900 Wilshire Blvd, Vehicle entry on 7th St. btwn S Figueroa and Francisco St., Los Angeles, California, United States | (888) 962-8097
In a 73-story skyscraper, 70th-floor lobby offers breathtaking city and (distant) ocean views from floor-to-ceiling windows
Downtown Los Angeles location is walkable to plethora of restaurants, shops, and Staples Center
Tasteful executive-style rooms with electronic controls, Keurig machines, and minibars -- all with stunning views
Club Rooms come with free lounge access, breakfast, and cocktails
Wide range of bars and restaurants, from a farm-to-table restaurant to a sushi counter to upscale French dining
Large outdoor pool with a hot tub and adjacent bar, No Dive Bar
Tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, Spire 73
Enormous and modern fitness center
94,000 square feet of elegant event space
Heights aren't for everyone
Spire 73 occasionally closes due to weather
Smart elevators can be frustrating to operate
The upscale InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is the place to be for business travelers. The hotel may be located in buzzing downtown, but everything here is actually up -- way up. The breathtaking lobby is on the 70th floor, and it's filled with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows -- those who aren't afraid of heights can take the smart elevators up three more stories to one of the highest open-air bars in the world, Spire 73. All of the 889 rooms and suites provide epic views, plus business contemporary design and Keurig coffeemakers. Features include a massive fitness center, range of restaurants and bars, elevated outdoor pool, and seemingly endless event space. The biggest downsides are expensive valet parking and confusing smart elevators. The Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles is a good historic alternative, and it has an indoor pool.
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Scene
Dizzying heights and a corporate vibe
The InterContinental is the tallest building on the West Coast, and it features a 70th-floor sky lobby with enormous windows for views over the city stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean (visible on a clear day). Rooms and most of the restaurants also take advantage of the height, and there are vistas from almost every vantage point in the hotel. On sunny days, the natural light is almost blinding and the effect can be dizzying (in a good way). Smart elevators shoot guests from the first-floor entrance up to the lobby in rapid time -- expect your ears to pop on the ride up. Though the elevators are energy efficient and fast, the system is confusing overall. The hotel employs an elevator operator during the busiest times of day to help guests navigate. InterContinental is an upscale chain that caters to business travelers, and it shows in the pleasant and slightly bland executive-style decor. For the absolute best views, Spire 73 is the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. Note that it does close in inclement weather.
Location
Downtown Los Angeles, a 10-minute walk from Staples Center
Downtown Los Angeles is a commercial center with an exploding and increasingly hip art, restaurant, and bar scene. The immediate surrounding area includes banks, office buildings, and a mall, and it's only 10 minutes on foot to L.A. Live and the Staples Center. The Broad art museum is a 17-minute walk (or seven-minute drive); Grand Central Market is a 20-minute walk (or seven-minute drive); the Walt Disney Concert Hall is a 20-minute walk (or eight-minute drive). Farther afield, it's a 30-minute drive to Universal Studios Hollywood and 45 minutes to Venice Beach. Los Angeles International Airport takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to reach, depending on traffic.
Rooms
Executive-style rooms with enormous floor-to-ceiling windows and peekaboo bathrooms
There are a whopping 889 rooms and suites spread over the top (but not the very top) floors of the InterContinental skyscraper. All of the rooms have massive floor-to-ceiling windows for sweeping views of Los Angeles. Decor is also quite similar, with a muted color palette, gradated gray carpet, and furnishings with subtle Mid-Century Modern lines. Superior Rooms feature wood and gray day beds near the windows, and a large mural behind the bed that boldly proclaims, "In Los Angeles, Everyone's A Star." Features include a flat-screen TV, electronic controls, Keurig coffeemaker, minibar, iron, and ironing board. The peekaboo bathroom has a shaded privacy window that lets in light. Soaking tubs, glass showers, and private water closets are standard -- as are hairdryers and toiletries.Club Rooms are located on the highest floors. These rooms come with access to the InterContinental Lounge and its free breakfast, afternoon snacks, and evening cocktails.
Features
Range of restaurants, open-air cocktail bar, swimming pool, and enormous fitness center
InterContinental's brand is known for business features, and the Downtown Los Angeles outpost does a great job of catering to both business and leisure guests with its range of amenities. Dining is complete. There's an independently owned coffee shop with pastries and hot items for sale, just next to the ground floor arrival area. Up on the 70th floor, the Lobby Lounge offers a selection of wines, cocktails, and burgers, with an emphasis on vodka drinks. On the 69th floor, Dekkadance is the spot for farm-to-table fare and a hot buffet. La Boucherie combines steakhouse favorites and French cuisine for an upscale twist. Sora is the intimate sushi restaurant. And way up on the 73rd floor, Spire 73 is one of the tallest open-air bars in the world. Note that it closes in inclement weather. Room service is available 24 hours. Guests in Club Level rooms get access to the lounge and its free breakfast, snacks, and evening cocktails.For relaxing, the second-story outdoor pool is a quiet spot. There's an adjacent bar/restaurant, No Dive Bar. Expect lots of privacy and plenty of sun loungers, but note that surrounding buildings block the sun for a good portion of the day. The nearby color ambient industrial-style gym is enormous and includes cutting edge cardio equipment, strength-training machines, and loads of classes. Wi-Fi is free for IGH members, a free loyalty program. The hotel has over 95,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Valet parking is available for a fee, typical in Los Angeles.
