An Iconic Golden Age Hotel Gets a New Hollywood Look

The Hollywood Roosevelt
Los Angeles, California
Retro Modern, $$$

At first glance, The Hollywood Roosevelt doesn’t look like the first place you’d expect to spot a movie star on vacation. From its perch above Hollywood Boulevard’s bustling Walk of Fame, the towering Spanish Colonial Revival hotel seems a little too in the middle of it all. But acquaint yourself with its history, and the reasoning becomes clear. 

Since opening in 1927, the landmarked property that was birthplace of the Academy Awards has hosted many high-profile personalities. Marilyn Monroe once called the hotel home, Errol Flynn used to make Prohibition gin at the hotel barber shop, and Shirley Temple was taught how to dance here by Bill Bojangles Robinson.

Not that it has been living in the past. The hotel has undergone a major revamp (it's now part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts) and continues to attract notables and fashionables for its contemporary West Coast interiors and the dining and drinking options that make for a lively social scene. Among the other legendary attractions are a striking David Hockney pool mural and the newly restored Cinegrill Theater. It's the LA hotel for those who want to steep in the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age without compromising on modern comforts.

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At a Glance

Vibe: Busy, buzzy, and glitzy with a nostalgic air throughout.

Standout Detail: The outdoor pool’s original million-dollar underwater mural by master painter David Hockney. 

This Place Is Perfect For: Movie fanatics who want to stay on the Walk of Fame.

Rooms: 300 guest rooms all come with walk-in closets, custom throw blankets, local snacks in the mini bars, La Bodega kimono robes, Malin + Goetz bath products, and prints by paparazzo Ron Galella. The 240 Yabu Pushelberg-designed rooms in The Tower have canopy beds, barn doors, and wood and leather accents. The 60 Cabana suites, most overlooking the pool, are light and airy. Two suites are worth calling out: The Marilyn Suite, the former home of Ms. Monroe, is now an opulent, loft-like, 750-square-foot suite with vintage Eames furniture overlooking Tropicana Pool. The Gable & Lombard Penthouse Suite? The three-level masterpiece with 360-degrees rooftop patio views was home to Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, but you may recognize it as the more contemporary Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga love den from A Star Is Born. 

On Site: The hotel continually offers a full roster of events — like morning and sunset yoga, cocktails, concerts, and markets — at Cinegrill Theater, The Bridge, and Tropicana Pool. Additionally, the hotel has 25,000+ square feet of event space: including the rooftop, a gallery space, an outdoor garden, the old office of the Motion Picture Academy, and Blossom Ballroom, where the first Academy Awards were held in 1929. The well-equipped spa is open 24/7; muscle-soothing treatments are available at the Massage Garden.

Food + Drink: Shirley Brasserie offers a farm-to-table take on French-by-way-of-California brasserie classics like charcuterie, duck confit, Niçoise salad, and profiteroles. The same menu is available in The Lobby, when dining on plush sofas is the order of the day. Does 25 Degrees serve the best burger in Los Angeles? Time Out thinks so. The speakeasy-style Spare Room rocks a two-lane vintage bowling alley and has custom-made wooden board games. Poolside options include Rosy Café, an all-day al fresco eatery, and Tropicana Bar, which is open until late (1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday).

Feel-Good Factor: The hotel supports several worthy local causes, among them The Shower of Hope, which provides mobile showers for the unhoused, and Carlsen Animal Hospital.

What to Do Nearby

Hollywood's most popular tourist attractions (and the crowds that come with them) are right outside the hotel — the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theater, Grauman's Egyptian Theater, and Dolby Theater, as well as a good smattering of shopping and nightlife venues. For a breath of fresh air, hike through Runyon Canyon, score some style pieces on Melrose Boulevard, and refuel at The Sycamore Kitchen.

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This article was originally written in 2017 and was updated in 2023. Everything on Fathom is independently selected by our editors. If you book a hotel through a link on our website or newsletter, we may earn a commission.