The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills

The London is a revelation in a city where style often means some pretense, service often means some stuffiness, and a rooftop pool with divine views often means wading through a crowd. Opened in 2008 and tucked away just steps from the boutiques and legendary music clubs along the Sunset Strip, the London is understated Hollywood glamour at its best. The hotel caters to as much of the showbiz set as its neighbors the Chateau Marmont and the Hollywood Roosevelt -- but lacks the fussiness and pomp. You could say the same about the Standard West Hollywood, but that hotel is more of a party spot. From design to service, food to amenities, the London delivers -- and without compromising value. Put another way: L.A. needed this hotel.

Interiors were designed by David Collins, a friend of Madonna's, who's best known for his work in some of London's most celebrated restaurants and bars, including Claridge's Hotel Bar and the National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery. The London's 200 rooms start at a massive 750 square feet -- larger than any other hotel in L.A. -- and have enormous, gleaming-white modern bathrooms, most with sunken tubs. (The Raffles L'Ermitage also has spacious rooms, but they start at 600 square feet and are curiously out of date tech-wise.) The hotel has a rooftop pool and terrace surrounded with glass walls that allow panoramic views of the Los Angeles valley. Downstairs there's the Boxwood restaurant, helmed by Chef Anthony Keene.

Service details are of special importance here: the chilled lavender washcloths by the pool, the remarkably resourceful concierge staff, the "welcome back" from the fedora-topped doorman every time a guest walks through the front door. Better yet, it's the kind of service that doesn't discriminate between regular Janes or industry folks who Need. Things. Done. Right. Now.

The London has been racking up the accolades fast -- and deservedly. It made Conde Nast Traveler's 2009 Hot List, and was also named the "best large city hotel" in the continental U.S. and Canada by Travel + Leisure in 2009. Okay, so the gym is small, but that's nitpicking. For the price, it just doesn't get much better. The London offers some of L.A.'s greatest luxury -- and value.

With nightly turndowns, 24-hour room service, poolside dining provided by the hotel's restaurant, and a remarkably resourceful concierge service, there's practically no request the knowledgeable and friendly staff can't fulfill -- and always while politely addressing you as Ms. or Mr. So-and-so.

The hotel is known for its concierge service. A request for daily rental rates of a Ferrari Spyder 430 versus a Bentley Continental GTC was fulfilled within 45 minutes. (For the record, the Bentley was cheaper). Oh, and could you tell me where I can find the Koji Korean BBQ truck? Again, an answer arrived within minutes -- someone tracked it down on Twitter. The concierge can also get difficult restaurant reservations, book helicopters and private tours, and secure tickets to otherwise sold-out venues.

• Nightly turndown service
• Acclaimed concierge services throughout the day. The London can book everything from helicopters to private museum tours, and secure difficult dinner reservations.
• 24-hour room service provided by the restaurant Boxwood
• Poolside drinks (full bar) and food service. Waitstaff periodically walks around the deck with chilled lavender washcloths.

Located in the heart of West Hollywood just steps from the Sunset Strip, one of the hippest stretches of L.A., the London West Hollywood is as central and convenient as it is quiet. The Strip has long been known for music clubs like the House of Blues, the Roxy, Viper Room, and Whisky A Go-Go, which is across the street, but it has gotten significantly more upscale than it was in its strip-club-and-head-shop days in the '70s and '80s. The A-list designer boutiques and restaurants are here to stay. One warning: The hotel's narrow entrance on North San Vicente Boulevard is easy to miss the first time -- it's marked only by a wrought-iron gate.

• Steps from the famed Sunset Strip music clubs like the Roxy and Viper Room -- and Whiskey A Go-Go is across the street.
• Sunset Plaza, a walkable half-mile stretch of upscale boutiques and restaurants like BLT Steak, Roberto Cavalli, and Catherine Malandrino, is less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
• Valet parking cost an extra $32 a day  during our stay (though with full in-out privileges)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is a half-hour drive (but up to one and a half hours in traffic).
• The Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theatre are about a five-minute drive.
• Universal Studios is a 20-minute drive.
• Santa Monica beach is at least a 30-minute drive, depending on traffic.
• The luxury boutiques of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills are 10 to 15 minutes away.

These are undoubtedly some of the best rooms in L.A. (the hotel calls them suites); they're comfortable, quiet, very spacious without feeling empty, and impeccably furnished. Interior designer David Collins, who's best known for his restaurant work in London (The Blue Bar at the Berkeley Hotel, Claridge's Hotel Bar, the National Dining Rooms at the National Gallery) created the stylish but comfortable and accessible feel. The color scheme relies heavily on soothing colors like cool sage and beige, with inconspicuous accents like green marble-topped desks, and unexpected (but lovely) bright green lacquered closets. Collins' team clearly paid great attention to minutiae -- there are dimmers on the lights, extra outlets, couches upholstered in velvet and triple-toned leather. No room is smaller than 750 square feet -- enormous by L.A. standards -- and all come with balconies, wet bars, king beds (there are a few rooms with two doubles), and huge marble and white-tile bathrooms designed by Waterworks, most with sunken tubs and double-headed showers big enough for two people.

• None of the 200 rooms are smaller than 750 square feet, and all have open floor plans.
• Ultra luxurious king beds (a few rooms have two doubles) have 350-thread-count Italian Fili D'oro linens, duck-feather-stuffed pillows and duvets, and a divine Argentinian alpaca throw
• The enormous bathrooms were developed by bathroom designer Waterworks, and include hand-cut mosaic tiles and Carrera marble counters. Most include sunken tubs and a separate shower with two showerheads, one raindrop and another that's standard.
• Egyptian cotton towels; the toiletries, from Clear by LXR, include unusual ingredients like Amazonian babassu, Mediterranean almond, and aloe leaf extract.
• All rooms come with small, tiled balconies with wrought-iron railings and a lounge chair big enough for two.
• Wet bars with marble counters are stocked with items such as Luna Bars, VerMints (all natural mints from Vermont), martini olives, and bottles of Patron tequila, Johnnie Walker Black, and Bombay Sapphire gin.
• Tech amenities in all rooms include iHome iPod docking stations, electronic safes big enough for a laptop, and 32-inch LG flat-screen TVs with 50 channels, including the major networks, HBO, BBC America, and movies on-demand.
• All light switches have dimmers, and some have energy-saving motion detectors that automatically turn off the lights when there's no movement in the room.
• Unexpected details in every room include a lint roller and an audiovisual cord to connect computers with the TV.
• Free calls to London
• Most rooms have views of Los Angeles or the Hollywood Hills (though mine, on the 3rd floor, looked out on a walkway). Request the 5th floor or higher for the best views.
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, as well as an Ethernet cord in every room
• Labyrinth-like hallways can be confusing to navigate but make the rooms feel tucked away and private.

Guests flock to the 10th-floor glassed-in rooftop pool and bar -- and it can fill up -- but it doesn't manage to feel claustrophobic. (The Standard Hollywood also has a nice pool, but it has more of party scene.) Open from 8 a.m. to midnight, the pool area has outstanding panoramic city views, a firepit, a tiled waterfall, and soothing lounge music in the background (quiet, not distracting). The poolside food service is handled by chef Anthony Keene's restaurant downstairs. There's also a small fitness center inside, with cardio and strength-training machines, as well as free weights and a punching bag. If that doesn't work for you, there's a spacious outdoor terrace with a small fitness area and panoramic views that includes another treadmill and recumbent stationary bike placed beneath a shaded white tent.

• Rooftop pool with panoramic views and plenty of umbrellas and lounge chairs on the deck
• Four poolside cabanas each have couches, chairs and a flat-screen TV, and can be purchased for six hours (no shorter time period).
• Water and fruit are always stocked by the pool (and they're free).
• Outdoor rooftop fitness area with a treadmill, a recumbent bike, and two yoga mats, for an extra-nice view while you're working out.
• Indoor gym has cardio machines, a full set of weights, and an assortment of weight machines.
• Full-service Alex Roldan Salon on the lobby level, including hair, nails, and skincare. Paris Hilton occasionally gets her hair blow-dried here.
• Free yoga sessions Saturday and Sunday mornings on the rooftop
• Free town car to ferry you around within two miles of the hotel; first come, first served

No room is smaller than 750 square feet, which means there's a lot of room for families to spread out. That said, the hotel's well-polished decor and private, discreet vibe doesn't exactly scream "bring the kids." Management says they see a handful of families there in the summer (and typically only the summer). Rooms are large enough to easily fit a rollaway bed (for a fee) or a crib (free), and there are plenty of kid-friendly items (for adult-size prices) on the 24-hour room service menu -- a mini beef burger with fries, for instance.

• Huge rooms translate to plenty of room for kids and gear, but not much of a kid-friendly vibe.
• Cribs are free; rollaway beds are charged per night.
• Kid-friendly items on the 24-hour room service menu range between (mac and cheese) and (burger with fries).

The food here at Boxwood is largely nouveau American, with lots of emphasis on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients -- and the prices are . The restaurant itself is beautiful, with pale pink and white couches, heavy wooden tables, and gold accents. 

• Boxwood at The London West Hollywood -- a beautiful space with plush leather and velvet banquettes. In addition to delicious dishes like Maine lobster with mango and heirloom melons and seared prime ribeye, the cocktails, such as the signature London, which includes Plymouth gin and lillet (a French apertif), fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, and champagne, are wonderful.
• Boxwood Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch, and afternoon tea. Breakfast spread is free for all guests.
• The London Bar offers small plates and cocktails. The daily happy hour is particularly impressive for both its selection and prices.
• 24-hour room service.
• Poolside food service.