Rooms With a View

West Bar
Rooms With a View
And a superb location, too, at the Hotel Angeleno
S
BY JEAN T. BARRETT
tanding 16 stories in the heart of
Brentwood, the Hotel Angeleno’s
distinctive circular design is a
landmark for the multitudes of
drivers who pass it daily.
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JUNE 2013
usairwaysmag.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOTEL ANGELENO
Pool terrace
fireplace
In the vastness that is Los Angeles, the hotel
also turns out to be particularly well located
for art lovers — near the Getty Center and the
Skirball Cultural Center, and a short hop from
UCLA. So the Angeleno is an ideal beachhead
from which to explore the artistic and cultural
riches of Los Angeles, not to mention its top
tourist attractions.
To fully appreciate the hotel’s strategic
location, ascend to the penthouse level and
step into West Restaurant & Lounge, which
commands a spectacular view of L.A., from
the hills to Catalina Island. Straight ahead, the
405 Freeway South leads to Culver City, LAX,
Long Beach, and into Orange County. To your
left, the museums and music venues of downtown, mid-Wilshire, Westwood, and Beverly
Hills beckon; to your right are the arts and
cultural resources of the West Side, Santa
Monica, and Malibu.
Close at hand are the pleasures of a wellcrafted cocktail from West’s bartenders, a glass
of wine from the all-California wine list, and
tempting tastes from chef Laura Scollan’s
locally sourced menu, which proves that a
“view restaurant” can serve good food after all.
Of course, the Hotel Angeleno is known
among frequent travelers for much more than
its fine restaurant and central location. The
independently owned and operated property
distinguishes itself by offering free valet parking to guests, an almost unheard of amenity
that can cost $30 per day or more elsewhere.
Another welcoming touch is that each evening
from 5:30 to 6:30, hotel staffers host a wine
hour in the lobby, giving weary travelers an
opportunity to relax and socialize before embarking on their evening plans.
The 208 guest rooms, each with private
balconies, boast panoramic views of the city.
Three one-bedroom suites provide that extra
measure of space and comfort. Rooms are
outfitted with two-line phones, 300-threadcount bed linens, flat panel LCD HD televisions with over 50 HD channels including
HBO, and free Wi-Fi, a vital amenity for today’s
connected traveler. And you never know what
might happen during check-in, when guests are
invited to spin a wheel for the chance to win a
drink, cup of coffee in the lobby lounge, or
even a complimentary room upgrade. It’s that
sense of creativity and fun that distinguishes
the Angeleno from the corporate chain hotels.
While the hotel is freeway-adjacent, many
guests would just as soon leave the driving to
professionals, so the Angeleno offers a free
shuttle service to destinations within a threemile radius. That covers plenty of artistic
ground, including the Getty, the Skirball, the
Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA,
the Fowler Museum, the Geffen Playhouse,
and the Hammer Museum. Turns out letting
someone else take the wheel may be the
ultimate luxury.
Clockwise from top
left: a room with a
view, West Lounge,
Porte Cochere and
entrance, West
Restaurant, breakfast
at West
170 North Church Lane
Los Angeles, CA
310.476.6411
hotelangeleno.com
Exit Metro Local
Line 2 at Church Lane.
See map on page TK;
more information at
metro.net.
usairwaysmag.com
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