The L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown

The LA Hotel Downtown's upscale elegance is immediately clear -- impeccably manicured landscaping surrounds a sweeping reflective-glass and cement facade. Inside, the expansive lobby is chic: cream marble floors, large black columns, cream or gray plush chairs and couches on patterned carpets, a large embossed art piece, and multiple glass chandeliers. Bar 9 is located in the lobby and has white marble countertops and turquoise and green art pieces on the center of the bar. Ziran restaurant, the hotel's similarly stylish dining option, caters to hotel and conference guests, but also draws visitors from across downtown. The look in the restaurant is typically L.A. -- sleek marble next to mod patterned banquettes and chairs, all surrounded by windows letting in plenty of SoCal sunshine. The hotel draws a business-traveler crowd, and the style is definitely a step above most corporate hotels, though couples are also frequent guests and can be seen congregating at the bar. 

Located in downtown Los Angeles, the hotel is ideally situated for business travelers needing to access the downtown business area, and other travelers looking to utilize public transportation to see Los Angeles. This part of L.A. is up and coming -- there are foodie haunts all around -- but the urban environment won't be everyone's cup of tea. A nine-minute walk takes travelers to the 7th Street/Metro Center. The Staples Center is a 20-minute walk, while the Los Angeles Convention Center takes 22 minutes to reach on foot -- both can be reached in a taxi in about 10 minutes. Dining options on surrounding streets are within a five- to 10-minute walk, though trendier neighborhood options like Mo-Chica and Parish Wine Bar are best reached by cab in five to 10 minutes depending on traffic. Dodger Stadium is a six-minute car ride from the hotel. To see the Hollywood sign or to hike to it, guests can drive 25 minutes north of the hotel to Griffith Park. It takes 25 minutes to reach Hollywood Boulevard by car. Los Angeles International Airport is anywhere from 20 minutes to one hour from the hotel, again depending on traffic. 

The spacious rooms have a contemporary style with a soft color scheme that's contemporary and attractive, while not being over the top. Think: Light-orange carpets with soft-blue floral designs, large white padded leather headboards, and modern orange armchairs. Eye-catching art -- from abstract prints to distorted photo murals -- add a slightly edgy quality to the rooms. There are safes, flat-screen TVs, MP3 alarm clocks, ironing facilities, and coffeemakers with Starbucks coffee in the air-conditioned rooms. Guests can request mini-fridges. Grand Suites have separate living rooms, each with a cream couch and an additional flat-screen TV in a chic, glass and wooden entertainment center. The same entertainment center divides bedrooms from work and seating areas in Junior Suites. Bathrooms are spacious and sleek with tan and white tile, and attractive wood-base vanities. Separate tubs and showers are noteworthy, as most hotels don’t provide this option for standard category rooms. However, complaints have been made about the shower doors not preventing flooding. Archive brand toiletries are a nice touch, as is mouthwash in the Grand Suites. Wi-Fi is not free in rooms. 

Guests at this hotel can begin their day with breakfast in Ziran, the hotel’s restaurant, though it's not included with room rates. Ziran serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner -- mainly upscale, American dishes, like steaks, risotto, and organic chicken breast with lots of vegetables. Bar 9, the bar located in the lobby, serves drinks and high-end bar food. Limited room service is also available. Guests have the option of poolside service at the geometrically shaped, outdoor heated pool. The pool deck is surrounded by grassy lawns and lined with dark-gray lounge chairs and tables with seating under umbrellas. The large, 24-hour fitness center has cardio machines with TVs, weight-lifting machines, free weights, and a room for yoga or stretching. The hotel is very business-friendly as it has 25,000 square feet of attractive meeting spaces -- including two ballrooms and 23 meeting rooms -- and a large, 24-hour business center with three individual desks that have Mac computers plus printing, faxing, and copying services. Note that Wi-Fi is only free in the lobby and that complaints have been made about slow service. An on-site gift shop where guests can purchase snacks or Los Angeles-themed souvenirs is convenient. There’s only valet parking and it isn't cheap.