Mosaic Hotel Beverly Hills

After undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, the Mosaic Hotel reopened in August of 2015 and offers an intimate boutique experience in a prime Beverly Hills location. Housed in a lovely cream-colored building dating back to 1958, the interiors feature tasteful contemporary furnishings awash in neutral hues, with vibrant pops of color -- like art on the walls and fresh flowers -- adding fun visual elements here and there. In the cozy lobby and adjoining dining space and bar, there are elegant sofas, armchairs, and booth seating in an array of textures and neutral hues like silver. Potted purple orchids are scattered around the space on coffee tables, and add a pop of color to the small bar area, where a backlit marble-like wall holds shelves of liquor. The hotel's courtyard pool area, though small, offers a charming space to relax in outside, with chic cabana-like spaces furnished with comfortable blue and white outdoor seating. Overall, this is a great choice for travelers seeking a quiet and discreet stay in Beverly Hills, and it draws many tourists looking to enjoy the area shopping and dining options -- though business travelers stay here as well, as well as visitors to the nearby UCLA campus.

The hotel has a prime Beverly Hills location just two blocks from Wilshire Boulevard, which is lined with department stores like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, and a 10-minute walk from luxury shopping mecca Rodeo Drive. The immediate area is largely residential -- the property is on a quiet side street -- and there are lots of dining options within walking distance. For nightlife, guests can head to the Sunset Strip, a stretch of Sunset Boulevard that's lined with bars and clubs and is around a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The UCLA campus is about a 10-minute drive away. Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach can both be reached in about 25 to 30 minutes. Hollywood is about a 25-minute drive, while Downtown LA is about a half-hour away. Los Angeles International Airport is around a 20- to 30-minute drive from the hotel.

Rooms feature simple yet elegant contemporary decor awash in neutral hues and clean-lined furniture. Crisp white bedding is topped with cozy blue throws and framed by large gray headboards, while small abstract paintings or photographs on the walls inject some color here and there. Business travelers are catered to with sleek and large work spaces as well as thoughtful touches like bedside USB charging ports and free stationary supplies. Rooms also come equipped with 42-inch flat-screen TVs (50-inch TVs in the suites), Nespresso machines, minibars and honor bars, electronic laptop safes, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are fairly small, but feature attractive beige or white marble tiling (plus some have tasteful palm tree photo murals) as well as shower/tub combos or walk-in rainfall showers, Bulgari toiletries, plush robes, and hairdryers.One- and two-bedroom suites have living areas with sofas, dining tables, and wet bars. The two-bedroom Pool Suite -- with its own private entrance -- has a separate living room and dining area, as well as a balcony overlooking the pool.Note that some past guests have complained of noisy AC units, as well as noise issues due to thin walls.

The hotel has a lovely outdoor pool in the courtyard, that though small, offers a chic area to relax in outside. Comfortable and stylish seating lines the sundeck, including cabana-like spaces with padded wicker sofas and chairs, as well as sunbeds and a large corner sofa warmed by a fire pit.The on-site restaurant serves California fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a lovely dining space -- or guests can enjoy their meals alfresco in the courtyard. There's also a small but elegant lobby bar that serves various drinks.The on-site fitness room is tiny and equipped with just three machines, though the hotel also offers passes (for a fee) to the nearby Equinox gym. Indoor and outdoor event space is available for rent, with on-site catering and staffing. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi throughout and valet parking for a fee.