The Redbury Hollywood review, Los Angeles, USA

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This was published 6 years ago

The Redbury Hollywood review, Los Angeles, USA

By Tim Richards
The Glade bar area at The Redbury Hollywood is the perfect setting for a cocktail or two.

The Glade bar area at The Redbury Hollywood is the perfect setting for a cocktail or two.

THE PLACE

The Redbury Hollywood

THE LOCATION

The Redbury is in a great location in showbiz central, just off the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. As the hotel is handy to a Metro station, it's easy to travel to LA's regenerated Downtown to check out its various attractions. To the west are the shops and eateries of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, to the south the dining delights of Koreatown.

THE SPACE

The hotel seems to have soaked up some of the louche glamour of Hollywood's golden age. Its public spaces are decked out with heavy drapes, low lounges, and giant photographs of actress femme fatales. The dominant colour is a deep wine red, accentuating the air of forbidden luxury – as if one had stumbled into the private hideaway of a reclusive starlet. At night the hotel bar opens onto a spacious decked terrace between the two wings of the building, set with low cane couches and small trees in giant planters. The bar itself contains a pool table.

THE ROOM

My dark red suite is of generous proportions, with a long large living area which contains a breakfast bar at one end and soft retro armchairs and a sofa at the other. Off this space is the bedroom, divided from the living room by a chest of drawers bearing a large TV and – wonder of wonders – a working turntable with a stash of old records. The bed is contained within steel arms suggestive of a four-poster, and the mattress is soft and comfortable.

The bathroom is sleek and modern, with a spacious shower stall and Ciel toiletries. The kitchenette contains a stovetop and microwave oven. There's also an electric kettle, a rarity in American hotels, along with a Keurig capsule coffee maker and a well-stocked minibar. There's also a washing machine if you fancy doing a load.

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The only frustrating note is the placement of power points, which are scattered at inconvenient locations.

THE FOOD

The in-house restaurant, Cleo, is a dimly-lit atmospheric space decorated with giant photos of film actresses who once played Cleopatra. The menu features tasty Middle Eastern-inspired dishes such as mussel tagine ($13) and duck bastilla ($15), and flatbreads topped with a variety of items including eggplant ($13) and artichoke ($14). In addition to this, dishes can be ordered via room service from Katsuya, the Japanese restaurant a few doors from the hotel. A simple cooked breakfast is US$18, which includes an a la carte dish and a selection of cheeses and pastries.

STEPPING OUT

The Redbury is well placed for entertainment. Within walking distance are the Pantages Theatre, a glamorous live performance venue which was once a grand movie house; the Fonda Theatre which stages music acts; the Ricardo Montalban Theatre with live music shows and a rooftop cinema; and the Hollywood Palladium which presents concerts. Part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame runs right in front of the Redbury.

THE VERDICT

The Redbury Hollywood is a comfortable hotel with a sense of fun. Service is good throughout, and its rooms are stylish and comfortable. It's in an ideal base for explorations farther afield.

Highlight

It's great fun to chill in your suite with a drink in hand and a record playing, feeling the retro vibe.

Lowlight

Noise from the outdoor bar filters through to overlooking suites at night.

ESSENTIALS

1717 Vine Street, Los Angeles, USA. Rooms from US$380 per night, including taxes. Phone +1 323 962 1717, see theredbury.com/hollywood.

The writer was a guest of The Redbury Hollywood and DiscoverLosAngeles.com.

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