Hotel Review: The Conrad Los Angeles Is A Must-Visit For Design Lovers

3 months ago

A chic retreat in the centre of downtown LA’s art and design scene.

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The Conrad Los Angeles is the first hotel project of Frank Gehry, the architect behind iconic structures like the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Design-wise, it’s a real show-stopper, but is a stay worth the room rate? Rebecca Cox checks in.

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The Conrad Los Angeles Hotel Review

STAY

The Conrad is part of The Grand LA, a multi-billion dollar development project by Frank Gehry, containing residences, retail space and the hotel itself. It sits within Bunker Hill, LA’s (gloriously calm) culture hub, right across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a stone’s throw from other attractions including MOCA, The Colburn School of Music, The Music Center, Angel’s Flight Railway and Grand Central Food Market. The hotel’s vibe is quiet luxury, set in the heart of the city’s culture scene and welcoming and buzzy for families and groups, but close enough to the finance district that there’s a business travel scene, too. On entry to the hotel, the lift doors open up to a light and airy lobby with floor-to-ceiling views of the Disney Concert Hall, with a wrap-around terrace for sundowners as the sun sets behind the iconic venue.

The view from the terrace at The Beaudry Room

While Gehry’s Tetris-like facade and views over another of his design triumphs create a striking first impression, it is the chic and warm interiors by Tara Bernard & Partners that make The Conrad feel like home. The 305 rooms and suites (including 15 accessible rooms in every category) feature views across the city or the Hollywood Hills behind, all meticulously designed with minimalist style and luxe attention to detail. The standout of our spacious living space was the bathroom’s walk-in shower with multiple modes including rainfall and mist settings, the perfect way to refresh after a day spent in and amongst it in the heat of downtown LA.

EAT

The Conrad Los Angeles is home to five original concepts from chef José Andrés, including rooftop restaurant Agua Viva and signature restaurant San Laurel, set on lobby-level and offering sunset dinner views of the Concert Hall. This is arguably The Conrad’s biggest draw, with superlative Spanish tapas-style from Chef Andrés, the perfect spot for a shared supper with friends, the more the better so you can try everything on this beautifully curated menu. Highlights include the Peach Stracciatella Salad, the (mouth-wateringly memorable) Vermicelli ‘Mac & Cheese’ and the Jurgielwicz Duck Breast. A pre-or-post-dinner drink at The Beaudry Room is a must, too, with countless must-try mixes on the menu, though the house take on a classic Pisco Sour is our tipple tip.

The neighbouring Walt Disney Concert Hall (c) Rebecca Cox

DO

The aforementioned cultural neighbours make for an enjoyable art, food and culture tourist trail while you’re in residence, especially since all are accessible on foot, an almost unheard of feat(/feet) for LA. The Last Bookstore is also nearby and well worth a visit, it’s California’s largest new and used bookstore, selling an extensive collection of books, vinyl, and art with quirky creative displays and book sculptures. If you make the walk back to the hotel up the hill if the queue for Angel’s Flight is too long, though, you’ll want to pencil in some down-time at the impressive private rooftop pool, double the size of most downtown swim spots, with appealing city views while you recharge.

THE FINAL WORD

A quieter choice than some of downtown’s buzzier neighbourhoods, The Conrad is the perfect base for those seeking art and culture in LA, or in town on business. It’s giving: the chic LA apartment you were always destined to own. (And if you decide you do need to move in, the apartments in The Grand may be next on your hit list.)