STAY PALIHOUSE
When we pull up at Palihouse, just off bustling Santa Monica Boulevard in the heart of West Hollywood, it appears more like an exclusive boutique than a hotel.
It’s chic, painted black and white, and before our wheels have stopped completely, staff rush out to meet us and take our bags. It’s another perfectly sunny day in Los Angeles and, once inside, we discover we’ve booked into one of the coolest hotels we’ve ever stayed at.
Inside, it’s more like a clubhouse than a hotel lobby, with a black-and-white tiled open-air restaurant called Mardi in the centre – reputedly one of WeHo’s most popular outdoor dining spots.
Palihouse has 37 studios, one- and two-room guest suites as well as loft-style residences, and eclectic stuffed animals that our 1-year-old is delighted to spot on the walls as we wander to our room. Needless to say, the location is perfect for exploring the uber-cool neighbourhood, too, with the shops on Melrose Place nearby, the Sunset Strip a 10-minute walk away and Runyon Canyon just 15 minutes by car.
We ride the lift to the third floor of the low-rise accommodation. Our loft-style suite is huge – bigger than most LA apartments. Split over two levels, we find a large house-size kitchen with an island bench and all the newest amenities our hearts desire – notably, a state-of-the-art coffee machine. The décor is cosy with large chesterfield sofas, patterned rugs and tartan blankets on the bed.
There’s a small outdoor patio on the first floor, a bedroom with an ensuite, and a separate lounge area and office, the latter big enough to be our son’s room for the next couple of days.
Upstairs is an oversized main bedroom with a huge shower for two and a separate toilet. There’s also an outdoor terrace with a table-tennis table. The bathrooms are sleek with white marble and feature in-house products.
The rooms are completely self-contained and roomy enough for a family to stay for longer periods, which is part of the appeal for many travelling actors and production staff who head to the Hills to make movies.
It’s worth noting that you won’t find a gym or spa here, so if you’re a holiday exerciser, you might need to get your fix at Runyon Canyon.
There’s also a rooftop bar, which is packed with locals drinking cocktails when we get there after getting unpacked. It’s no wonder; there are 360-degree views of the Hollywood Hills and West Hollywood.
After a restful night’s sleep, we head downstairs for a big breakfast at Mardi. We enjoy eggs and fresh orange juice and then we have the valet pull out the car for a day of exploring this fantastic area.