Hipster hotel in downtown LA where the cool people come to play
Ace Hotel Downtown LA / Los Angeles / CA / USA
If you have read this blog before you have understood my huge fandom for Ace hotels and their success story is widely known by now. It started in 1999 and today they have created a chain with 11 hotels in 3 countries (Sad news is that the London Ace closed down during the pandemic and good news is that Ace Sydney will soon open its doors). The look of each Ace hotel is unique, both the architecture and the interior design but the Ace spirit and look is always clearly visible. I find the whole concept totally fascinating. Somehow they create a style that almost looks like they don’t care what the final result is, but of course that is not the case. I think it takes amazing ”fingerspitzgefühl” to be able to pull this kind of design together.
This Ace hotel is located in downtown LA. In the beginning of the 20th century this used to be a buzzing neighborhood but that had lost some of its appeal by the end of the century. But in the last years more and more hotels, shops, galleries and restaurants have opened up and once again Downtown LA is buzzing with energy. This 182-key hotel opened in 2014 and is situated in the historic United Artists building.
The design of the rooms are said to have been inspired by Austrian architect and West Hollywood resident Rudolf Schindler. The color scheme is muted and dark which creates a strong contrast to the otherwise bright and colorful California look. My favorite feature in our room was the color blocked Pendleton blanket on our bed. Together with the unpolished concrete ceiling, vintage chairs and lamps as well as industrial looking partition walls, it is a great example of above mentioned design ”fingerspitzgefühl”.
Welcome to Ace Hotel in downtown LA!
The impressive building that houses the Ace Hotel with the middle eastern inspired entrance.
The lobby is so beautiful with high ceilings, marble floors and portals.
A snap shot of the reception.
The elevators
It is fascinating with the contrast between the bright lobby area and the tight corridors leading to the hotel rooms.
The design of our hotel room screams Ace to me with simple, playful and colorful design with a vintage look and feel.
Our room was fairly small but totally functional. And it is not like you come to LA to sit inside at your desk anyway. Maybe if you are an aspiring screen writer but to if you are curious tourists like us.
If you get a sudden urge to write some music, Ace has you covered.
The industrial looking bathroom was open plan, connected to the room.
The popular bar, Upstairs. Just outside there is a small roof top pool to cool of in during the hot LA Summer.
The view from the top of Downtown LA.
M is checking out the hotel shop. They have so many great things to bring back home for yourself or the dog-/cat sitter
The in-house restaurant on the ground floor.
Breakfast date with the husband at favorite Urth Café.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to hang with the hipster crowd (and I say this with love and admiration). I just wish I was one of them and when staying in an hotel like Ace Downtown LA I can pretend I belong with this creative bunch of people.
My favorite thing about this place…
…is the vibe. I know, maybe this is a too generic answer but you feel it directly when entering. Or actually already outside on the sidewalk before you walk through the entrance. It is like hotels like this one has its own gravitation force that pulls you in.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to go for a drink at the roof top bar and if the weather is good (it is always good. This is LA after all) find a spot outside by the roof top pool. I spent hours just listening to ongoing conversations between wannabe actors/directors/screenwriters/models/singers/producers. M almost had to pull me away at the end. Otherwise I would probably still be there, looking like a prune after all that time in the sun.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
Freehand, New York City, NY, USA
Hoxton, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ace Hotel, Portland, OR, USA
