After a slightly delayed flight, we arrived at LAX, grabbed the rental car and headed to our hotel, the W Hollywood. Even at 11 P.M., the hotel was bustling with activity. Check-in was a breeze, and the staff was super friendly. For some reason (technical glitch I’m guessing), my SPG platinum status wasn’t in their system yet, but they gave me all the perks anyway. Best of all, we got a suite upgrade for a two-night stay!
The Lobby
We took a few pictures of the gorgeous lobby and then we were up to our room. We had stayed here once before, but it was really brief and didn’t get the chance to experience all the hotel had to offer. We weren’t going to let that happen this time though.
The Room
The suite was just amazing. We were high up on the eleventh floor, overlooking the entrance courtyard. If we looked out, we could see all of the exotic cars parked out front. The room had a huge, circular couch and a massive bathroom, with separate shower and tub.
Every detail was taken care of, they even had fancy barware, with instructions on how to make the cocktails. And the bed itself was super comfy, always the case in W Hotels. Before bedtime, we went downstairs to grab a couple of drinks in the bustling lobby.
Breakfast
The next morning, we had breakfast at Delphine, the hotel’s main restaurant. As it was nearly 11:00 A.M, the place was just about empty. In fact, as we were finishing, people were starting to come in for lunch. As a Platinum member, I got the free continental breakfast and then added some scrambled eggs a la carte. The entire meal was delicious.
Pool Party
Then, we were off to big event, their Summer Pool Party. I walked up to the rooftop pool just before noon. Luckily, there was still some seating available. I would have liked to take some pictures, but it was so hot, my phone actually started to overheat, so I had to take it back to the room.
We spent probably an hour in the pool just to stay cooled off, as it was so warm. That said, the pool was really nice, and the DJ was great. Everything about the pool party was awesome, except for the waitress who basically ignored us as we kept trying to flag her down (read: small tip), but we didn’t let that bother us, as the rest of the staff was friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend attending one of these parties if you’re in Hollywood.
After about two and a half hours on the rooftop, it was time to head back inside. Since it was nearly impossible to get food on the roof, we got some food in the lobby.
Good Times at Davey Wayne’s
After the refuel, we changed back into our regular clothes and walked over to Good Times at Davey Wayne’s. This bar is awesome. The owners apparently modeled it after the 1970’s pool bars that their father visited. My girlfriend and I both loved it. The decor is amazing, and the door is a refrigerator. It was one of the most creative bars I have ever seen, and I definitely recommend it to anyone in the area. Imagine walking into a refrigerator and then seeing an entire bar behind it! That’s what this place was like. And of course, the music was spot on as well.
Dinner and Breakfast
We ended the evening with dinner at Delphine again. One of our friends literally lives next door, so it’s super convenient, and SPG Platinum members get a 10% discount. Just as with breakfast, the food and service were excellent. One thing to note: apparently, there is a theater across the street, as when we checked-in, the hostess asked us if we where going to see the show.
The next morning, we had brunch with our friend at Delphine (yes, a third time, haha). This was actually my favorite of the meals. I had my standard eggs, but they were really, really good.
Food Tour
After checking out around 2:00, we made the drive to downtown LA for a Little Tokyo food tour. It was my second time visiting Little Tokyo, and it was still as impressive as the first. We chose Six Taste as the food tour company, and we were not disappointed. Our guide, Sally was wonderful and filled us in on all of the interesting history of the area. She even was able to get the group access to the Japanese garden, which was so serene. The only downer was that we had to leave a little bit early so that I could catch my flight.
And that was it. Even though it was too short, it was an excellent weekend, and I can’t wait to go back to LA and see even more of what it has to offer!
Platinum Bryan 