It’s perhaps unsurprising that the Sunset Marquis has acquired somewhat of a legend status in LA – though that’s not because it claims to be the city’s most luxurious and pioneering place to stay, but because the hotel’s history feels very much alive. Coupled with a friendly and informal approach to service, it makes this property a Hollywood icon in its own right.
At first glance, Sunset Marquis appears deceptively low-key given the legendary rock’n’roll history it has accrued since opening in 1963. Checking in, despite the hotel being nearly booked out by rock VIPs, super-attentive staff greeted us like old friends. Walking from the lobby to the open-air main pool (there is also a more private one) we entered a blissful nirvana.
A small footbridge over a koi pond connects to Cavatina restaurant and the 3.5-acre grounds that the hotel’s gardens, rooms and suites are scattered across. Open and airy and surrounded by flowing water, swishing trees, bright flowers and plants, Cavatina is headed up by Chef Luis Morales, spotlighting exceptional Californian ingredients such as San Diego salmon and Mary’s organic chicken. With no dress code and an aura of relaxed cool in the air, it’s easy to forget that million-dollar deals have been made here over breakfast, lunch and dinner.
We reached our one-bedroom suite through a Mediterranean-style garden arch, past immaculate lawns, bamboo plants and low shrubs, to find pristine, white-washed exteriors with stone steps and heavy wooden doors. The interior borders on plush 1970s decor with wooden floors and faux-fur throws over leather seats coupled with high-tech gadgetry (hello, Japanese robo-toilet!). In the vast bathroom sat an enormous, free-standing circular bath big enough for six people, while the balcony of a separate living and dining space offered expansive views stretching all the way to Downtown. What more could you wish for?
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Insider | LAX | GMT -7 |
| While you’re Out There |
| Fans of great architecture should consider swinging by the Lloyd Wright House & Studio on North Doheny Drive, a leisurely walk from Sunset Marquis. Though not open to the public, the building is visible from the street, and it’s certainly a sight for sore eyes! |
Photography courtesy of Sunset Marquis
