Who doesn’t love hip hotels? Characterised by stunning interiors, swoon worthy service and a kind of magical atmosphere. I feel like I’ve stayed in enough hotels to comment on what rocks… sheesh this year alone there has been more hotel beds than weeks! So when Mr & Mrs Smith (who describe themselves as boutique and luxury hotel specialists) sent me their new book I was really excited! I adore reading up on new places to go.
On occasion I’ll be profiling an amazing hotel from their collection – somewhere I want to go, naturally. My criteria? Places that have an amazing interior, somewhere in an enthralling location or somewhere good to take a lover for a sneaky weekend. Because that’s where the Mr & Mrs Smith name comes from – it’s a “common pseudonym often used by couples checking into a hotel for a romantic (and sometimes clandestine) weekend away”.
Which brings us to my first pick, the Viceroy Hotel, Santa Monica. I’ve only visited Santa Monica once, for a day ,and my memories are of it are of the pier, spotting Keanu Reeves (!!!) and going to the McDonalds.
Suffice to say I want to go back and explore a bit more. I want romance, summer sun, golden sands, braided beach hair, rollerblading and to visit that famous vintage store. As a place to retreat to at the end of my days, I can’t think of anywhere better than the Viceroy.
It’s a gorgeous 142 room hotel, decorated by Kelly Wreastler in the Hollywood Regency style. Hollywood Regency is characterized by glamorous finishes, ornate details and saturated colours.
The Viceroy’s Essential Elements for a good time:
- The interior fit for any starlet – in fact Dita Von Teese wrote the review featured in the Global Shortlist. Hurrah, let’s snap some daily outfits in the lobby!
- The mustard coloured library! Drinkin’ and readin’ – my faves.
- Signature drinks include Strawberry Vice, Mojito Royal and Mandarine Gimlet.
- You can hire the poolside cabanas! Ooh la la. Invite a date to your cabana, or if you don’t have one yet – meet someone. Apparently the Viceroy has a sweet ’scene’, where all the locals come hang at the hotel. How cool is that?
Giveaway! Smith Hotels has given Code For Something a copy of their lush new Global Shortlist book to give away. The Global Shortlist “takes you beyond the bedroom doors of the world’s most stylish boutique hotels, steering you toward the best places to wine, dine and unwind at destinations around the globe”. Simply leave a comment telling me the name of the coolest/most memorable hotel you’ve stayed at! I’ll randomly select a winner on July 21sr. Yay, good luck!
{ 13 comments }
I wish I had spent more time in hotels! But I always stay with friends and family whenever I can to save money.
I did stay in a really amazing hotel in Seoul last year, though! The Shilla was pretty much awesome. The interior was not really my style, very simple and hotel-like, but the service… oh, the service! It was absolutely fantastic. It felt like home. And the food… heavenly! I’m so happy I had the opportunity to stay there and I hope to go back one day.
When I was barely a teenager, I was sent away to stay with my aunt and uncle in Europe for six months. They were looking to buy a summer home in Italy and we wound up staying on the shores of Lake Como (where they shot the wedding scenes in Attack of the Clones) at the Albergo Leno: http://www.initaly.com/agri/hotels/lenno/lenno.htm. We managed to snag one of the attic rooms with old-world, exposed-wood ceilings, antique furnishings, and creaky beds, which, of course, I didn’t appreciate at the time but was absolutely charming.
For some reason I refused to go to sleep. I stayed up all night, but was rewarded with seeing the sun creepy up over the misty mountains surrounding the lake. I was a bit of a pissant at this stage of my life (who wasn’t, really?) but the sight really did take my breath away.
I haven’t spent much that time in hotels either. However I did have an amazing time at the Hatton a little while ago. I was to my surprise upgraded to the master suite, which made it absolutely amazing – the front balcony, a bath that was nearly on the balcony, not far from the botanical gardens… The best!
While I’ve done quite a bit of travel, I’ve generally had to stay in either budget accom (when travelling for pleasure) or interchangeable hotel chains with no personality (when travelling for work).
Recently though, my boyfriend and I stayed at the Standard in downtown LA, which (while not that new or boutique) had fantastic personality. The rooftop bar with pool was very entertaining for people watching, and there was a really cool lobby shop where, after getting drunk by the pool each day, I would realise I desperately needed some new ironic sunglasses or a set of pencils with the Standard logo on them.
I think the most memorable hotel I have stayed in was the Royal Peacock in Singapore. It was in a beautiful old building and had a bright and modern foyer area. In comparison, the room was teeny tiny. Barely big enough for the double bed. And without any external windows. But! the walls were a deep purple colour, the bed was raised with a sleigh type frame. The bathroom was teeny, you had to step up to get into it and the door was slats not solid. The bathroom was cream tiled & overall? it was completely adorable.
Hi Amber
Thanks for writing about us and the Viceroy – it’s actually one of my personal favorite hotels from our collection. In fact after I visited I cam back home inspired and as a result several of my rooms are now green!
@Sarah the Standard Hotels are also in our collection. Although they are a chain and some not small at all, they are definitely boutique in attitude and feel. each one feels individual. I agree with you about the Downtown LA bar – so impressive – you feel like you are part of a film set having a cocktail there.
Tamara (aka Mrs Smith)
Ooh, very neat. The most memorable hotel I’ve ever stayed at was Hotel Fox in Copenhagen. Each room was designed by a different artist, and they’re pretty nuts and amazing. My room looked sort of like a nuclear doomsday video game.
you know i’ve never known the name of that decorating style. and have loved it almost all my life. so i have you to thank. as for hotels… i’m not good with names… there was one from the 50s near an oasis in the desert in california. oh… i know… Raffles hotel in Singapore? that’s one name i could find. it’s old and i guess the legend is that the Singapore Sling was invented there.
Thanks for your wonderful comments guys! <3 My favourite hotels I've visited so far are The Claska in Tokyo (they have a doggy day spa in the lobby!) and the Drover's Inn in Loch Lomond, Scotland – a haunted little pile stuffed with taxidermy. If you go back to the Feb 09 archives there's some photos. Also, the Bloomsbury Raddison in London, aka the Bloomsbury Radsville, rates for service! I remember stumbling in at 4am needing my swipe card reset. The concierge handed a new key and a copy of the paper with a wickedly snooty "Good Morning Madam" – loved it.
Of course there's been a million backpackers, blander than beige 'business' hotels (especially in China) and campsites in between. I loved sleeping on a wooden platform in the middle of the jungle in Borneo and on the floor of a longhouse! Ahhh, it’s all good, as long as there's somewhere to rest your head :)
My fondest memories are of the Paradores hotels in Spain, they take over crumbly old historic buildings and managed to make they luxe as hell without loosing the old charm, one summer driving through Spain we spent a couple of nights in about 5 different ones and it was just amazing!
Oh and they make a mean breakfast too!x
I haven’t travelled much, and therefore haven’t stayed in many hotels. But the best one was the Medina Grand in Melbourne last year.
The Boy’s cousin works for a hotel chain and so we get REALLY good deals. We got a one bedroom serviced apartment for about 1/6 of the normal rate with a nice view. The hotel itself is 4.5 stars and is bigger than the apartment we live in. It was beautiful! And in the middle of the city.
I really enjoyed Tower 23 in La Jolla, San Diego. Nice, modern, smallish place on the beach with an awesome bar. http://www.t23hotel.com/
Best hotel i stayed in was a free penthouse for the night aqt the Hyatt hotel courtesy of my work ; P. I had gone out of my way to arrange it for a VIP meeting for some co-workers and no one wanted to use it for the night so they offered it to me! it was actually a huge 2 level 3 bedroom apartment. and i ordered room service. have NEVER done that before.
{ 2 trackbacks }