LOS ANGELES is not short on glossy hotels and while many hold an air of prestige they often lack soul. Tucked between the thoroughfares of Melrose Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, Kimpton La Peer Hotel offers a serene, intimate retreat in the heart of West Hollywood’s Design District. Comprising only 105 rooms, it brings an air of European sophistication to the surrounding Californian ease of life.
Exterior facade of the Kimpton La Peer Hotel | Image courtesy of the Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Part of the ever-fashionable Kimpton family, the property distinguishes itself by leaning into its location credentials. The interiors were spearheaded by Icelandic-born, West Hollywood-based designer Gulla Jónsdóttir, who set out to showcase a mixture of natural materials like white oak herringbone floors, polished concrete and leather accents.
Naturally, furnishings are customised, and the curation of artworks, poetry and photography is all done by local artists to infuse the raw character of the city’s residents into the hotel. Its exterior is designed with a vertical courtyard adorned by olive trees as well as a manicured garden that surrounds the petite heated pool to translate the tranquillity of the Mediterranean to the West Coast.
Guests can lounge poolside with laptops or cocktails under chic umbrellas to turn casual afternoons into languid ones. For those seeking some fun in the sun, head up to the hotel’s rooftop for a game of pickleball.
Pickleball Court | Image courtesy of the Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Outdoor pool on the patio | Image courtesy of the Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Continuing the same theme of understated luxury into the guest rooms, the colour scheme is a range of calming grey tones set against bursts of white, sandy hues and glimpses of wood. Higher-tier suites feature expansive soaking bathtubs and private terraces, with a crowning glory penthouse suite that spans 1,400 square feet, complete with a leafy private terrace and exclusive furniture pieces to add to the level of opulence.
Equipped with a complimentary mini-bar and thoughtful amenities like in-room yoga mats, plush robes and Atelier Bloem toiletries, they ensure guests feel comfortable relaxing in all its spaces.
Guest room with 1 King bed and terrace | Image courtesy of Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Ladyhawk Restaurant | Image credit Neetu Laddha Photography
Culinary delights await at Ladyhawk, the hotel’s restaurant located on the ground floor. A modern Eastern Mediterranean eatery by Top Chef winner Charbel Hayek engages all five senses with its Levantine menu of shareable dishes, including fresh Tabouleh salad, whipped labneh with warm flatbread, and half chicken with toum and pickled onions, paired with Middle Eastern spice-led cocktails like the memorable ARAK Smash.
Ladyhawk Restaurant | Image courtesy of Ladyhawk at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel
Service, as you might expect, is polished but never fawning, a difference you will find in West Hollywood’s vibe, versus neighbouring cities. The staff are quick to offer recommendations that go well beyond the obvious and, thanks to its standing, many of the city’s best contemporary galleries, clothing shops and highly rated restaurants are within walking distance – something so rare in LA.
For those seeking Hollywood’s high-gloss lifestyle without the velvet-rope pretension, then Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood is a compelling choice. In the best sense, it feels like a neighbourhood favourite, albeit one you may want to keep as your secret spot.
by Andy Mack