Chamberlain West Hollywood Rating: 3.5 Pearls

West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

Charming design in the lobby

Blink and you might miss the Chamberlain, pleasantly tucked away in a quiet residential pocket just a few minutes' walk from the Sunset Strip and the heart of West Hollywood. The four-year-old hotel has 114 spacious recently renovated rooms, an unpretentious vibe, and a nice rooftop pool, keeping right up there with its nearest competition, in particular the London.

Rooms range from a spacious-for-the-area 450 square feet (studio) to 650 square feet (one-bedroom suite), and each room comes with a balcony and gas fireplace. (Strangely, there are still a handful of permanent residents here, as evidenced by signs on their doors and some nonhotel-issue furniture on their balconies). After a renovation in December 2010, the One Bedroom and Executive suites still have all of the same ammenities, like the fire places and balconies, but have been redesigned with fresh paint, wallpaper, and bathroom utilities. Now the rooms are comparable to the 750-square-foot, impeccably furnished suites five minutes away at the 200-room, but very private, London. One downside to the Chamberlain is that it's only four stories high on a downward sloping, shady, treelined street, which means that some rooms on the ground floor are unbearably dark.

Pets under 25 lbs. can stay for a $125 fee, which is good for one week. Owners must also sign a waiver about being responsible for any damage caused by their pet.

The hotel also recently built a small business center with two Macs and two PCs.

One of the hotel's greatest assets is its location, just a couple minutes' walk to the buzzing boulevards of Santa Monica, La Cienega, and Sunset. The Chamberlain's lobby, designed by David McCauley, a protégé of renowned interior designer Kelly Wearstler of the Viceroy in Santa Monica, still has plenty of charm. Herringbone tile, a tuxedo sofa, and neoclassical chairs add style, but the area can't fit more than about five people at a time. The rooftop pool, where an episode of Paris Hilton's My New BFF was filmed, is lovely, but much smaller than the London's, which also has poolside food and drink service from Gordon Ramsay. And with no dedicated concierge or proper doormen, the service doesn't impress. Front desk staffers take on multiple rolls, and, unfortunately, they don't always deliver.

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Chamberlain is located in a residential section of West Hollywood, a five-minute walk from the Sunset Strip, the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard known for its cutting-edge rock clubs and night spots and its collection of premier boutiques and restaurants.

• Five- to 10-minute walk from famed music clubs like Whiskey A Go-Go, the Roxy, and Viper Room
• Touristy Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the celebrity footsteps at Grauman's Chinese Theatre are a 10-minute drive.
• Universal Studios Hollywood, a movie-themed amusement park, is a 20-minute drive.
• Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, an enclave of wealthy living and luxury shopping in the middle of L.A.'s westside, is a 10-minute drive.
• At least a 30-minute drive to Santa Monica and L.A.'s beaches
• Depending on traffic, the drive to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) can take up to 1.5 hours.
• Avoid a pricey cab from the airport (typically $45 to $50) by opting for a shuttle bus like SuperShuttle, which costs about one-third as much.

Chamberlain has one bistro restaurant just off the side of the main lobby. Many dishes incorporate European and local Californian flavors to modern American foods. Patio seating is available.

Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., lunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., dinner from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and cocktails from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Menus can be found on Chamberlain's website.

Guests are also welcome to dine on the rooftop, but food must be ordered through room service. In-room dining is available 24 hours.