We stayed at… The Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles

Wanna know what a $2.5 billion hotel revamp looks like? Step this way. 

The Fairmont Century Plaza's inviting pool deck.

You may recognised the neighbourhood from Die Hard, but there's a good chance you'll remember this hotel for a lot more.

LA, I’m sure you’ve heard, is a city of neighbourhoods. Downtown has its decaying grandeur, Venice its eccentric charm, Beverly Hills its maximal opulence and Los Feliz its hipster cred. Lesser known to the international visitor, except perhaps as a freeway sign on the way from Hollywood to Santa Monica (or the setting for Die Hard), is Century City. Originally part of the massive Fox Studios backlot, it was developed into a “city within a city” in the 1960s – a mix of residential and business buildings in monolithic mid-century style linked by pedestrian tunnels.

One of the lynchpins of the district has always been the Century Plaza Hotel, run by Fairmont since 2021. The five-star property, designed by World Trade Centre architect Minoru Yamasaki, reopened last year after a $2.5 billion facelift and now features 400 much enlarged rooms. The obvious question is what does $2.5 billion buy you? The answer: basically everything you could ever want.

The one-bedroom California Suite.

Our base level Fairmont Guestroom, while not palatial, was extremely well-designed, with plenty of space to move around. The balcony caught the LA sunset, which streamed through the glass doors, highlighting the minimal Yabu Pushelberg-designed interiors. The bathroom was spacious, with a tub, Le Labo toiletries and even a ring light mirror for shaving (or selfies).

But it’s the extras the really make the Century Plaza stand out from the pack. The fitness centre isn’t your run of the mill two-mats-a-treadmill-and-an-all-in-one-machine type of hotel gym, it’s a cavernous temple with banks of Technofit machines, free weights and loads of workout space. The labyrinthine Fairmont Spa stretches to 1300 square metres, with self-directed saunas and steam rooms, celebrity therapists and technology-driven biohacking treatments. And the rooftop pool is the perfect place to catch some rays.

Check out this chi-chi spa.

If all that sounds a bit virtuous, never fear: just as much attention to detail has gone into the eating and drinking experience. The watering hole – located in the gorgeous high-ceilinged lobby – feels like a throwback to the golden age of hotel bars, with a dizzying selection of international spirits and a regular program of live music sometimes featuring celebrity guests.

Lumiere – the French-inspired hotel restaurant – does triple duty as a café, breakfast venue and brasserie, with a courtyard and private dining room thrown in to boot. The whole place has been decked out with so many French antiques (including the steeples from a village church) it’s hard to believe there’s anything left in the old country. The fitout might perhaps seem a little out of sync with the rest of the hotel, but such concerns disappeared the moment we started slurping plump Pacific oysters and cutting up our perfectly done hanger steak with frites.

The patio at Lumiere.

Really, our only beef would be that while Century City is home to one of LA’s premier malls, there isn’t that much to do there besides shop. It still feels like a neighbourhood between other destinations, rather than one in its own right – though the addition of multiple restaurants and bars on the Century Plaza campus and the completion of a Metro station may change that in years to come. And let’s face it – it’s LA so you’re unlikely to be walking anyway.

Rooms start at $768 per night. The writer was a guest of Fairmont Hotels. Click here for more information.

Location 7/10

With many office workers still at home after the pandemic and little in the way of nightlife, Century City isn’t the most exciting neighbourhood (unless you’re a huge fan of New Formalist architecture). On the plus side, it’s conveniently located between Hollywood and the beach.

Room 9/10

A beautifully designed room that feels more spacious than it is. Gorgeous sunlit balcony with city views. Top of the line amenities, minibar items and extras.

Food 10/10

Impossible to fault the execution of the French bistro classics at Lumiere, and the hotel bar is a destination in its own right.

Verdict 9/10

The perfect choice for a splash-out hotel in Los Angeles so long as you’re happy to be a little further from the action.

Originally published as We stayed at… The Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles