A cool vibe, beautiful rooms, and views fit for a Hollywood A-listers.
The Kimpton Everly Hotel has tons of great features that make it a welcome spot for hipsters, including a pool table in the lobby, free wine in the evening and a rooftop pool. But it’s not so over the top that your grandmother would feel out of place.
We checked in for two nights in April and lucked into a 16th floor (as high as it goes) one-bedroom suite. The living area featured a large window looking directly up at the Hollywood Sign and, off to the right, the Griffith Observatory. Very cool. The carpet was a lovely shade of deep blue/grey, with a large, desk, a mini-fridge, a big-screen TV and a spacious wardrobe with a yoga mat.
The bedroom was separated from the living space by a sliding, frosted glass door with black metal trim. The bedroom had another good-sized television and a Casper mattress king bed and opened to a beautiful, large bathroom with a single sink, plenty of counter space, a shower and a deep, wide and long claw-style bathtub with a deep blue exterior. The hotel features Atelier Bloem bath products.
A room with a view of the Hollywood Sign at the Kimpton Everly Hotel in Los Angeles. Photo Courtesy IHG/Kimpton Hotels
There weren’t a lot of plugs or outlets for charging personal devices, and our room didn’t have a coffee maker. But the space was terrific, and the view to die for. Also, note below that there’s free coffee in the hotel restaurant in the morning.
The fifth floor outdoor pool (the Skyline Sundeck) isn’t large but it was warm enough for several swimmers on a cool day in April. You look south from the pool towards central Hollywood, and the iconic, round Capitol Records building is a block away.
You can arrange a poolside cabana if you wish, or relax at a series of wooden tables and chairs off to one side of the pool.
GREAT LOCATION AND STYLE TO SPARE
Part of the spacious, airy lobby at the Kimpton Everly Hotel in Los Angeles. Photo Courtesy IHG/Kimpton Hotels.
The hotel backs onto Highway 101, aka the Hollywood Freeway, but we didn’t hear a sound. You’re only a block from pulsing Hollywood Boulevard, which has terrific shopping and restaurants.
They keep bottles of sparkling wine on ice at the hotel check-in area, so you can enjoy a glass of bubbly right away. They also have free wine available from 5 to 6 p.m., which we took up to the pool to enjoy some late afternoon sun.
The main lobby area has high ceilings and massive windows, with a nice bar, a pool table, comfy sofas and chairs and small, brightly coloured paintings on one wall.
FOOD AND DRINKS
The exterior of Jane Q, the restaurant at the Kimpton Everly hotel in Los Angeles. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The Ever Bar offers up some very inventive cocktails, including the Lady Marmalade with bourbon, yuzu, lemon, egg white and pinot noir. The Cocaine Models (hey, this is Hollywood, remember?) drink features gin, serry, calvados, lemon lime, pomegranate and heavy cream.
Downstairs from the lobby, at street level, is a dining spot called Jane Q. It was quite busy at breakfast where we enjoyed good avocado toast with tomato, crispy shallot, cilantro and a poached egg (optional). We also had a nice coconut chia with granola, berries and cocoa nibs, and very good coffee lattes. (They also have free, drip coffee and tea every day from 7 to 10 a.m.)
If you’re into juices, they offer several varieties from the California Juice Co. The Big Sur comes with apple, cucumber, kale, celery, spinach, lemon and ginger.
At dinner we enjoyed an excellent pizza from the pizza oven, a nice Caesar salad and a couple glasses of California wine. Dinner was about $100, including two glasses of California wine ($17). They also have homemade pastas, including a Gnocchi Cacio y Pepe and Bucatini with lemon and parmesan cheese.
FREE BIKES AND MORE
A free bike at the Kimpton Everly hotel in Los Angeles. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Feel like exploring? The Kimpton Everly offers guests free use of custom-designed Kimpton PUBLIC bikes for riding around town.
The hotel has a small gym with free weights, treadmills and Peloton bikes, and they also have meeting rooms. The staff was super friendly and very helpful, as well.
The hotel is pet friendly, and there are dog treats in the lobby.
The hotel charges a $28 daily resort fee, but that includes a bevy of amenities, including a $15 food and beverage credit anywhere on the property, the welcome drink, unlimited, upgraded WiFi, unlimited local and long distance calls, Live Like a Local picnic basket kits, free colour printing (10 pages), a complimentary shoe shine service and more.
IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite Members may choose a welcome amenity, options include: Platinum Elite choose from a $10/ Raid the Bar credit or IHG One Rewards points, Diamond Elite and Inner Circle choose from a $20/Raid the Bar credit, Free Breakfast for 2, or IHG One Rewards points.
All in all, this is a terrific, stylish hotel that’s fit for a Hollywood star.
For information on Kimpton Hotels around the world, visit www.ihg.com/kimptonhotels/hotels/us/en/reservation
For more information on Los Angeles, visit www.discoverlosangeles.com.
Note: The Kimpton Everly paid for our room and parking. We paid for our meals. The hotel did not see this post prior to publication.
