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Hotel Angeleno Transforms the West Los Angeles Skyline By
Beverly Mann (Take a swim under the palm trees in the outdoor Hotel Angelino pool, pictured above) A white, cylindrical building pierces through the blue sky, towering above Los Angeles' posh Westside neighborhoods of Brentwood and Bel Air. The recently renovated boutique Hotel Angeleno, conveniently located off Highway 405, is a dramatic transformation from its original 36-year-old landmark, the Holiday Inn. The property's multimillion-dollar facelift features 209 guestrooms, three one-bedroom suites, as well as four meeting spaces (totaling 2, 575 square feet). The sleek, contemporary design of the interior is set in dark wood, slate and stone with earth, amber, and glass accents. The lobby area has the feel and comfort of a living room. The amenities are also plentiful for a reasonably-priced establishment, including free Internet access for guests, 24-hour concierge service, and a complimentary shuttle service to nearby Westwood, UCLA, Brentwood, and the not-to-be-missed Getty Center Museum.
(Hotel Angeleno brings the traditional comfort ofJoie de Vivre Hospitality to Southern California) For an even more luxurious touch, guests can bypass driving through the city's nerve wrenching traffic jams with a complimentary hotel car service in high-style Cadillac Escalades. For personal nurturing, the hotel has created Angeleno Beauty, a full-service mobile spa offering in-room and poolside pampering for the total LA laid-back comfort. Hotel Angeleno is one of 28 hotels, and the first southern California property, of San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the largest boutique hotel company in California. At the helm of this conglomerate is the creative and amicable Chip Conley. His positive energy, concern for the environment and people has manifested itselg into thriving hotels in Northern California -- and now in the Los Angeles area. Says Conley, "Hotel Angeleno is the perfect Southern California embodiment of the Joie de Vivre, or joy of life, spirit." One of the main highlights of the hotel is the newly-remodeled penthouse restaurant West, an Italian steakhouse with a killer panoramic view of the LA skyline from downtown to as far as the Pacific Ocean.
(The floor-to-ceiling windows of West Restaurant allow a thrilling Southern California view, and the cuisine is, well, extra special) Located on the 17th floor, the restaurant's cozy bar area first welcomes its guests with sofa seating nestled a few steps below the dining area. The floor-to-ceiling windows framed the stunning sunset as I sipped a glass of wine from the extensive wine menu. The service and cuisine are equally captivating. Executive Chef Josh Moulton, from New York City's noted Union Square Café and a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, has developed some creative dishes blending Italian and American fare. My guest and I indulged, for starters, in a spicy tuna and salmon tartar on focaccia toasts with cilantro crema. The porcini gnocchi with mushroom cream and Swiss chard and the mouth-watering beef short rib ravioli had flavors which lingered on our palates. We savored a grilled New York strip steak rubbed in lemon and garlic and a Dijon-crusted rack of lamb with mint vinegar. However, it was the chocolate tart with a dollop of fresh whipped cream that topped off this flavorful feast. Though the noise level can be a bit high for intimate conversation, the atmosphere is lively and welcoming. For information and reservations, call (866) 264-3536, or visit www.hotelangeleno.com. Hotel Angeleno is located at 170 Church Lane, where Sunset meets the 405 Freeway.
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