Inside California-chic Palihouse West Hollywood hotel: we checked into Palisociety’s latest stylish boutique property in Los Angeles, which boasts quirky design and celebrity-beloved shopping nearby

May 10 , 2023

Palihouse West Hollywood channels Palisociety’s first hotel in Los Angeles, opened 15 years ago, but boasts an offbeat character all its own. Photos: Palihouse

Family-run Palisociety’s latest property offers a little something different compared to your usual hotel chain – think retro vibes, delicious Japanese fare and a covetable location

Palihouse West Hollywood channels the group’s first-ever hotel and is a short walk away from shops such as skincare brand Aesop, bougie health-food giant Erewhon and tourist favourite The Grove

As a long-time and frequent visitor to Los Angeles, I like to think of myself as a bit of a local when travelling to the Southern Californian metropolis. While that may be wishful thinking on my part, a way to feel like you belong is to stay at a hotel that is a bit of a hidden gem rather than just a cookie-cutter chain you can find anywhere in the world.

Palihouse West Hollywood’s unassuming yet stylish exterior.

I first discovered Palisociety, a hospitality group based in Los Angeles, on a visit to the city in 2019, when I had the pleasure to stay at Palihouse Santa Monica and Palihotel Culver City. I later made the cosy Palihotel Melrose my home away from home, spending a great deal of time there during an extended stay towards the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

I was therefore eager to check out the latest addition to the company’s Los Angeles portfolio: Palihouse West Hollywood, which is located on West 3rd Street, one of my favourite streets in Los Angeles. It is home to beloved eateries such as Joan’s on Third, which is around the corner from the hotel, and a short walk away from open-air mall and tourist trap The Grove, not to mention the first Los Angeles outpost of Erewhon, the bougie health-food store beloved by celebrities and influencers.

Palihouse West Hollywood boasts retro, offbeat decor.

Palihouse West Hollywood, I found out later, is a reincarnation of the company’s now-shuttered first hotel, which opened nearby 15 years ago. With its slightly retro vibe and offbeat touches, Palihouse West Hollywood is a great combination of quirky and timeless, a far cry from the boring minimalist vibe typical of so many hotels these days. The mix of colours and textures in the decor makes the place feel warm and chic in equal measure.

The hotel blends seamlessly with the hipster feel of the neighbourhood, one of the few areas in car-obsessed Los Angeles where you can actually go for a leisurely walk. Independent fashion boutiques, stores from popular chains such as skincare label Aesop and a lot of great restaurants with outdoor seating are the main draws for locals and tourists alike.

Palihouse West Hollywood’s rooms are cosy with plenty of character.

Palihouse West Hollywood’s dining options – casual Lobby Lounge Cafe and Bar and upscale Mezzanine Sushi – are also emblematic of Los Angeles’ food culture, where informal California-centric cuisine and Japanese food reign supreme.

With 95 rooms spread across four floors, Palihouse West Hollywood is what you would expect from a great boutique hotel fully integrated within its neighbourhood. Simple touches such as Smeg fridges in the rooms, chequered tea towels and crockery used to decorate the hallways add to the hotel’s warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Take a dip amid California-chic surrounds at Palihouse West Hollywood.

I never got to stay at the original Palihouse West Hollywood, so I can’t compare the new property to its first incarnation, but this new iteration is definitely going to be my new home away from home on my next visits to the City of Angels.