The Hollywood Roosevelt

"To get a sense of the place all you need to know is that the The Hollywood Roosevelt hosted the first ever Academy Awards. If you want to experience Hollywood up close, this is its Times Square, complete with room views of the Hollywood sign (and soundproof walls so the hustle outside doesn't encroach). The hotel stays alive until the wee hours—the chicken tenders and shoestring fries are always available to order, before it's time for a morning refresher in the David Hockney-painted pool—which you might have already seen in plenty of fashion shoots over the years. It's also home to a couple particularly hip bars—The Writer's Room and The Spare Room." - Krista Simmons, Celeste Moure

"How did it strike you on arrival?Chances are good you’ll be elbowing your way through tourists checking out the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Mann's Chinese Theater. But once inside, you’ll forget about the crowds. The recently renovated lobby is high drama, with towering ceilings, a large chandelier, columned archways, a fireplace, and a historic fountain. The hotel first opened in 1927—and actually hosted the first-ever Academy Awards, in 1929. Past guests include Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Charlie Chaplin. In fact, Gable and Carole Lombard used to live in what is now the three-level Penthouse Suite. (There’s also a Marilyn Suite.) What’s the crowd like?Lots of night owls who want to experience Old Hollywood up close—it's akin to being somewhere between New York City's Times Square and the Theater District. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.The well-known design firm Yabu Pushelberg oversaw a $25 million renovation of the Tower Rooms in 2015. Expect hardwood floors, four-poster beds, boho-chic patterns, and a palette of greys and rich blue and persimmon accents, plus details like two-toned walls, and sliding barn doors that separate sleeping areas (in Deluxe rooms). Many of the Studio King Suites have amazing views of the hills and Hollywood sign. Cabana Suites—designed by Joyce Wang and Hun Aw of Waaw Design—are more mid-century in feel, done up in natural oak, ebony floors, and bronze accessories. Stay in one of these if you want to be close to the Tropicana pool, known for its multi-million dollar mural by British painter David Hockney, completed in 1988, and the newly opened, tropical-inspired Rosy Café. Also of note: rooms have two-inch thick, soundproof walls. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?I’d probably steal the Braun alarm clock, which displays the daily weather forecast, or the La Bottega custom waffle kimono robe. From the mini-bar, the Sriracha popcorn ($10) or Compartes Chocolate ($15). Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.Tower bathrooms pay homage to the 1930s originals, done up in marble with black metal accents and Spanish-inspired geometric tile floor patterns. Room service: What should we order?If you’re staying at this hotel, you’re probably coming back late at night—which means crispy chicken tenders and fries will be in order. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.You may recognize the pool from a fashion shoot—it’s been featured in plenty. One summer, the hotel showed throwback films like Heathers and the Royal Tenenbaums every Tuesday night next to the pool, along with cocktails and food that were on theme with the movie. (Also, see aforementioned Hockney mural.) 25 Degrees is so-called for the temperature difference between a medium rare and well-done hamburger. Need to stave off a hangover? Head to this diner, outfitted in mahogany leather booths, miniature chandeliers, and vintage bar stools. Our pick: the Number One (caramelized onion, gorgonzola, arugula, bacon, and Thousand Island) and truffle parmesan fries. The speakeasy-style The Spare Room is set behind nondescript double doors. On the other side, you’ll find a two-lane, vintage bowling alley, plus a game parlor (featuring custom-made wooden board games) and cocktail lounge. There’s even a Monday night bowling league. The hotel recently debuted a secret music studio where big bands like to warm up before sets at the nearby Hollywood Bowl. Bottom line: Why are we picking the Roosevelt?To take advantage of the on-site nightlife and embrace the Hollywood scene—and have a quiet, stylish room to return to." - Brooke Porter Katz, Krista Simmons

"In the City of Angels, a clutch of spectral celebrities refuses to leave the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Marilyn Monroe was a frequent guest, and she was especially fond of Suite 1200 and its full-length mirror. Now, guests gaze into the mirror for a glimpse of the superstar, whose reflection has been known to appear time and again. Like Monroe, the ghosts of other celebrities such as Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, and Montgomery Cliff, have also chosen to make the hotel their eternal residence, and they're rather protective of their hangout. They often make their presence known with playful hijinks like messing with phones and knocking on doors." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"25 Degrees wins the award for being the best 24-hour restaurant in LA that everybody forgets is open 24 hours. Located on the ground floor of the Roosevelt Hotel, this retro diner has plenty of solid options, but you’re here for the burgers. We usually go for the Number 2 (burrata, pesto, and crispy prosciutto), but if you come during the day, you can build your own burger, too. Also, their milkshakes are pretty great." - brant cox

"The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel was opened on May 15th, 1927 by a group that included mega-stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford along with MGM Chief Louis B. Mayer and developer Sid Grauman. It is the host of the first Academy Awards as well as a frequent location of the anti-Academy Awards—known as the Razzies—and has a storied history in Hollywood. The 12-story hotel was built in a Spanish colonial style with elaborate chandeliers and wrought iron balconies. Hollywood is fundamentally a place marked by a need for glamorous spaces whether shooting locations, premieres, or awards ceremonies and the Hotel Roosevelt was an early attempt to capitalize on stars and glamour.  Within two years of its operation, hotel investor Douglas Fairbanks hosted the first Academy Awards in a ballroom that is still in use today. The ceremony lasted approximately 15 minutes and the ballroom housed 270 people. The inaugural Academy Awards winner, Wings, is memorialized with a poster in the lobby. Since then, guests, movie shoots, and Hollywood premieres have all taken place at this hotel. The Tropicana Pool on the hotel’s roof is a shooting location for Turner Classics Movies, and has been featured on I Love Lucy, Almost Famous, and Entourage. The famous piano scene in Fabulous Baker Boys was shot at the Cinegrill nightclub. The hotel is, overall, responsible for over 50 film and TV credits including more recently the drama series, The People vs OJ Simpson.  In terms of ceremonies, the Razzies (honoring the worst in film) is frequently held here and one of the major Oscar auctions (for the art direction prize for Diary of Anne Frank) was held here before the practice of selling your Oscars for money was outlawed. Premieres such as Ghostbusters and Game of Thrones also took place here. More significant are the guests who stayed here for extended periods of time from Errol Flynn to Marilyn Monroe (who lived here for two years at the start of her career and had her first professional shoot on the premises) to Clark Gable and Carole Lombard who began clandestine encounters in the penthouse suite. The rooms where Monroe, Gable, and Lombard stayed now bear the name of their famous former occupants.  Some insist that the hotel is haunted by its former occupants who died tragically: particularly Monroe and Montgomery Clift who stayed here for a few months while filming From Here to Eternity and could be heard bugling through the hallways as he played the instrument in the film. There are reports that after his passing people heard trumpet sounds on the 9th floor (where he stayed) and some even checked out of the hotel complaining of music playing in the middle of the night." - ATLAS_OBSCURA