Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel

On the outside of the Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel a pop art facade reminiscent of a Lichtenstein piece covers much of the exterior. While an angular awning, visible from the east parking lot entrance looks modern, the hotel's dated design is more obvious from the garage entrance on the opposite side. The mid-2000s renovations of this Hollywood hotel have worked with the original '60s architectural base, much like a face-lift. Aspects of the original structure have remained, with only minor repairs and cosmetic touches to update its style.The result is a cool, hip, and unpretentious vibe -- almost as if the hotel had been created in the present to look as if it were from the past. Exterior fonts are from the "60s desert hotel era but in popping pastels with dropped shadows, and black-and-white painted murals in old Hollywood style cover some of the walls. Inside, spotted terrazzo flooring covers the floor and frame after frame of signed Hollywood headshots cover the walls. Furniture is retro Victorian, and includes items like old school film lights and other framed Hollywood memorabilia, and style remains a blend of pop art and classic pop culture. The adjacent Cafe 101 diner, off the lobby, has a lodge-like traditional diner feel. Coffee is served in old-style brown diner mugs, and guests can either sit in a plushy brown leather booth or atop a bar stool facing the kitchen. Random portraits of families from the '60s and '70s hang along the rock-faced walls. Along with challah French toast, this restaurant also serves a hearty side of celebrity sightings.

Located along the base of the Hollywood Hills just before the 101-N freeway on-ramp, the Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel is the ideal spot for tourists wanting to check out Universal Studios, Hollywood and Highland, or hike up to the landmark Hollywood sign. Even though L.A. isn't known as a walking city, this hotel is positioned within strolling distance of a vast selection of restaurants, bars, shopping centers, thrift stores, the Arclight movie theater, and live venues, making it a walker's gem. The subway's Red Line is within a 15-minute walk from the hotel. But all this convenience comes at a price -- this is a highly trafficked area.

The Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel has 86 contemporary, retro-style rooms with Hollywood touches. Rooms are equipped with half-kitchenettes that have microwaves, mini-fridges, and typical motel-style coffee- and tea-makers. Although the beds and hotel furniture are basic, the updated style of the carpets, lounge chairs, and big flat-screen TVs add welcome contemporary touches, while (in most units) the kitchenettes are in their own separate tiled area with generous marble counter space and a sink. While Executive Kings are the largest rooms available, corner rooms really max out the space. Bathrooms are large, especially for this category of hotel. While noise levels tend to vary, there have been some complaints about noise from the elevators and ice machines. Surprisingly, most people report a quiet stay in pool-facing rooms (guests who plan to frequent the pool might want to request a room on the second level, where the pool is located).

The Best Western Plus Hollywood Hills Hotel isn't pumped full of on-site amenities, but it makes sure to provide all the essentials. The hotel's best feature -- and locals will agree -- is its attached diner, Cafe 101. Noted on the building's exterior as "The Last Coffee Shop Before the 101," this Los Angeles staple is famous for good food, late hours (it's open until 3 a.m.), and its jukebox. It's so loved by the city that it's not uncommon to see famous faces crowded in the booths or sitting at the bar. Slightly small by today's standards, the hotel's outdoor pool does the trick. Set in the center "courtyard" area of the hotel, the pool is secluded from the street. Parking is also available, for a fee, along with vending machines and a (very limited) coin laundry. The hotel also has free Wi-Fi.