Cozy boutique hotel with an European vibe in up and coming Culver City

Palihotel Culver City / Los Angeles / CA / USA

Yes, it is great with independent hotels where the passion of the owners is visible in every single detail, from the design to the service to the graphic profile and beyond. Most of the hotels that end up on this blog (after I have stayed at them, of course) are independent but with that said, there are some chains out there that really manages to create hotels with a truly unique look and vibe, where one is different from the next although there is always a recognizable aesthetic that connects them. This is not an easy feat, so I really want to highlight the ones that really pull it off. Examples of such chains are ACE, Hoxton, 25hours and my most recent discovery, Palihotels. I have been lucky enough to have stayed at three Palihotels thus far and I am happy to add one more to the list, the Palihotel Culver City.

The building that the Palihotel Culver City is situated in is such a typical Old Hollywood kind of building (which makes sense since this was the birth place of the movie industry). But something that stands out is that is painted in a deep teal shade (or is it turquoise?) and one side is fully covered in a mural with a floral theme. Back in 1920 this was built as the Washington Hotel that later became the West Side Hotel before it ended up in its current state, the Palihotel.

The interior has a kind of European feel to it (which might be a bias since I know that this is what founder Avi Brosh strives for when creating his hotels) with ceramic tiled floors, statement black-and-white striped wallpaper and vintage art work. I love that there is a lot of greenery where there is even a full size tree growing in the courtyard.

Our room was on the ground floor and was designed with equal measures of yesteryear and here-and-now. The statement piece is the wooden heard board with built in bedside tables. This gives me a mid-century Danish feel. The color scheme is a discreet grey combined with a subtle green accompanied by a tartan patterned bed spread, bespoke art work and the classic P pillow that is standard in all Palihotels.

Culver City is a great but often overlooked part of LA. The recent urban development has resulted in an almost European city square where no cars are allowed. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars, cafés and shops here which will allow you to park your car and explore the area by foot, which is a rare treat for LA.

The side of the hotel is beautiful! A giant mural with a botanical theme. So great that the original Hotel West End sign has been preserved.

The reception area has a statement look with ceramic tiled floor and black-and-white striped wallpaper.

Simple, tasteful design. The wooden head board looks like a Danish mid-century piece.

All Palihotels have bathroom products from French brand Diptyque

The in-house bar/restaurant with a French theme, Simonette

If you want to explore Culver City on two wheels there are bikes available at the hotel

We came across this great little coffee place when exploring Culver City. It is called Super Domestic Coffee and has great coffee.

Another of our favorite places for a coffee was the combined café and bookstore, the Village Well Books & Coffee.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are in LA and you want to stay in a relaxed boutique hotel with an European vibe and a historic past. If you like timeless design and some quirk, you will love Palihotel Culver City.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the boutique hotel feel. It feels extra good to stay in a small scale, friendly hotel when in a mega city like LA. As soon as you enter the doors it is more like you are staying in some small town hotel where all the locals are eager to meet you.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to hang out in Culver City. It is a great area where you can actually park your car and walk around which is rare in this car loving town. There are several great food places and cafés in the area. One of my favorites for coffee is Super Domestic Coffee a couple of blocks from the hotel.

Worth the detour

LA has so much to explore and experience. Below are three of my favorites that are well worth a detour:

This fabulous cookie is from the Levain Bakery in Larchmont Village, well worth a detour.

If you are looking for a beach away from the masses, this is Zuma beach in north Malibu. Well worth a detour.

I am a huge burger fan. My friend Jack has been raving about the burgers at Golden State on N. Fairfax Ave. And as you might understand from this picture, they did not disappoint and are well worth a detour.

If you like this hotel you might also like…

Palihotel Westwood Village / LA, USA

Palihouse Santa Monica / LA, USA

Silver Lake Pool & Inn / LA, USA