Andaz West Hollywood

A lot's changed at 8401 West Sunset Boulevard since 1975, when Robert Plant allegedly yelled, "I am a golden god!" from one of the hotel's balconies. The hotel once known as the "Riot Hyatt" has softened its edges considerably, reopening in January 2009 as Hyatt's second Andaz property. Gone are the balconies from which rock's two most famous Keiths -- Moon and Richards -- both tossed televisions; they have been replaced with glass-enclosed, rockstar-safe "sunrooms" that overlook the Sunset Strip. Also gone: windows that open, thanks, at least in spirit, to Jim Morrison, who lived at the hotel until he was reportedly evicted for hanging from his window, suspended above the Sunset Boulevard pavement. (For more on the hotel's riotous history, click here.)Not that the Andaz has completely abandoned its rock(y) past. This is, after all, where the rockingest of all groups, Led Zeppelin, rented as many as six floors in the mid- and late-1970s for the band and its entourage. Each stylish room includes a different LP (remember those?), which, though not terribly practical -- don't try to play it in the iHome -- provides a faint reminder of the hotel's storied history. Andaz means "personal style" in Hindi, and the Southern California branch sports plenty of the sleek, sexy modernity you'd expect in West Hollywood: an inviting rooftop pool with 360-degree views and fun modern art. The spacious, comfortable rooms feature some nice freebies, notably the high-quality snacks and (nonalcoholic) drinks and the Wi-Fi ("Our goal is to be hassle free," it says on your screen when you log in. "That's why the internet's on us. … Surf's up!").The Andaz sits on the same stretch of Sunset Boulevard as a number of other impressive hotels, including the achingly hip Standard Hollywood and celebrity magnet Chateau Marmont, which are down the road, and the extravagantly designed Mondrian and understated Sunset Tower, which you could hit with a television from the roof of the Andaz. It's a nice mix of style and comfort at a reasonable rate, making the Andaz an excellent pick.

Located in a prime part of West Hollywood -- a famous bar (Saddle Ranch) and comedy club (Comedy Store) are the hotel's next-door neighbors -- the Andaz sits on the same stretch of Sunset Boulevard as a number of other popular and notable hotels, including the Standard Hollywood and Chateau Marmont, which are down the road, and the Mondrian and Sunset Tower, across the street. So, choices abound.The Sunset Strip, which has long been known for its famed music clubs like the House of Blues (right across the street), the Roxy, Viper Room, and Whisky A Go-Go, has gotten significantly more upscale than its strip-club and head-shop days in the '70s and '80s. Not that all the grit is gone -- a few (now legal) marijuana dispensaries dot the area, and panhandlers still operate along Sunset. Overall, though, the neighborhood is safe and clean.- 10-minute walk from Sunset Plaza, a half-mile stretch of upscale boutiques and restaurants like BLT Steak, Roberto Cavalli, and Catherine Maladrino

• Two miles from the heart of the Hollywood and its Walk of Fame
• Universal Studios is about 20 minutes away by car.
• Three-mile, 10-minute drive from Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills
• Santa Monica and L.A.'s beaches are about 30 minutes away by car.
• Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is about 14 miles away from the hotel, which can translate to a 45-minute drive in traffic.
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can be up to a 90-minute drive away.
• Tip: To avoid a pricey cab from the airport, opt for a shared-ride van with a service like Supershuttle, which costs about one-third as much.

The Andaz's rooms are excellent. Completely overhauled in 2008, they excel in both the crucial elements (beds, bathrooms, technology) and the little things that make a hotel stay special (bath products, freebies, views). Standard rooms run 300 (Andaz Rooms) or 350 (View Rooms) square feet -- about average for L.A., but they feel plenty spacious, partly because the bathrooms are quite small. The free snacks and drinks are supposed to be healthy and include items like Popchips and Nature Valley bars.- Rooms overlook the Hollywood hills on one side (the "Andaz" series) and most of rest of L.A. (at least on a clear day) on the other. It costs for an upgrade from an Andaz to a View, which also gives you 50 more square feet and a sunroom. But even the view from the Andaz rooms is picturesque, so you can't lose either way.

• Comfortable beds with Sealy Posturpedic Mattresses, soft pillows, and Pacific Coast down duvets
• 37-inch LG flat-screen TVs with about 40 channels
• Free and reliable Wi-Fi, but it's not terribly high-speed (just fast enough to stream YouTube)
• iHome iPod docks
• Free snacks and nonalcoholic beverages (liquor and beer, also available, cost extra)
• Big showers with good water pressure
• Frette 100 percent cotton bathrobes
• Luxe toiletries by Lather

The Andaz boasts the standard big-city business-hotel collection of amenities -- fitness center, meeting rooms, public computers -- but the highlight, to be sure, is the pool atop the 14-floor building. Reliable word has it that it's a pretty wicked place to kick it when the sun is out. Even if you're not in a drinking mood, head up there, snag one of the cabanas overlooking the rest of L.A., and take in the killer view.- Pool open sunrise to sunset, but special requests are usually accommodated

• Pool Cocktail Hours, when the weather's nice, on Friday and Saturday nights
• Modern, well-equipped fitness center with cardio machines, free weights, strength-training machines, and complimentary bottles of water (but be sure to bring your own headphones if you want to listen to music or enjoy the TVs on the cardio machines)
• Four small but stylish and high-tech meeting rooms (called studios); one larger ballroom on the top floor (2,700 square feet), which is great for weddings and other events
• No business center, per se, but there are three free computers in the lobby

What makes West Hollywood so appealing -- its bars and nightclubs, high-design hotels, and sedate vibe -- are precisely what make it less family-friendly than other neighborhoods in L.A., particularly Hollywood and the beaches. Still, there's no reason in particular not to take the kids to West Hollywood -- the Sunset Strip's seediest days are long gone -- and if you do, the Andaz is one of the more family-friendly options in the area.- Free cribs and rollaway beds

• Connecting rooms available
• Pool can be sceney, but children are welcome
• Le Parc Suites, also in West Hollywood, isn't as nice as the Andaz, but it's far more kid-friendly. For a list of the best family hotels in all of L.A., click here.

The Andaz's restaurant, Riot House, isn't particularly well known, but that's a reflection of the stiff competition in the area (including some high-profile eateries at other hotels), not the quality of the food. Serving California cuisine, meals are delicious and not outrageously expensive.- Steak, sushi, Italian, Mexican, burgers, and diner fare are among the many dining options within walking distance, though a car is definitely useful (as always in L.A.).

• Food and drinks also available poolside at the Sundeck.