Mondrian Los Angeles [In-Depth Hotel Review]

^{The author stayed as an invited guest of Mondrian Los Angeles. All opinions are the author’s own, and neither Mondrian Los Angeles nor its parent company had input in any part of this review.}

My wife and I just spent 2 nights at a hotel that possesses several interesting paradoxes. It’s in the middle of it all in West Hollywood, but we also found the hotel relaxing. And while all of the space surrounding the hotel has been gobbled up, the hotel didn’t feel smushed while fitting in numerous amenities.

While the hotel’s decision to not participate in a major points-earning or points-redeeming program is a negative, those looking for a hip property on their next trip to greater Los Angeles might be willing to overlook that aspect.

Should this property be on your short list for your next trip? Let’s look at the experience my wife and I had to help you make up your mind.

Booking Mondrian Los Angeles

Mondrian Los Angeles is part of — and the flagship property of — the Mondrian brand, operated by Ennismore, which, in turn, is majority-owned by Accor Hotels. However, Mondrian Los Angeles is one of a handful of hotels that don’t participate in the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program. Thus, while you can book paid stays here, you can’t pay with or earn ALL Reward points.

During our 2-night stay in late May 2024, the cheapest nightly rate was $377.52 for a Standard King room.

We stayed in a Deluxe Studio Suite, priced at $430.32 per night.

However, Mondrian Los Angeles participates in Ennismore Dis-loyalty, a membership-based loyalty program that offers discounts on stays and other perks starting at $18 per month. If you stay at participating hotels regularly, a membership could provide solid benefits and discounts at hotels like Mondrian Los Angeles.

If I had paid for this stay, I would’ve used my Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card or Citi Strata Premier℠ Card. The latter earns unlimited 3x points on hotel spending, among other bonus categories. The former earns 3x points on up to $150,000 of annual spending in its bonus categories, one of which is travel.

Hot Tip:

Since you can’t redeem points at Mondrian Los Angeles, we recommend you pay using one of the best credit cards for travel spending.

Location of Mondrian Los Angeles

Mondrian Los Angeles is a 12-story property on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, surrounded by hotels, comedy clubs, restaurants, cafés, and nightclubs.

Coming from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by car, it takes anywhere from 35 to 90 minutes to reach the hotel, depending on the time of day and traffic situation.

The hotel isn’t near any of LA’s Metro stations, though there are numerous places to pass your time within walking distance.

Checking In

My wife and I drove up to West Hollywood from our home in Orange County, California. Arriving at the hotel, Google Maps told us to turn onto a side street. Unfortunately, that put us at the one-way-only exit of the hotel’s valet area. Circling around the block, we maneuvered into a valet lane that might’ve seemed cramped in other parts of the world where space isn’t as hard to come by as it is in Los Angeles County.

A friendly agent found my name on the list of guests checking in that day, explained that the hotel’s reception desk was on the left, and sent us into the open lobby beyond the glass doors as he taped a valet pass inside the windshield.

Our first impression of the lobby was that it felt very open. Rooms flowed into one another due to the absence of walls and doors, and the abundant windows filled the space with afternoon sun to make it feel large. There was 1 person in front of us to check in, and I immediately noticed the desk agent’s friendliness. He welcomed every guest like they were the most important person he’d met that day.

After taking a credit card for a security deposit and explaining the location of our room, the employee gave us some brief information about the hotel, such as where to find amenities and restaurants, as well as their hours. We also received a useful letter with this information, including QR codes to scan for the restaurants’ menus.

He also provided an information card about the Dis-loyalty program and its benefits, should we have been interested in signing up.

Before getting into the elevators, we looked around the lobby. The swing was a unique feature.

Several areas offered seating, providing a comfortable place to sit while waiting for friends to come down in the elevator or waiting for the valet to bring up your car.

Deluxe Studio Suite

We stayed on the 11th floor, which featured a color palette of grays and whites.

While I was initially bummed to see that our room, 1122, was right near the elevator waiting area, it turned out that we never heard noise from this area in our room. That was a big relief.

We stayed in a deluxe studio suite that had a lot to offer without feeling like we were tripping over the amenities. Here’s what we found inside.

Entry

The entry to the room had an L-shaped bend, which is probably why we didn’t hear noise from the hallway beyond. There also was a closet in this entry area.

Immediately inside the door was a mirror on the opposing wall.

Under the mirror was a small storage cabinet with 2 shelves.

Sitting Area

Moving into the studio suite, the first area we encountered was a sitting area.

It had a wooden desk with a chair and a house phone, as well as an overhead lamp.

Along the wall was a large sofa. While it was comfortable, I’ll be honest: I’m not a big fan of couches with cushions long enough that you can’t put your feet on the floor but short enough that your legs still stick off the end.

The sofa sat on a raised wooden platform, and we found 2 USB-A and 2 3-prong outlets in the receptacle next to it.

In front of the sofa was a small, circular table. On top, we found bottled water, a bottle of wine, glasses, and a welcome note.

There also was a small box of chocolates waiting for us.

The welcome note was from the concierge, welcoming us to the hotel.

It also included drink coupons for a cocktail at the Skybar near the pool. Getting 4 of these on arrival was a nice treat.

A simple thermostat on the wall in the sitting area was easy to use.

Moving further into the room, an armchair and an interesting ottoman were perched on the rug in front of the TV. Beyond were both daytime curtains and then a double set of blackout curtains that worked wonderfully.

Closets

Opposite the TV, along the wall, were white doors that opened up to a surprisingly bright orange closet inside.

On the left were shelves and drawers (plus a small safe), and on the right was space for hanging clothes.

One of the hangers also had a laundry bag and price list.

The pair of terrycloth bathrobes inside were monogrammed with the Mondrian logo.

Each robe had a small pouch in its pocket, and we found slippers inside the tear-open pouch.

Minibar

A large minibar area was next to the closet, opposite the TV. In cubbies built into the wall, items for sale included candy, nuts, chips, wine, liquor, and more. On the counter was a Nespresso machine next to the small sink.

Under the counter was a minifridge with numerous items for sale: sodas, juices, beer, and miniature bottles of alcohol.

Bedroom Area

The bedroom was furthest from the entry. Its chief feature was a comfortable, king-size bed with pillows that actually provided support — contrary to my chief complaint about most hotel bedrooms.

Each side of the bed had a unique nightstand with a dome-shaped lamp. One nightstand had the TV remote and a house phone.

Each nightstand had a 3-prong outlet and a pair of USB-A outlets built into the side, which was really convenient.

On the other nightstand was a drinking glass, 2 cans of water, and a clock radio.

The clock radio also had a wireless charging point on top.

A thin curtain covered a glass wall between the shower and the bedroom.

Bathroom

The bathroom was on the side of the suite away from the windows. Though small, it was laid out in such a way that we never tripped over each other while getting ready.

The bathroom’s most unique feature was the arrangement of 12 hooks on the wall behind the toilet.

The metal sink sat in front of a small mirror that had a small shelf we loved for holding our toothbrushes.

While counter space around the sink was limited, we found several toiletries: hand lotion, a bar of soap, and makeup wipes.

The shower had a rainfall showerhead, handheld wand, and a support bar affixed to the front wall.

Pump bottles of Malin + Goetz products were installed on the shower wall.

Near the bathroom entrance was a makeup mirror on a shelf and a 2-shelf wooden stand that held towels and spare toilet paper.

Views

We had floor-to-ceiling windows running the length of the room’s outer wall. From one side, we could see down Sunset Boulevard.

We could see downtown Los Angeles in the distance from the other side of the room.

Amenities

Though Mondrian Los Angeles was pinned in by buildings on every side, the hotel managed to pack in multiple amenities for guests.

Pool

Exiting the rear of the lobby, one could access a small pool surrounded by lounge chairs and benches. There was also an accessibility lift to get in and out of the pool, which was open (weather permitting) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Additional seating was between the lobby and the pool, a few steps below the pool deck.

Extra towels and restrooms were also on this lower deck.

Fitness Center

On the first floor, a small gym was available 24 hours a day with a guest key card.

Several racks of free weights and a pair of benches were closer to the door, while treadmills lined the windows, offering views to Sunset Boulevard below.

Further into the fitness center was a multifunction weight machine and a rack that held exercise balls, medicine balls, and kettlebells. Mats and foam rollers were available for additional exercises.

A restroom with a shower was to the left of this area.

Nearest to the door were a water machine, cups, and towels.

Elevators

Mondrian Los Angeles had 3 elevators, and we never had to wait long for one to arrive.

Guests needed to tap their key card to call for the elevator and tap their key card again to push a button that went to guest floors. We couldn’t activate the buttons for other guest floors — only for the floor we were staying on.

The rear wall of the elevators had a floral pattern that was a nice break from the solid wood or shiny metal typically found in hotel elevators.

On guest floors, the elevator waiting area was carpeted.

The elevator waiting area on our floor also had a bench and this interesting hole in the wall with a light that changed colors frequently.

Internet

Mondrian Los Angeles offered 2 different internet plans: a free plan with speeds limited to 10 Mbps and a premium plan with speeds up to 20 Mbps. The premium plan cost $20.

Each guest account (by room number and name) could connect 99 devices, and, though we chose the free internet plan, we still got speeds close to 20 Mbps in our room.

ATM

An ATM was at the rear of the lobby, behind the elevator bank and near the entrance to Casa Madera restaurant. I’m a huge fan of ATMs in a hotel lobby, making it easy to get cash at a reliable spot and be able to tip staff when needed.

Parking

Mondrian Los Angeles had valet-only parking, and it didn’t come cheap. For visitors, the first hour cost $25, and each additional 30 minutes cost $5. There were no in-and-out privileges.

The rate for hotel guests was $68 per day, including in-and-out privileges. Upon arrival, we were told that the big green numbers (6064) were the extension to call from our room to request our car be brought up. I enjoyed this element of convenience and the fact that staff were friendly and efficient despite being busy at numerous points during our stay.

For those visiting the restaurants or bars at the Mondrian, it was possible to get parking validated to drop the rate to $25 for 2 hours of parking plus $10 for each additional hour.

Exxhibit Gift Shop

Off the lobby, Exxhibit sold everything from clothes to candy bars and sunblock to sandals. Beyond selling goods, the store functioned as an “untraditional art gallery.” The store was open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Meeting Spaces

Mondrian Los Angeles offered 1,266 square feet of space between 2 galleries and 1,000 square feet of space in the Skyview Loft. Skybar could host events with up to 550 guests.

Concierge

Mondrian Los Angeles retained an in-person concierge desk in the lobby. During the day, you could swing by for recommendations on entertainment and activities or get help making dinner reservations in the city.

Food and Beverage

Mondrian Los Angeles had several options for eating and drinking nearly around the clock.

Casa Madera

Casa Madera was the hotel’s main restaurant. With its 8,000 square feet of space, you’d assume the hotel could handle a crowd and that you wouldn’t have to wait. You’d be wrong. This place was incredibly popular at night, and reservations are recommended.

Along with a full bar, Casa Madera serves Mexican-inspired food like tacos and ceviche, as well as international fare like risotto, burgers, and fattoush salad.

We loved the chairs in Casa Madera, which recalled pre-Columbian artwork in Mexico.

The restaurant also had ample seating outside, which was covered.

A DJ played tunes at night between the waiting area and the restaurant proper.

Casa Madera serves 3 meals a day. Breakfast was available from 7 to 11 a.m. daily. Lunch was available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, while brunch was served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Dinner was available starting at 5 p.m. daily. Sunday through Wednesday, it ended at 10:30 p.m.; from Thursday through Saturday, it lasted until 12:30 a.m.

We dined at Casa Madera for breakfast, which was one of the highlights of the trip.

The breakfast menu included muffins, croissants, yogurt, French toast, and combination plates.

We both started with a latte.

My wife a I created our own combo with avocado toast, potatoes, and Impossible Sausages. It was fantastic, for lack of a better word to describe how much we enjoyed the meal.

Cafecito

Near the exit to the pool deck, past the store, Cafecito was open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. It served a limited menu and operated mostly like a coffee bar.

Skybar

Skybar was up a few steps from the pool deck and had a great open-air layout that felt more like an oceanside beach resort, not somewhere in the middle of West Hollywood.

The bar had a full range of beers, wines, cocktails, and mocktails that you could drink at chairs at the bar or the bench seating spread around the bar’s enclosure. You could also order drinks to your seat near the pool.

My wife and I don’t drink alcohol, so we let the bartender surprise us with mocktails of his own creation. These were a solid 7 out of 10.

Skybar was open from 10 a.m. daily and closed at midnight Sunday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, it stayed open until 2 p.m. It’s worth noting that the Skybar area was only accessible to those 21 or over after 6 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and after 1 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Room Service

Mondrian Los Angeles also offered room service, using a QR code on the welcome letter and serving items from the Cafecito menu. A breakfast menu was available from 7 to 11 a.m., and an all-day menu was available from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily.

Service

I’ll save the best service experience for last, but service was good throughout our stay. It started with a friendly greeting from the valet team on arrival at the hotel and continued with the cheerful front desk agent.

Whenever we requested our car from the valet team, received the keys, or dropped off our car again, the valet team was consistently friendly and efficient. We also had limited, casual conversations with housekeeping and bar staff. They were friendly and good at their jobs, as well.

The highlight of the service was easily the breakfast waiter, Sergio. Some people wake up in a good mood every day. I’m definitely not one of them; I need some time to stop being groggy. Sergio was the epitome of “wake up in a good mood.” He was cheerful and quick to arrive to clear dirty dishes, ask if we wanted more water or another coffee, and to take our order when he saw that we’d stopped looking at the menus. We liked him a lot.

Final Thoughts

When it was time to check out, we handed our key cards to a friendly desk agent who was in training. She greeted us with a warm smile and asked if we’d enjoyed our stay, confirmed that the security hold on my credit card would be released, and confirmed our final folio with the items we’d ordered at Cafecito during our stay.

We requested our car from the valet team for the last time and informed them we were leaving. They removed the tag from our keys and the windshield, and then we were on our way.

Mondrian Los Angeles gave us access to all that West Hollywood had to offer, and its central location was excellent. Interactions with staff were continually positive, and our breakfast experience was the pinnacle. All in all, it was a great stay. I would stay here again.