I've stayed at the Standard Hotel before. 2006 I visited my home town Los Angeles with my then 12-year old son. Since I sometimes stay at my brother's house, I didn't know any hotels in LA. Since Sex and the City was, naturally, required viewing on my tv schedule, I recalled the episode where the girls visit the West Coast. They stayed at the Standard. I checked it out, booked a room for 5 days and rented a red convertible Mini across the street at Enterprise (very convenient).
Max didn't like the hotel much. But well, he was twelve and preferred the homespun anonymity of a Best Western or Motel 6. Nevermind. He's appreciate it later. So, when this summer's holidays were coming up, I decided to go for the Standard again. And I wasn't disappointed. Neither was Max. Nor were the seven friends I brought along.
The Standard Hotel is located on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. It's like a gleaming white oyster-shaped spaceship, the light reflecting off the undulating architecture of pure. Walking into the lobby, a diffusion of cool 60's sci fi cartoon style, in subdued watercolors, calmly gleam with minimalistic potency.
The staff at the Front Desk (and throughout the entire hotel, from poolside to the 24/7 diner) exude a no-nonsense efficiency combined with a "nothing can faze us" competence. An eclectic mash up of Woody Allen wisdom with Elroy Jetson's expertise.
Even though the hotel is hip, it's not pretentious. That lack of snobbery can be attributed to the people working there. They do an excellent job at mixing it just right. And the cocktails are pretty good too.
The Standard in West Hollywood is within walking distance (yes, walking distance) of some of the coolest clubs and restaurants yet the rates are affordable ie us mortals with taste can bask in the glow of glamor.
The interior of the hotel, including the rooms, is simple and streamlined, cool and clean. It's not a place of ostentatious luxury yet if a banker from London, used to brocade curtains, patterns and flower arrangements, came to love this place, Andre Balazs must be doing something right. An additional perk: The Standard is a green hotel.
So, if you are looking for a place where guys wear Speedos by the pool and you don't think it odd, stay at the Standard. It's pretty awesome.