THE WAYFARER DOWNTOWN LA
ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After a long day of cross-country travel, I finally arrived at The Wayfarer DTLA. A friendly staff member greeted me and held the front door open. The chic lobby welcomed with a home-like feel, featuring a large bookcase to the left and comfy chairs to the right. Check-in was a breeze, and I was happy my room was ready when I arrived.
GUEST QUARTERS: Walking into my room, I was delighted to see how unique it was. Compared to other hotel rooms, this felt like a bedroom. To my left stood a high-top desk and a wall with shelves and two pegs for hanging personal items. On the right, the bathroom featured a walk-in shower, a standard toilet and sink. To be eco-friendly, the shower featured full-sized containers of shampoo, conditioner, soap and lotion instead of individual mini bottles.
An accent wall behind the bed reminded me of a blueish-gray sky with clouds — a design that gave the room more of a bedroom feel.
A TV hung on the wall; and although it wasn’t a smart TV with all the apps for Netflix, Hulu and other streaming services, I was still able to get Youtube for music and podcasts. One of my favorite features of the room was a little box next to the bed that contained a cute mini speaker that fit the vibe of the room. I wasn’t in my room for long periods at a time, so I, unfortunately, didn’t get to use the speaker, but it gave the room a nice touch.
SERVICES/AMENITIES: The Wayfarer DTLA offers an amenity I have never seen in a hotel and I was excited to try — a lobby beer wall! Guests can get a card from the to-go food and beverage cart and head to the beer wall to pour themselves a cold one. The wall had about 10 different beers on tap, each offering a different flavor. When I was checking in, I mentioned to the receptionist my flight was delayed getting there, and she gave me a card valid for two free beers from the wall. Unfortunately, when I went to the wall the taps weren’t working, but they still honored my card and gave me a can of Mango Cart.
The hotel features three dining options: The Gaslighter Social Club, Lilly Rose and Rooftop. The Gaslighter, located in the lobby near the beer wall, offers a grab-and-go option, while the other two are sit-down restaurants. With such a short and jam-packed visit, I didn’t get to try any of the restaurants, but I hope to return soon for a meal.