Tucked away in a forgettable street (La Peer St, no less) as you appraoch the outskirts of the trendy West Hollywood area, is a brand new hotel from the trusted Kimpton chain, the La Peer Hotel. It’s a stunning space which seems to do everything it can to be unlike all the other hotels in the area.
With an unassuming (though incredibly stylish) front entrance that most would drive past and ignore, this is not a hotel screaming out for attention. Nor does it want to follow the trend of other hotels to add in the hottest nightclub, or a pool club on its roof. Unlike many LA hotels, the pool is rather on the ground floor, as is the gym, and the roof is home to a spectacular view and entertaining area.
Up here you’ll find both an indoor and outdoor function area, lights draped above the outdoor area and a spot of art, as you look out over the Hollywood Hills. So while they haven’t totally ignored the rooftop trend, but they have avoided it as its norm.
It’s not a cheap hotel, but it’s a remarkably affordable one, with an impressive amount of inclusive benefits to really make your stay worthwhile. We enjoyed a complimentary drink at check in, and they offer a “social hour” from 5pm to 6pm in the lobby. There are free bikes to use to explore the area (West Hollywood being a rare strip of Los Angeles that can be easily explored on bike), and will even cover your Uber should you be needing to travel somewhere within 1 mile. Honestly though, Uber is so cheap in this town that I wouldn’t have wanted to bother them with the task. But it’s still great that they’re encouraging everyone to explore the surrounding area’s restaurants, bars and shopping. In the mornings you’ll also find some complimentary tea and coffee at check in.
It’s a small hotel, there’s only four floors and a rooftop, but it doesn’t feel small when you’re inside. The lobby area is large and luxurious, with a spectacular colour sheme of grey, white, exposed wood and occasional strips of gold that run throughout the hotel, including in your rooms. I admire the consistency, especially when it’s as classy and well designed as this hotel. Some areas are well lit, while others are dimly exposed for atmosphere, above some ridiculously comfortable chairs, surrounded by books to enjoy.
You’ll find a massive bar out the back of the hotel, which sits next to a small but comfortable pool.
The Room
And then there’s the room. There’s nothing not to love about it – from the stunning design (take a look for starters at the modern light fixtures next to bed), to the ridiculously comfortable bed. A piece reminiscent of Jeff Koon’s Balloon Rabbit sits beside the bed, and a Terry O’Neill book sits up on the shelves above a wall of alcohol that acts as your mini-bar, and a small fake succulent. They say they want you to treat your room as “your own private Speakeasy”. Should you need more treats, there’s an extensive menu for room service available from 7am to midnight.
There are a couple of comfortable chairs in the room, a working area, and a large flat screen TV with all the channels and the usual trimmings, including Pay Per View movie options. It also has Google Chromecast built in, which means you can enjoy Netflix from your own device, or whatever else you may want to cast to the TV. The smart TV should be requiste of all modern hotel rooms these days shouldn’t it? Oh, and another requisite box ticked – there are plenty of plugs around the room too.
Elsewhere in the room you’ll find a yoga mat, and what is possibly the most comfortable gown I’ve ever worn; thick and fluffy underneath, it’s like a warm hug. And you’ll need it after you enjoy the stunning bath, which sits against a slightly transparent window, that gives the enclosed space an open plan feel.
And should you not want to make the bath for yourself, or maybe you want it ready for your arrival, you can request a member of the staff to draw it for you. For an additional fee, there are also customizable bath rituals by Ole Henriksen Spa to truly make the experience a special one. Threre’s also a rain shower sitting nearby the bath, should the other option not take your fancy.
And then there’s the service. From the moment you walk into the hotel, to the moment you leave, the front desk and concierge are among the friendliest and most helpful staff I’ve encountered in the city. From late night food tips, to bike rentals, they’ll be able to help you out with whatever you might need.
Also, shortly after check in, rather than recieving a call to my room to check how everything was, the man at the front desk actually texted me to make sure everything was sufficient. A wonderful move by the hotel to show that they’re always going to be available to help – but they’re not going to bother you relentlessly to remind you of this (you know the sort of service I’m talking about).
About the Surrounds
You’re just on the edge of West Hollywood, with the run of bars and clubs and restaurants on Santa Monica Blvd at your fingertips. Gay bars and the rainbow pedestrian crossing at San Vicente and Santa Monica is just a few mins walk away. You’ll also find 24 hour diners like kitchen 24, a short walk down the road, and legendary bar/restaurants like Barney’s Beanery all within a mile of the hotel.
Final Verdict
The La Peer Hotel is among the best I’ve stayed in anywhere in the world. With excellent service, a stunningly beautiful design (with a colour scheme I couldn’t get enough of), and an aim to ensure comfort and ease of service above all other qualitites, no trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a night in Kimpton’s newest property. Perfection doesn’t come around this often.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Kimpton La Peer Hotel is located 627 N La Peer Dr, West Hollywood. To book a night at the hotel, head to their official website, or book them directly through the bookings space below. As of the time of printing, the hotel is offering a three nights for the price of two deal.
The author stayed as a guest of the hotel for one night and travelled to Los Angeles courtesy of Delta Air Lines. Delta fly daily to the US, alongside partner airline Virgin Australia, from Sydney and Melbourne. Flights right now are well below $1,000 return from the East Coast of Australia to LAX, with flights as low as $755 spotted with some carriers. Check with your travel agent for more details.
