"If you’re looking for a romantic getaway or a rest-and-recharge respite, this tucked-away boutique hotel with tranquil courtyard pools and trickling fountains set amongst Old Californian-style buildings is a no-brainer. Guests are hipsters, babymooners, and bachelorettes splayed out on the cushioned lounge chairs or under the massive communal cabana on any given sunny day. Juxtaposed against 1940s Old California architecture and vintage paned windows, rooms are firmly planted in a midcentury aesthetic with vintage-style credenzas, mahogany wood paneling, and pops of turquoise and avocado green with a dash of free-spirited art pulling from a commissioned collection of custom oil paintings of famous faces like Debbie Harry and Charles Bronson. Impala suites are extra comfortable with living rooms, bars, kitchenettes, and separate bedrooms with king beds. The entire property underwent a $1 million refresh in 2023, which included updating rooms; redecorating the lobby; and adding new landscaping, an oversized hot tub, and a firepit to the grounds. Tapas-heavy restaurant, Del Rey, and its sexy fireplace-flanked lounge also got a makeover. It now features a dimly lit covered patio painted in sapphire blue and a new menu with the city’s best (and, at the moment, only) selection of tinned fish as well as a monthly moonlight paella night." - Lizbeth Scordo
