Angeleno
170 N. Church Lane
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: 310-476-6411
Fax: 310-472-1157
Reservations: 866-264-3536
Norman Kolpas - I've been writing about lifestyle topics–including food, travel, art, design, books, theater, and movies–since the ...
