Pros

  • Convenient location in downtown Culver City with shops, dining, film studios, and theaters within walking distance
  • Famous Hollywood guests and hotel's roles in TV and movies add character
  • Attractive rooms include large flat-screen TVs and desks
  • Free Continental breakfast buffet
  • Live music is offered evenings in the lobby
  • Unique event spaces are popular for events
  • Free Wi-Fi throughout
  • Both the gym and business center are open 24/7
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Cons

  • Limited parking is valet only
  • Some rooms are on the small side
  • Gym has just a few machines
  • No on-site spa
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Bottom Line

The upscale Culver Hotel is a charming historic property in the heart of trendy downtown Culver City. It's within walking distance of shops, restaurants, theaters, film studios, and galleries, and it provides easy access to downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and LAX. It is famous for housing extras during the filming of the Wizard of Oz in 1938, and a number of Hollywood stars have called the hotel home. The grand, elegant lobby is a gathering place each night for the live music and cozy seating areas. Rooms are attractive, but some are on the small side.

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Amenities

  • Fitness Center
  • Internet

Oyster Hotel Review

The Culver Hotel

Scene

Historic charm and character, famous Hollywood guests, and a huge, elegant lobby with live music nightly

Built in 1924 by Harry Culver, the founder of Culver City, this 46-room boutique hotel is packed with charm and character. Located in one of West LA's most-talked about neighborhoods, it features grand vintage furnishings and unique design and decor throughout. Its history can be felt all around. Among its historic accolades is that all 124 of the munchkins in the Wizard of Oz stayed there in 1938 when the movie was being filmed in the city. Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Buster Keaton, and Ronald Reagan are among the stars who maintained part-time residences within the hotel. The hotel also has appeared in TV favorites such as The Little Rascals and The Laurel and Hardy Classics. The huge lobby is elegant and grand, with a Renaissance Revival style, 20-foot ceilings, a fireplace, and high, arched windows. Multiple cozy seating areas encourage groups to gather, especially in the evening when there is live music. The general atmosphere is upbeat and friendly, but it's also mellow enough to not be overwhelming. 

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Location

The hotel's downtown Culver City location puts it within walking distance of shops, dining, theaters, and galleries.

The Culver Hotel is situated in downtown Culver City on the west side of Los Angeles. It is surrounded by theaters, restaurants, film studios, art galleries, supermarkets, cafes, and more, all within walking distance, and a farmers market is right across the street. It is a dynamic, revitalized area that is busy with foot traffic without being overwhelming. The hotel has easy access to the freeways, and it is about 20 minutes from LAX, Hollywood, and downtown LA, and about 15 minutes from Santa Monica. A metro connects the city to L.A. Live, Staples Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and downtown LA, and there is a station just outside the hotel.

See More Location

Rooms

Elegant, unique rooms in tip-top shape

Rooms at the Culver are elegant and unique with what the hotel calls "vintage-meets-modern decor." They have pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, marble-topped desks, antiques, and custom-designed furnishings. Most are decorated in shades of black and gray with pops of purple or teal green. Mini-fridges and snack trays add convenience. Because of the historic nature of the building, rooms vary in size and shape and some may be considered small. Renovated in 2013, they are all up-to-date. The Culver Suite features gorgeous reclaimed hardwood floors in the separate sitting room. All of the rooms are smoke-free, but there is a designated smoking area outside.

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Features

Meals served around the clock, plus a daily happy hour and tea, nightly live music, and Velvet Lounge bar

Meals are served whenever you want at the Culver, and guests can dine in the lobby in front of the fireplace, at the communal table in the Crystal dining room, or alfresco on the patio. The cuisine is seasonal farm-to-table. Continental breakfast buffet is free. The daily happy hour and Sunday brunch are popular, and there is live music every evening in the lobby. Tea is served in the afternoon. The Velvet Lounge, open Thursday to Saturday, is modeled after a 1920s Speakeasy with a twist of Parisian boudoir. It and several other unique spaces can nicely accommodate meetings and social events. The tiny fitness center is open 24/7, and windows open to allow fresh air. There is a computer and printer for guests to use in a wide hallway. 

See More Features

Oyster Hotel Review

The Culver Hotel

Scene

Historic charm and character, famous Hollywood guests, and a huge, elegant lobby with live music nightly

Built in 1924 by Harry Culver, the founder of Culver City, this 46-room boutique hotel is packed with charm and character. Located in one of West LA's most-talked about neighborhoods, it features grand vintage furnishings and unique design and decor throughout. Its history can be felt all around. Among its historic accolades is that all 124 of the munchkins in the Wizard of Oz stayed there in 1938 when the movie was being filmed in the city. Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford, Buster Keaton, and Ronald Reagan are among the stars who maintained part-time residences within the hotel. The hotel also has appeared in TV favorites such as The Little Rascals and The Laurel and Hardy Classics. The huge lobby is elegant and grand, with a Renaissance Revival style, 20-foot ceilings, a fireplace, and high, arched windows. Multiple cozy seating areas encourage groups to gather, especially in the evening when there is live music. The general atmosphere is upbeat and friendly, but it's also mellow enough to not be overwhelming. 

See More Scene

Location

The hotel's downtown Culver City location puts it within walking distance of shops, dining, theaters, and galleries.

The Culver Hotel is situated in downtown Culver City on the west side of Los Angeles. It is surrounded by theaters, restaurants, film studios, art galleries, supermarkets, cafes, and more, all within walking distance, and a farmers market is right across the street. It is a dynamic, revitalized area that is busy with foot traffic without being overwhelming. The hotel has easy access to the freeways, and it is about 20 minutes from LAX, Hollywood, and downtown LA, and about 15 minutes from Santa Monica. A metro connects the city to L.A. Live, Staples Center, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and downtown LA, and there is a station just outside the hotel.

See More Location

Rooms

Elegant, unique rooms in tip-top shape

Rooms at the Culver are elegant and unique with what the hotel calls "vintage-meets-modern decor." They have pillow-top mattresses, flat-screen TVs, marble-topped desks, antiques, and custom-designed furnishings. Most are decorated in shades of black and gray with pops of purple or teal green. Mini-fridges and snack trays add convenience. Because of the historic nature of the building, rooms vary in size and shape and some may be considered small. Renovated in 2013, they are all up-to-date. The Culver Suite features gorgeous reclaimed hardwood floors in the separate sitting room. All of the rooms are smoke-free, but there is a designated smoking area outside.

See More Rooms

Features

Meals served around the clock, plus a daily happy hour and tea, nightly live music, and Velvet Lounge bar

Meals are served whenever you want at the Culver, and guests can dine in the lobby in front of the fireplace, at the communal table in the Crystal dining room, or alfresco on the patio. The cuisine is seasonal farm-to-table. Continental breakfast buffet is free. The daily happy hour and Sunday brunch are popular, and there is live music every evening in the lobby. Tea is served in the afternoon. The Velvet Lounge, open Thursday to Saturday, is modeled after a 1920s Speakeasy with a twist of Parisian boudoir. It and several other unique spaces can nicely accommodate meetings and social events. The tiny fitness center is open 24/7, and windows open to allow fresh air. There is a computer and printer for guests to use in a wide hallway. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Fitness Center

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.