Hotel check: Hollywood Roosevelt, a Thompson Hotel

WHAT’S IT LIKE? A member of the Thompson Hotels group – sitting alongside a portfolio of US properties including Hotel Victor on Miami Beach, the Thompson Toronto, Six Columbus in New York and Donovan House in Washington DC – the Spanish Colonial-style Roosevelt is in the process of a multimillion-dollar revamp. The Blossom ballroom that hosted the first-ever Academy Awards in 1929 was refreshed a few years ago, but more recently the Roosevelt’s 60 Cabana bedrooms, the Spare room and Beachers Madhouse venues, and ground-floor restaurant and bar, were refurbished in the spring, with the last earning a new menu and new name – Public (it was previously Dakota). The Tower rooms have yet to be given a facelift. Marked by an unmissable glowing pink neon sign on top of the building, the Roosevelt originally opened in 1927 and, thanks to its location in the heart of Hollywood, has maintained a reputation for accommodating many glamorous movie stars and events – Marilyn Monroe famously lived here for two years and one of her early shoots was taking by the hotel’s pool. Today, it continues to attract people working in show business, and in the evenings the on-site bars and lobby lounge, with its old brown Chesterfields, painted ceiling and wrought iron chandeliers, is particularly lively with visitors meandering in and out and few staff on view. (Guests can enter via the street entrance on Hollywood Boulevard or, more commonly, from the back where there is a car park, porters and doormen.) WHERE IS IT? On Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame, diagonally opposite Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Los Angeles International airport (LAX) is about 30km away, which takes about 30 minutes by car, traffic permitting. (Expect to pay about US$60 in a taxi.) ROOM FACILTIES The interiors of the bedrooms vary widely, from the luxurious revamped Cabana suites to the masculine, rather lived-in look of the Tower rooms. Standard features in all include wifi access for US$15 per 24 hours, irons/ironing boards, comfy beds with 400 thread-count linens, workdesks, flatscreen TVs, iPod docks, well-stocked minibars (expect to pay US$7 for a Heineken or US$8.50 for 50ml of Ketel One Citroen vodka) and 24-hour room service. My Tower room had great views of Hollywood Boulevard but having the windows open at night meant there was noise from traffic and sirens. There was a lot of space (a good 50 sqm) but the interior was fairly dark and spartan with bare dark grey concrete walls, grey carpeting, a freestanding steel lamp, a glass-topped coffee table and a large photograph above the bed of a musician smoking. Very rock ‘n’ roll. The bathroom was in need of a lick of paint and some contemporary fittings, as the walls were raw and the walk-in power shower outdated (to top it off, I couldn’t find a temperature control). There was also a low tub, robes, Co Bigelow bathing products, a shave mirror, and a heavy wooden sliding door that was awkward to pull across. RESTAURANTS AND BARS A veritable drinking and dining hotspot in itself, the Roosevelt has several bars and eateries that are worth trying. I had a tasty burger and huge portion of herb fries in 25 Degrees for US$9 – perfect for late-night munchies, as it’s open 24 hours a day. Public serves lunch, weekend brunch and dinner, with a menu offering dishes such as pot roast for US$22. My favourite spot was by the pool, although when I stopped by late one night the Tropicana bar had actually stopped serving but I was able to get a drink from Public and take it through with me. Other options include the Library bar (daily from 5.30pm), and private members’ club Beacher’s Madhouse, which is a “vaudeville-inspired theatre that features over a dozen variety acts nightly that push the boundaries of sexuality, entertainment, fantasy and innocence”. (Tickets can be purchased by calling +1 323 7853 036.) Unfortunately I did not get the chance the visit. BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES The hotel has about 2,300 sqm of event space in total, with a good range of uniquely designed dedicated function rooms, as well as the option of hiring out sections of the public areas and bars. For example, Teddy’s can accommodate up to 180 delegates for a reception, while the Tropicana pool can host almost 500 people standing. The characterful Blossom ballroom has a translucent glass roof and a mezzanine balcony, and has a capacity of 300 theatre-style, while the Academy room can seat 40 in a conference layout. The ground floor reception area has two PCs for guests to avail of. LEISURE FACILTIES Open from 7am, the heated outdoor swimming pool was hand-painted with blue swooshes by David Hockney, and is fringed with palm trees, exotic plants, and loungers, and looked on to by the Cabana rooms. Yoga takes place here on Saturday mornings (reservations are recommended) but in the afternoons and evenings it becomes a buzzing hangout, with fashionistas schmoozing at the bar that is illuminated with fairy lights and fire pits. There is also a 24-hour gym and an al fresco spa garden (by appointment only, 9am-9pm). The mezzanine level offers the Spare room, which is a “modern day gaming parlour” that has vintage bowling lanes and is open Wednesday to Friday from 6pm and Monday and Saturday from 9pm (book in advance). The Kodak Theatre (where the Oscars are held annually) and the Egyptian cinema are a few minutes’ walk away, along with plenty of bars, cafés and tourist shops. VERDICT A trendy hotel in the heart of Hollywood that manages to successfully combine a great meetings offering with buzzing nightlife and glamorous heritage. It lacks a feeling of exclusivity and privacy, though, as so many non-hotel guests are passing through and there are few staff on hand. Stay in one of the revamped Cabana suites for the best experience. FACT FILE: HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 300 rooms across categories including Superior, Deluxe, Studio, Cabana (Garden/Balcony/Poolside/Suite), Thompson suite, Marilyn Monroe suite and Gable Lombard Penthouse. ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The great views of Hollywood Boulevard, the very comfy bed and the large amount of space with a walk-in wardrobe and living area. PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in February started from US$300 for a Superior King room. CONTACT Hollywood Roosevelt, 7,000 Hollywood Boulevard; tel +1 323 4667 000; thompsonhotels.com Jenny Southan