Le Montrose Suite Hotel Rating: 3.5 Pearls

West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

The colorful lobby

With spacious suites, a tranquil if slightly staid vibe, and a rooftop pool deck, Le Montrose suits those who want a break from the traffic and noise of L.A. The hotel encourages seclusion, with an emphasis on "suite service," which is the hotel's marketing term for room service, and a guest-only restaurant hidden at the back of the lobby. The hotel lacks the high design of the nearby Mondrian and Standard Hollywood and doesn't have the polish of the swank London but, for the price, it's a value, much like its sister property, Le Parc Suite Hotel.

Rooms, at 425 square feet, are bigger than average for the area with gigantic TVs and gas fireplaces. The decor is a bit bland, however, and standard-level suites offer only queen beds rather than kings. A rooftop pool and tennis court and a well-equipped fitness center with sauna provide the only diversions for visitors who don't end up ensconced in their suites. The residential neighborhood, just three blocks south of Sunset Boulevard, also provides a dose of calm -- but also means at least a short walk to anything outside the hotel.

Service isn't as good as you'd find at other West Hollywood properties, like the slightly more expensive Mondrian or London, but for the price it's acceptable. A long wait for a lunch menu at the hotel restaurant was tempered by an on-time delivery of a piping-hot room service breakfast the next morning. There's no concierge, but the front desk, which was well-staffed morning, noon, and night, can assist with simple things like restaurant recommendations and transportation arrangements.

Most guests were somewhere between 25 and 40, and a good share of them were British. (The same thing was true at Le Parc Suite.) While most appeared to be on vacation, one group of three was having an intense business meeting that didn't seem out of place at the hotel restaurant.

View on a Larger Map

Le Montrose is located in a residential section of West Hollywood, three blocks from the Sunset Strip, the mile-and-a-half stretch of Sunset Boulevard known for its iconic rock clubs and night spots and its collection of premier boutiques and restaurants.

• Steps 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 the 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 (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.

Spacious suites have huge flat-screen TVs.

The standard-level Junior Suites are 425 square feet, larger than average in this neighborhood, but smaller than what you'd find at Le Parc Suite nearby. They feature sunken living areas, gas fireplaces, modern (though unexciting) decor, and the largest flat-panel TVs Oyster found in a standard-level accommodation in L.A. Smoking rooms are best avoided because of cigarette burns on the upholstery, wallpaper, and carpets.

• 52-inch LG flat-panel TV -- one of the largest in any L.A. hotel -- gets 63 channels, including on-demand movies.
• Sharper Image iPod dock and separate CD/cassette/radio
• DVD/VCR player but no movie lending library
• Well-stocked minibar with beer, wine, liquor, and snacks
• Separate sunken sitting area; gas fireplace
• Cordless and corded two-line phones
• In-room safe

Le Montrose Suite's rooftop tennis court

Le Montrose has enough features that guests don't have to leave the property. There's a heavy emphasis on "suite service," which is what the hotel insists on calling room service, and the fitness center, tennis court, and pool are on high floors, far removed from the bustle of West Hollywood.

• One rooftop tennis court, with rackets and balls available on request
• Heated rooftop pool and Jacuzzi
• Poolside food and beverage service
• Good-size fitness center with cardio and weight machines, free weights, and sauna
• Business center; large meeting room that can be partitioned into two
• Free use of loaner bikes
• Coin-operated laundry in addition to valet laundry service

The pool

Le Montrose doesn't go out of the way to attract families, but the large suites provide plenty of extra room.

• Free cribs; rollaway beds cost $25 per night.
• 425-square-foot standard Junior Suites are larger than average for the neighborhood.
• Heated rooftop pool
• No formal kids' menu, but the restaurant's unremarkable soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastas are generally kid-friendly.

Overall, my room was clean, but there were a number of cigarette burns, on the wallpaper, curtains, floor, and upholstery. At least it didn't smell of cigarettes. Hallways, the fitness center, and other public spaces are well maintained.

Privato restaurant is open 6 a.m. to midnight.

According to the hotel, Privato is "exclusively for hotel guests." That's probably because no other people would come for the unremarkable salads, pastas, and sandwiches. Head a few blocks to the Sunset Strip for better dining options.

• Privato is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 6 a.m. to midnight.
• 24-hour room service
• All-day poolside menu has basic food options and a lengthy cocktail list.