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LOS ANGELES
The global brand’s light-filled, high-design West Coast debut is hidden in plain sight on bustling Hollywood Boulevard.
For the past few decades, tourists and Angelenos alike avoided the gritty thoroughfares of Hollywood for more glamorous corners of town – Downtown, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. However, Hollywood’s recent renaissance after the pandemic has turned this neighbourhood into a hospitality hot spot, with new hotels – from Mama Shelter, The Shay and The Dream – to the most recent addition: The Thompson Hollywood.
The latest branch of the Hyatt’s rapidly expanding label hits most of the right notes, with thoughtfully designed rooms (think equal parts Scandi-chic and laid-back SoCal vibes), a happening rooftop pool and bar, a celebrity trainer-designed gym and a lobby lounge whose furniture you might want to take home with you. This is arguably the best Hyatt option in L.A, and I was lucky enough to spend most of my time in the city of Angels staying at this gorgeous property.
The lobby exudes a classic West Hollywood elegance, with the greenwall of plants that shield you from the gridlocked traffic outside. The crowd is Hollywood Jetset 2.0 – young and stylish, these citizens of the world have good taste and ample cash, and they know where to spend it.
I’m a huge fan of the Thompson brand – I feel it’s more exclusive than the Andaz, but a slight step down from Alila and Park Hyatt. The interior design hits the nail on the head, and the focus on good F&B that is popular with locals as well as visitors is evident in their outlets. The Thompson occupies a prime piece of L.A. real estate at the corner of Sunset Boulevard, smack in the middle of all the action in West Hollywood. It took half an hour to Uber from LAX to the hotel. L.A is a famously car-centric city, so we relied on Uber and Lyft throughout the weekend. The hotel is also a stone-throw from the city’s trendiest spots for dining, shopping and walking – albeit the traffic is notoriously bad, so make sure you plan accordingly.
The beds themselves were fantastic. The pillows were plentiful and varied in terms of firmness. Next to each bed were both USB and AC ports, perfect for bedside charging. The rooms – designed by Tara Bernerd – are minimalist, with a soothing colour palette and natural materials continues in the modern furnishing with walnut floors, white walls and leather magazine racks.
Overall, I really enjoyed our room. It was comfortable and had that made-for-Instagram minimalist look that Thompson hotels all over the world have been doing so well. The designers had put more thought into the practical features of the bathroom, because when it comes down to it, even the coolest people need a place to hang their towels and robes.
The casual coastal terrace restaurant skews heavily towards Californian fare, serving up a summery all-day menu. The dining room on the ground floor is very Jungalow (although not opened when I stayed) with plenty of greenery to match it's flexitarian-friendly menu. And as with any Angeleno hotel worth its salt, there's a stellar rooftop Bar Lis with expansive views of the city right next to the pool, which makes for a perfect place to watch the sunset.
The Thompson Hollywood, 1541 Wilcox Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Book your stay at The Thompson Hollywood
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