"Set the scene.Although the hotel is tucked away on a side street in Culver City, just off the buzzy main drag, there’s no missing it. It’s painted a seriously bright, saturated turquoise-meets-teal blue, except, that is, for the one side that’s entirely covered in a botanical mural that calls to mind Osborne and Little floral wallpaper. Bold, indeed, but in this part of town (Culver City was the birthplace of the movie industry), a little dazzle works well. The building’s '20s façade, with its Deco signage, street numbers and light fixtures, feels both Parisian and classic Hollywood; the lobby has vintage artwork, ceramic tiled floors, and black-and-white striped wallpaper, and yet this isn’t a period property in the way Wes Anderson’s films aren’t period films. The pastiche of references makes it feel totally fresh and modern.
What’s the story behind it?As the sign says, this used to be the West Side Hotel, but before that it was the Washington Hotel, which opened in the 1920s and was rumored to have been a favorite of Joan Crawford. A member of the Palisociety group, owned by the sharp-suited, New Jersey-born Avi Brosh, the Culver City location is sister hotel to three other Palihotels in the city.
What can we expect from the rooms?There are rooms with either one king or two twins across the hotel’s four floors—some ground-level rooms have doors that open onto a terrace while those on higher floors have views of the courtyard garden. The overall feel is very bright and airy; there’s almost a Shutters on the Beach vibe—coastal, with white walls, lots of wood, and, yes, painted wooden shutters. Rooms are a real mix of colors, patterns, and textures: Stuffed chairs are upholstered in floral fabrics, plaid camp blankets are folded on the beds alongside striped throw pillows and hits of baby blue or forest green. There are nods to the 1950s, such as the wooden headboards with built-in bedside tables that house old-school alarm clocks (very West Coast Cali meets Danish mid-century), pin-up prints, and Bakelite rotary telephones, but modern touches too (rain showers, large wall-mounted TVs, fully stocked mini bars, and free wifi).
How about the food and drink?Simonette, on the ground floor, is the hotel’s hopping, very charming French-style bistro. It’s open all day and is equally good for a quick croissant and an espresso or a breakfast cocotte in the morning as it is for moules-frite and a glass of rosé for lunch or dinner. Dishes are classic and pretty straight-forward, yet this is California, so you know the ingredients in that Niçoise salad are going to amp things up. The Simonette Bar mixes some of the most technical craft cocktails in town, such as the Right Brigade (Ford’s Gin, Campari, white vermouth and amontillado sherry, filtered through coffee).
Anything to say about the service?Fantastic across the board. The staff were incredibly hard working—they do show off a lot of tattoo ink and Breton stripes, but are far from dawdling hipsters. The hotel and the bar and restaurant can be busy but the staff can handle it; they’re experienced players.
Who comes here?The guests are a real mix—hipsters on vacation, young families, older, well-dressed couples in their 50s and 60s. Apple has an office nearby where its original content operations are housed, so there are visiting creative types; the Sony Pictures Studio is in walking distance, so there’s a fair share of industry types milling about.
How does it fit into the neighborhood?Culver City is developing fast and you can feel the westside cool of Venice expanding east into the area. It’s a nice mid-point location between the beach and downtown, two parts of Los Angeles that you’ll likely want to explore. There are great restaurants, like Destroyer, and really good shopping in the area. And there's the Helms Bakery District, a 1930s bread factory turned retail complex that’s well worth spending a morning in—Arcana Books is here, which has some fantastic photographic and art titles, and HD Buttercup, a warehouse-sized furniture store that has reclaimed pieces and new designs that you’ll do the math on shipping home.
Worth it?Absolutely worth investigating even if only for a night." - Matthew Buck
