Imagine waking up to a view of one of the most iconic building structures in the world by one of the greatest living architects of our time before having a meal curated by humanitarian and award-winning chef Jose Andres? Well, that is exactly what you can do at the new Conrad Los Angeles located in the downtown district across the street from the Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Mr. Gehry also constructed the new Conrad property as part of The Grand LA project (more on that below) and enlisted British-based Tara Bernerd & Associates for the interiors, who filled the 10th floor with outstanding local art, chic mid-century modern furniture and plush accessories.
As if that was not enough of a reason to book a room immediately, legendary chef Andres and his Think Food Group has opened two restaurants and two bars on the grounds with more to come.
Here are six more reasons why this property should be on your radar for a vacation, staycation or a dinner reservation.
Rooms With a View
The 305-room accommodations range from standard guest rooms to presidential suites, which are designed to feel like the guest’s own personal LA penthouse apartment. The Grand Avenue Suite is the luxurious with a private terrace and views of the city, along with a dining room with six-seat dining table, a formal living room with built in bar, a large master bedroom with a five-piece bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, all designed by Tara Bernerd & Partners to showcase the elegance of a mid-20th century modernist home.
The other guest rooms feature a calming mix of wide-planked pale oak floors and natural linen walls, in-suite dining, an open wardrobe with seat and mirror, an L-shaped sofa, and a personalized minibar among other cool features.
Multiple Dining & Drinking Options
The flagship San Laurel is rooted in Spanish cooking but with California ingredients. Breakfast and dinner will be available with dishes from bone-in Wagyu ribeye to grilled Romaine with Manchego. If you are waiting for a table, SED is a cocktail bar with elevated mixology such as the clear Japanese whisky milk punch but you can also expect a lot of billowing smoke and fun presentations such as a wooden treasure chest that opens to reveal a drink.
Another lobby bar option is The Beaudry Room is where you can nosh on an array of tapas snacks, sandwiches and Spanish flan, along with a wine list and dedicated classic cocktail menu.
For something a little more casual, head out to Agua Viva with an outdoor terrace and a mix of Latin and Asian flavors. Menu highlights include a watermelon feta salad, grilled ribeye burger and Spanish croquettes which takes two days to make.
Pool Deck
Only hotel guests are allowed to lounge at the poolside deck, but when they do, a menu from Chef Andres is also on offer. At Airlight, you can expect handheld bites and cocktails along with sharable items such as Tiki punch bowls, grilled skewers and house-made Push Pops.
Sleek Wellness Spa
At Conrad Spa, treatments are designed to restore balance, revitalize the mind/body, and achieve an optimal state of wellbeing with a variety of ayurvedic, and innovative treatments featuring cult-beauty lines. Spanning over 7,000 square feet and complete with seven treatment rooms ranging from Thai massages to Dosha balancing, a Wave massage table and body couture treatments.
Led by director of spa Alina Medyanikova, the calm open concept was designed for solo day visitors or groups celebrating a special occasion such as a bridal party or birthday with the goal of leaving better than when you arrived.
The focus is on smarter skincare, where emerging technologies combine with modern techniques to produce immediate, visible results. In that mix is QMS with summer essentials from a Firm Density Neck & Bust Cream and the body collection for smooth skin from head to toe. To relieve sunburn or damage try the Hydro Foam Hydrating Recovery Mask.
The spa is also home to advanced skin care techniques, a curated wellness bar, an enlightenment lounge, infrared sauna, a Gharieni Welnamis wavetable and recovery cabins where you can just chill.
Architecture & Art
The combination of Frank Gehry’s architecture and interior design from Tara Bernerd & Partners is enough of a draw but the lobby entrance with outdoor spaces and floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the Disney Hall’s façade of steal waves is a wow moment that few hotels can top.
The arrival bar is comprised of polished and glazed molten lava that is 11,000 years old as well as Ceppo di Gre stone in the lobby from the quarries of Lake Iseo in Lombardy.
The modern artwork and installations were curated by Judith Tatar of Tatar Art Projects, showcasing prominent local artists such as Mimi Jung, Ben Medansky, and Brian Wills. Casper Brindle continues the theme of California culture with his bright portalglyph paintings and you can find artist Jon Krawczyk sculpture on the property’s event lawn.
Close Proximity to Other Cool Stuff
The hotel is located across the street from the Music Center, The Broad Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Grand LA is designed to become a destination for shopping, dining, entertainment, hospitality and residential dwelling. Developed by Related Companies, the development will also include a large public plaza with a series of landscaped, open terraces surrounded by shops, chef-driven restaurants and more than 400 residences including affordable housing.
