We Stayed At… Palihouse West Hollywood

We check into hotelier Avi Brosh’s WeHo boutique stay.

It may be more “adjacent” West Hollywood than within the city lines, but when American hotelier Avi Brosh decided to reinvent his first hotel on a new site after the original closed, he reclaimed the name as well. Palihouse West Hollywood opened in 2008 and was the first of Brosh’s neighbourhood-centric boutique hotels. Now his Palisociety collection includes hotels in California, LA, Seattle and Portland.

When the pandemic led to the closure of Palihouse West Hollywood on Holloway (now Soho House Holloway), Brosh found a new space just a few streets away – an ’80s-style hotel on West Third Street. After giving the building a Palisociety makeover, it reopened as the new Palihouse West Hollywood in December 2022.

From the moment I’m greeted by two ceramic Great Danes as I walk through the door, it’s clear this is no cookie-cutter hotel. Brosh overlooks all of his hotels’ “unapologetically eclectic aesthetic” design elements himself and, in the Palihouse West Hollywood, they include lots of florals, patterns and quirky touches that are fun without crossing over into “too much”.

The hotel has 95 rooms and, when I step through my door after finding the number painted on a vintage plate, I find myself in what feels like a mini apartment.

The 30sqm queen room has a kitchenette with a Smeg mini fridge and microwave, and a large table with brushed velvet seats that can easily sit four. The rainshower in the bathroom is stocked with full-sized Diptyque products, the robes and bedding on the oh-so-comfortable bed are by Bellino Fine Linens, and there’s a fabric steamer alongside the hair-dryer.

When I step through my door, I find myself in what feels like a mini apartment. Picture: Supplied.

There’s also something I’ve never seen before: a customised fabric cover over the flat-screen TV, so that the appliance fades into the background for those who prefer not to watch.

As with so many hotel rooms, there’s a Nespresso coffee machine and no kettle for tea. But I only need ask. One call to reception and a Smeg kettle is promptly delivered to my room.

The extensive room service menu includes desserts from Magnolia Bakery, which is found directly opposite the hotel, and the minibar is well-stocked with Champagne and wine, whiskey and mescal, along with vintage Champagne glasses, carafes and plates on the shelf.

The Pool Lounge that quickly becomes my favourite corner of the hotel. Picture: Supplied.

The Palihouse West Hollywood has two dining spaces. The Lobby Lounge Café and Bar downstairs where the Californian all-day menu includes crunchy coconut French toast, lobster tacos ,and mac and cheese, and upstairs Mezzanine Sushi serves Japanese-inspired dishes, such as wagyu beef and wood-roasted mackerel served alongside quality sakes.

The swimming pool is petite and sweet, with striped loungers and scalloped umbrellas, but it’s the Pool Lounge that quickly becomes my favourite corner of the hotel. As soon as I open the doors, I fall in love with the rich green lattice-clad walls and ceiling, along with the custom rattan lamps and artworks. There’s complimentary lemonade and lollies, and guests can order Champagne, cocktails and other drinks to sip in the Lounge or by the pool.

With its convenient location on the corner of W Third Street and Orlando Ave, the Palihouse West Hollywood is a great place for an LA base. And it feels like a stylish home away from home when you come back through those doors at night.

The Lobby Lounge Café and Bar downstairs has a Californian all-day menu. Picture: Supplied.

LOCATION 8/10

The hotel is within walking distance of LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), La Brea Tar Pits, The Grove, Beverly Centre, and West Hollywood’s Santa Monica Boulevard.

POOL LOUNGE 8/10

As soon as you arrive, it’s straight to the Pool Lounge for drinks and snacks in a space that looks right out of a Hollywood movie set, before a dip in the pool.

Avi Brosh has transformed an ’80s hotel space into something that’s both timeless and very now. Picture: Supplied.

DETAILS 9/10

Attention to detail is everywhere, from the vintage door number plates and Champagne glasses to the custom striped Palihouse covering on the TV.

VERDICT 9/10

Avi Brosh has transformed an ’80s hotel space into something that’s both timeless and very now in this welcome addition to the Palisociety family.

The writer was a guest of Qantas. Rooms are from $US275 ($410) a night. 

Originally published as We Stayed At… Palihouse West Hollywood