The Blurb
Rumoured to be secretly filled with celebrities on a day to day basis, the London sits quietly just off the main Sunset Strip. It’s an understated hotspot for the LA crowd with a mix of British traditionalism with LA cool.
The building consists of towering rooms with Kensington chic balconies spiralling up into Beverley Hills. The bar and restaurant alone have beautifully crafted flooring and a golden bar top. In the morning the Californian light shines into the lounge area in such a beautiful way that you could forget you’re in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world.
The entire place has cheeky nods to British style, with a sign for ‘Lifts’, not the elevator, two bulldogs called Winston and Churchill and even a selection of British inspired foods in the minibar. (Sadly, though there were plenty of tributes to the real-life dogs around the hotel, our lovely host had to inform us on arrival that both Winston and Churchill were furloughed during the pandemic.)
Sleep
Our room was spacious, with an air of understated modern chic. It was the size of a small apartment, with stunning views from our large patio that overlooked WeHo (West Hollywood, as called by the locals). It felt incredibly private and peaceful, even though the building itself was a couple of minutes’ walk to Sunset Boulevard.
We had a deliciously large bathroom, with two showers, a sink with vast amounts of room for pampering, and – the pièce de résistance – a bath so large that you may as well call it a hot tub.
Dine
The Boxwood restaurant has an eclectic menu created by Executive Chef Anthony Keene. The main restaurant has 3 sections: the bar (which we dined in on the first night), a casual eatery, which is perfect for afternoon teas, and the main space where they served us breakfast.
Upon arrival, we perused the cocktail menu, again noting its London twist. The cocktails were brimming with English ingredients like elderflower syrup and gin but laced with California staples like mescal. We ordered the Southgate Sour and the Smoke and Salt – the London’s take on a Whisky Sour and an Old Fashioned. We ordered these on recommendation and they were exactly as described by our waiter, delicious with a real onus on presentation (which we then saw in the food that followed).
The west coast is very heavily influenced by the Mexican palate, as well as East Asian food, all of which lend themselves to sharing plates. With this in mind, we started by sharing pork belly Bao Buns, with toasted peanuts, mustard green and a sweet sot glaze. The bun itself was moist and just the right size to keep the sweet and savoury flavours of the glazed meat at the forefront of our tastebuds, and the addition of greens kept it from being too rich. The buns were magnificent, and I would have ordered more if it wasn’t for the next dish to arrive…the fish tacos. Fish tacos are a favourite dish of mine since I visited Mexico in my 20s. As I said, Mexican culture is prevalent in LA, and LA is a city obsessed with tacos. The London did not disappoint. The fish was delicate, and the pickled cabbage was crisp and punchy. It comes with salsa – tangy and spicy yet with a smoky flavour – which is perfect for spice fiends because you can layer it on. The small plates come in twos, so there’s no chance of food envy. You can share your dishes like tapas.
For mains, I had the curry dusted scallops with smoky beans and a creamy zucchini purée. I loved the touch of mushroom and pesto, which added an extra something to an already fantastic dish. My guest had the skirt steak, which came with crunchy onions with blanched shells, sweet carrots and fresh tomatoes. On top was a helping of lightly cooked onion rings which complemented the juicy steak. If onion rings are made the American way they can often feel overwhelmingly greasy (delicious but quite overwhelming) yet these managed to tick all the boxes without making you run for the gym.
The dessert, oh my, the dessert. We ordered the Tarte Tatin, which serves two. The apples were beautifully caramelised, almost like a toffee apple; soft without losing their shape; perfectly poached and tart without being overpowering. The pastry was light, soft and crispy and topped with cool, creamy ice cream – perfect.
If I am ever back in LA I will be revisiting this restaurant and ordering it all again.
The Crowd
If you want to experience LA luxury, this is the place to be. This hotel is a constant for the IT crowd, so expect network TV execs, very well dressed Angelenos and people who own very small dogs. We also met some lovely young families and locals dropping by for an authentic afternoon tea.
Out and About
Just around the corner is a hotspot for cool bars, eateries and classic rock venues. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a few minutes drive away and the Runyon Canyon hike is the perfect spot of exercise (you can be up and down in two hours) to get the best view of LA.
I’d also recommend having a quick peek at the gift shop, which was full of lavishly piled trinkets and treats; it felt like an activity in itself.
The Best Thing
The rooftop -complete with pool, bar and fire pit – is exceptional, with the view of downtown topping off the experience. We also peeked into a lovely faux grass space on the other side of the roof, which looked ideal for weddings and events.
The gym at Hollywood is entirely on brand, with water bottles provided and luxury sofas build into columns that match The London’s signature style. They even have extras like boxing gloves and yoga mats. Frankly, I felt like a total rock star.
I’d also like to make a special mention to the front of house staff, who were incredibly friendly and accommodating all the way through.
The Worst Thing
This isn’t the worst thing, as I really can’t find much fault in The London, but if like me you’re a casual coffee drinker, then order the decaf: Americans like their coffee strong!
The Details
The London West Hollywood, 1020 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood CA 90069
