ritz-carlton-feature2If you’re visiting Los Angeles, there are lots of great hotel options to consider. But if you really want to be in the heart of the action, one of your best bets is the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.

L.A. Live
The hotel is part of L.A. Live, a huge entertainment complex in downtown Los Angeles. The complex, which reportedly cost $2.5 billion to construct, is comprised of the Nokia Theatre (where awards shows like The People’s Choice Awards are held), the Grammy Museum and the Staples Center, home to four of the city’s pro sports teams (Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Sparks and Los Angeles Kings). In addition, there are lots of restaurants as well as a two-tower hotel for the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.

If you want to be in the heart of the action, the Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles is your best bet.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles occupies four floors (22 through 26) of one of the towers and floors 27 through 52 are the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton. Not a bad place to call home, if you ask me! With fantastic views of Los Angeles and of all the activity bustling below at L.A. Live, there’s a frisson of energy surrounding this part of the city.

The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
The first time my husband Johnny Jet and I visited, we had a bit of trouble locating the hotel entrance. The complex is so large and the JW Marriott has a much more prominent and visible entryway. But turn onto Olympic Boulevard and you can’t miss it. It’s a bit more understated and exclusive at the Ritz-Carlton compared to the JW Marriott. Having been at the JW Marriott during a weekend Mary Kay conference, the lobby can get pretty nutty, whereas I always found the lobby at the Ritz-Carlton quiet and easy to navigate. In fact, it’s quite a small lobby but chic and modern.

The guestrooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
Occupying only four floors, this is a boutique hotel. There are 123 contemporary guest rooms, 13 luxury suites and a 3,000-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Suite, if, you know, that’s the way you roll. But don’t worry; even the most junior room like the 450-square-foot deluxe, is plenty grand. The star of our room was the view. With large, wrap-around windows and another one in the bathroom, the views of Los Angeles from up high are panoramic. You can see much of the city, as far as the Hollywood sign in the distant hills. Oh, and if you have a room with Club Level access, you will definitely enjoy the four food presentations served throughout the day. Access to the hotel’s Club Level means you won’t NEED to eat off-property. With more than enough options for breakfast, lunch, light snacks and hors d’ouevres that can easily double as dinner if you’re not a big eater, the food is fresh and tasty and … it’s just always there. Great if you’re a grazer. And the French macarons right at the entrance? Yeah. Try not to grab one every single time you go in.

ritz-carlton-peek-inside3The Ritz-Carlton Spa
You can get ready for a night on the town or maybe even red-carpet ready (it IS Los Angeles!) at the 8,000-square-foot spa facility. The spa offers everything you’d expect it to but treatments like the Champagne & Shimmer Body Treatment and Ageless Beauty Facial remind you you’re in LA. And speaking of Champagne … spa guests get a Champagne welcome when they arrive, which is the perfect way to start things off and will perhaps take the edge off of pricey treatments. It’s not cheap here (a 50-minute signature massage will run you $140 and a quickie 25-minute massage is $85!), but it’s definitely luxurious.

WP24 by Wolfgang Puck
If you’re so relaxed after a spa treatment that you can’t even think about going out, you can just dine at the hotel at WP24. Located on the 24th floor of the hotel, this Wolfgang Puck restaurant offers modern interpretations of traditional Chinese food, as well as an extensive selection of sushi options. (And if you thought the view in your room was spectacular, just wait til you see it at night from up here, through the floor-to-ceiling windows.)

So if you’re visiting Los Angeles and want to stay downtown, and especially if you plan on catching a game or concert at the Staples Center, check out the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles. It offers style, sophistication and superb service from check-in to check-out.
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2 Comments on Stay: Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

    • Natalie
      March 11, 2013 at 2:15 pm (12 years ago)

      Thanks so much, Jen! I really appreciate your feedback! 🙂

      Reply

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