"How did it strike you on arrival?The 889-room hotel is all part of the brand-new, 1,100-foot Wilshire Grand Center, the tallest building in L.A. and tallest west of the Mississippi. Guests will be both delighted and confused upon stepping foot inside the ground-floor arrival lobby. Delighted, because of the large-scale wall installation called “Screen” by Korean artist Do Ho Suh. From far away, it’s a rainbow of bright colors; up close, you see it’s made of tiny figures. And confused, because they won’t see a check-in desk. That’s because the triple-height hotel lobby is on the 70th floor. Like a lot of hotels in Asia, this one is set on the top floors of an office building (fitting since it is owned by Korean Air). Rooms are on the 31st to 68th floors. A high-tech elevator (you press a button panel on the outside and it knows where to take you) whisks you up to the 70th floor, where the first thing you notice is the utterly remarkable view. That three-story chandelier-esque work of yellow, red, and white neon lights you see is based on Los Angeles freeway connections. (One hotel staffer joked that it should all be red.) Also, because the lobby is on the 70th floor, it feels exclusive—chances are good only hotel guests are hanging out up there. What’s the crowd like?The hotel buzzes with business travelers, who congregate in the floor lobby morning, afternoon, and night. Leisure travelers love it for the view and location smack dab in DTLA. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.Our room was a king suite on the 62nd floor. It was somewhat odd to go down to your room from the lobby, rather than up, but you get used to it. They’re smartly decorated in greys, beige, and brown, perfectly suited for a business traveler not looking for something trendy, but still stylish and sophisticated. There are outlets—regular and USB—in all the right places (including on top of the desk, not hidden behind it). Above the bed is an overhead shot of L.A., with the words “California Dreaming.” It was spacious, and, of course, had an amazing view. Some rooms come with access to Club InterContinental, the executive lounge, which has a ton of seating and serves up a really impressive (and complimentary) breakfast spread and high-tech coffee maker. We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?The bed was extremely comfortable, and I liked the simple grey comforter, which wasn't overly bulky. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?In addition to the usual snacks, the mini-bar has Carry-on Cocktail Kits for your flight home, including ones for a Moscow Mule and an Old Fashioned (aromatic bitters, cane sugar, a spoon/muddler, and a linen coaster—minus the booze). Warning: it’s one of those refrigerators that if you move something you get charged. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.The bathroom was uncluttered and spacious, with a big soaking tub and glass-walled shower, plus backlit mirror. But the nicest touch? Mini bottles of Le Labo Santal 33 shampoo, lotion, etc., with my name printed on them. Suites and club rooms have these amenities; others have Agraria products. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?The staff member who manned the elevator was really patient when I couldn't figure out which bank to use (there are three, and they each go to different floors of the building/hotel). Anything stand out about other services and features?The pool is on the 7th floor, and feels somewhat enclosed but still gets good sunlight. It’s surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas that can be rented for the day. There’s a No Dive Bar, with a throwback yet modern aesthetic, and pops of bright blue and orange. Spire 73, on the 73rd floor, is being touted as the tallest open-air bar in America and the Western Hemisphere. The south side is open to the public (from 4 p.m. on), but it can get a bit windy. The north side is for guests only, and has views of the Hollywood sign and Dodger Stadium. Seating includes fake, yet soft grass-covered benches, mod round stools, wooden wingback chairs with blue-and-white striped cushions, and enclosed seating along the glass-walled edge. It was buzzing at night with work colleagues letting loose and couples on dates—great place to impress someone new. La Boucherie is an expense-account French steakhouse on the 71st floor inspired by Marie Antoinette, with blush- and emerald-colored velvet tufted seating at the lavish front bar and pink-tinged glassware, and feels more Vegas than L.A. There’s a cheese room, charcuterie cave, and a wine list of 1,200 bottles. It’s not a quick dine, so be prepared to settle in and enjoy the view through floor-to-ceiling windows. Don’t miss the bouillabaisse as a starter and the grilled California asparagus as a side. The showpiece steaks start from 42-day dry-aged New York strip ($65) and range up to the Tomahawk cut ($155). The menus are heavy and backlit, so it’s like you’re reading off of a very big computer. Slightly awkward! On the 69th floor, Dekkadance is a buffet extravaganza with an international bent. Live cooking and carving stations, a chocolate fountain, pizzas, you name it. Sora is a sushi and omakase joint where dishes pass through a conveyer belt; you can also order from a menu. The fitness center is huge and has more machines than most Equinox gyms—and the cardio machines face the window so your run (or stair climb) comes with a view. Hands down the nicest hotel gym I’ve ever seen. It has a clubby feel, with up-tempo music and light installations that change colors. There’s also a room where they’ll be offering fitness classes. Bottom line: worth it?The view and location make it worth the price." - Brooke Porter Katz
