Refresh, Rehab, Revive: A New Facelift for The Old Hollywood Roosevelt
Since 1927, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has been the local meeting place of bygone luminaries, including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift. Monroe stayed when her career was just emerging, while Monty stayed during some of the filming of From Here to Eternity.
The hotel itself was named after Theodore Roosevelt, who provided some of the initial funding for the star-studded spot. It was also the first place where the Academy Awards were held.
Within our century, this was the hotel where Prince stayed in 2007, where Michelle Pfeiffer sang on a piano in the film, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and where one of the last episodes of Entourage was filmed.
And as for location, it is right in the middle of classic Hollywood: located on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, across from Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Yet, like any 80-year-old Hollywood star, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, now owned by Thompson Hotels, needed to refresh and renew -- and recently, after a reported $35 million facelift, this process is complete. The 300-room hotel is again ready for the spotlight, with the redesign of the Cabana Rooms as well as the debut of three unique entertainment venues: Public Kitchen & Bar, The Spare Room and Beacher's Madhouse.
First, the 60 Cabana Rooms: they surround the famous Tropicana Pool that houses the famous underwater pool mural hand-painted by pop artist David Hockney (see above). The new Cabana Rooms feature hardwood flooring, herringbone-patterned fabric walls, chaise lounges with orange leather accents and white marble bathrooms, providing colorful dimensions to a clean retro design aesthetic. Retractable walls of windows in all Cabana Rooms allow for an indoor/outdoor experience and easy pool access. Some also boast private patios and balconies.
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Second, located off of the Hollywood Roosevelt's historic lobby, Public Kitchen & Bar is a new dining experience from Executive Chef Tim Goodell and The Domaine Restaurant Group. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, and Public also features late-night dining and live entertainment.
Public's interiors are designed by LA-based design firm, Studio Collective, that celebrates the landmark hotel's original Spanish Colonial architecture with brass chandeliers anchored by the hotel's original 1927 ceiling fresco that has been recently uncovered and restored. Rustic oak cabinetry, Black Walnut tables and Cabernet leather booths and a large, three-sided, marble-topped bar looks out to the hotel's grand lobby and serves as the entrance point.
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Third, the Spare Room, located above the lobby, and overlooking Hollywood Boulevard, is a modern-day gaming parlor with two reclaimed bowling lanes, and custom-built backgammon tables.
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And fourth, saving the wildest for last is Beacher's Madhouse -- a revolutionary Vaudeville-inspired theater on the hotel's lower level, with European influences and echoes of the Folies Bergére. The venue extends 3,000 square feet, featuring a mirrored passageway, a 1920s-inspired main stage, antique brass accents and red velvet curtains. Eighteen VIP banquettes of various sizes are available throughout the theater including an exclusive birdcage booth with seating for 20. Concessions and catering are offered to guests as they enjoy the performances and order drinks from the Beau Joie Flying Midget bartender mixing up cocktails at the fully operating Midget Bar.
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
