Many years ago, Downtown Los Angeles was not the place to be. The area was in a downturn that lasted for decades and population had drastically declined. But that was then. Today, Downtown L.A. is rife with activity in places that once lay unused and abandoned. Historic buildings are now being converted into trendy boutique hotels, and glimmering skyscrapers are rising up around core venues such as L.A. Live and The Staples Center.
To get a sense of Downtown’s revival, consider this: There are already 24 new hotels currently under construction, and another 28 properties countywide are in the final stages. By 2018, more than 9,200 new hotel rooms are coming to Los Angeles, with around 3,100 rooms slotted for downtown. Here are 10 luxe Downtown properties to look forward to between now and 2019:
2016:
Dazzler The Clark Hotel
Esplendor Boutique Hotels, based in South America, will debut Dazzler The Clark later this year. Located just north of Pershing Square, the 11-story hotel revisits the Studio 54 era in a historic 113-year-old building. It will offer 347 mod-style rooms, a ballroom, pool deck and multiple dining spaces.
Esplendor Trinity Hotel
Also from Esplendor Boutique Hotels, Esplendor Trinity Hotel will open later in 2016 in a fully restored historic property that dates back to 1914. It will have 183 guest rooms, the historic Trinity Auditorium, a ballroom, rooftop pool deck and restaurant/bar with an outdoor patio.
Freehand Hotel and Hostel
A cross between a posh hotel and informal bunking, Freehand Hotel and Hostel will include 200 rooms ranging from traditional accommodations to hostels with up to eight beds. The 13-story hybrid hotel opens Oct. 2016 in the 1924 Commercial Exchange Building located in Downtown L.A.’s Historic Core. The property will have retail space, restaurant and bar areas and a rooftop pool and lounge.
2017:
InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown
What will soon be the tallest hotel west of the Mississippi River is coming to Downtown in June 2017—InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown at Wilshire Gran Center will stand 1,100 feet tall. Once complete, the 73-story building will boast 900 guest rooms, 400,000 sq. ft. of office space, new shops and restaurants.
Hotel Indigo Downtown Los Angeles
InterContinental Hotels will bring the first Hotel Indigo to Downtown in the beginning of 2017. The 18-story building will be the flagship hotel at Metropolis, a $1 billion mixed-use development to include three residential towers and retail space. In the heart of Downtown L.A., between the Financial District and L.A. Live, Hotel Indigo will offer 350 guest rooms. Its design takes inspiration from surrounding neighborhoods, including Fiesta De Las Flores, the glamorous pre-Hollywood nightlife scene and underground speakeasies of the 1920s.
Downtown L.A. Proper
In March 2017, Proper Hotels has plans to open Downtown L.A. Proper, a high-end lifestyle boutique hotel in a historic 1924 building. The 13-story hotel will feature 145 guest rooms and two presidential suites, as well as a rooftop restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
NoMad Los Angeles
Giannini Place is another notable building that dates to 1923; but by the end of 2017, it will become the NoMad Los Angeles. The 12-story hotel will have 250 guest rooms featuring custom furnishings and original artwork. It will also offer food and beverage outlets, 1,000 sq. ft. of retail and meeting space and a rooftop pool with panoramic city views.
2018:
Cavalli Hotel
Cavalli Hotel will be the first of its kind, inspired by Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, when it opens in June 2018. The 183-room hotel will be housed in Fig Central, a $1 billion mixed-use development across from Staples Center.
2019:
W Los Angeles Downtown
The W Los Angeles Downtown is slated to open early 2019 across the street from L.A. Live and Staples Center. The hotel will offer 250 guest rooms, a spa, outdoor pool deck, restaurants and about 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. It will be the third Southern California property from W Hotels & Resorts.
JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live
The 21-story building above L.A. Live is about to get even bigger. JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live will add a 38-story hotel tower with 755 rooms. When combined with The Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles next door, it will become California’s second largest dual-branded property with a total of 1,756 guest rooms when it opens in 2019. The new tower will be connected to the existing hotels by a bridge across Olympic Boulevard. It will boast more than 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a second-floor deck with a restaurant, bar/lounge, fitness center, executive lounge and pool area with cabanas.
