Montrose West Hollywood

With spacious suites and a rooftop pool deck with a seasonal bar and tennis court, the Montrose suits those who want a break from the traffic and noise of L.A. The hotel encourages seclusion, with an emphasis on "suite service," which is the hotel's marketing term for room service, and a guest-only restaurant hidden at the back of the lobby. The residential neighborhood, just three blocks south of Sunset Boulevard, also provides a dose of calm -- but also means at least a short walk to anything outside of the hotel. Decor emphasizes the local hip art music scenes (indeed, many producers and musicians stay here). Brown leather sofas in the restaurant encourage relaxing and mingling. 

The Montrose is located in a residential section of West Hollywood, three blocks above the Sunset Strip, the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard known for its iconic rock clubs and night spots (the hotel is a short walk from Whiskey a Go Go,  the Roxy, and Viper Room) and its collection of premier boutiques and restaurants. Touristy destinations like Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the celebrity handprints at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre are all within a 10-minute drive. Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, an enclave of wealthy living and luxury shopping in the middle of L.A.'s westside, are also 10 minutes away by car. Budget at least a 30-minute driving time to reach Santa Monica and L.A.'s beaches. Depending on traffic, the drive to Los Angeles International (LAX), can take up to an hour. Note that there's some self-parking available on the street in front of the hotel, but valet parking is best for overnight. 

The Montrose's 133 suites are generously sized -- they start at 425 square feet. Every unit has a pillow-top bed (or two), a gas fireplace, and a 42-inch flat-screen HDTV with HBO, Showtime, and movies on demand. Some rooms have dedicated kitchen space, while all have at least a Keurig coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and  minibar stocked with beer, wine, liquor, and snacks. Wi-Fi is covered in the amenity fee. Most of the suites have a balcony. Decor is very hip and slightly Avant Garde, look for a gold hand-shaped chair, enormous art, and record accented pillows. Some suites have a step-down or step-up living room or bedroom area. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combos, bathrobes, hairdryers, and Gilchrist & Soames toiletries. Decor is just as detailed, with geometric print walls and marble vanities. Housekeeping visits twice every day.  

The Montrose has a good number of leisure facilities at hand. The star of the show is the rooftop area, which contains a heated saltwater pool and a tennis court (rackets and balls available on request). The surrounding pool deck has tables and chairs, loungers, and cabanas, and poolside food and drink service is available through Privato, the hotel's restaurant. Privato is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's handy for its all-day poolside menu and cocktail list, and 24-hour room service. 

The hotel also has a good-size fitness center with cardio and weight machines, free weights, and a sauna. For those who need to work, there is a business center, as well as a large and well decorated meeting room that can be partitioned into two spaces. Guests have free use of loaner bikes, and there are coin-operated laundry facilities, in addition to valet laundry service. Wi-Fi is free under the amenity fee, which also covers luggage storage and daily bottled water in the rooms. Valet parking costs a steep daily fee.