One of the largest rooftops in L.A., a prime position tucked away from crowds of first-time tourists, and 220 comfortable, light-filled rooms that look like they’re paying homage to Hollywood’s black-and-white era.
This is The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood, which has been pitched as one of the neighbourhood’s most fashionable boltholes since opening in the second half of 2021.
Hollywood is tricky. It’s not as exciting and cosmopolitan as West Hollywood, not as relaxed and beautiful as Santa Monica, and not as artful as DTLA. Yet, it’s still one of the first things people think of when they think of Los Angeles. Chalk that up to the numerous record labels, theatres and film studios that lie scattered around Vine, La Brea and Hollywood Blvd.
Breathing them in builds a picture of America’s pop culture dominance, contextualising the country’s incredible influence in history and reminding people of a legacy that built an entire tourism industry. You cannot talk about America’s worldly appeal without nodding to its landmark pop culture moments. And you can’t talk about those, without nodding to Hollywood – cracks, chaos and all.
Despite its relative quietness, Hollywood is a microcosm of what Los Angeles is all about. And a lot of regular visitors seem to forget that, foregoing Hollywood proper for its more active western cousin while the Hollywood Walk of Fame aches for its heyday. In Los Angeles, you have to work harder to find the magic since everything is so spread out and hidden. In Hollywood, it’s much of the same. Everything cool is hidden in plain sight.
Location
The Godfrey is a good example of Hollywood’s penchant for quiet charisma. It’s a small, boutique-minded hotel on De Longpre Avenue, just one block from Sunset Blvd, and three blocks from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is what’s now known as The Vinyl District, named after the plethora of music stores nearby. The famous Capitol Records building is just over a 10-minute walk from the hotel lobby.
That also means you don’t have to walk far to catch the crowd at TCL Chinese Theatre, nor will you huff and puff if you want to shop icons like Amoeba Music.
Uber is done now. Catch a Waymo over to the famous Griffith Observatory, and you’re only looking at a 10-15 minute drive. That also means you can easily start the hike to the Hollywood Sign without spending too much time in transit. Given this is one of the most popular things to do in Los Angeles, you’ve got an ideal base for at least half of the most iconic things to do in Los Angeles.
The problem here is traffic. In L.A., you pick your pocket and you stick to it. Unless you have the patience of a monk, making your way over to Santa Monica and Venice isn’t a smart idea. With Hollywood, you’ve got easy access to the nightlife of West Hollywood. Plus, you’re only a 15-minute drive over to DTLA and its many art institutions.
I hope L.A.’s efforts to improve its public transit system ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics will change things, but for now, you’re taped onto either one side of Los Angeles or the other.
Design
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood gets most of its charm from its mostly monochromatic design. This is at odds with the hyper-colourful aesthetic that most boutique hotels employ, but it works exceptionally well. Especially if Godfrey is looking to stick out in Hollywood amidst a suite of more recognisable brands like W Hollywood and Mama Shelter.
Rising just seven storeys above street level, the hotel keeps things looking neat and tidy. The reception area is tiny, flowing naturally into a bar space and About Last Knife (ALK), the hotel’s bistro-style restaurant. There’s a small curated art program that packs some personality into the space, but most of Godfrey’s vibrancy is saved for the rooftop.
That big, bodacious 557-square-metre rooftop. With views every which way across Los Angeles. It’s the hotel’s biggest selling point. But on my two visits, there’s only one or two other people up here. I’d imagine the social scene makes much more sense during peak periods. When it’s empty, it just feels awkwardly large.
Rooms
My City King is plush and essential, featuring a supremely comfortable bed that takes up most of the space. The heavy-lifter here is that big picture window facing south. The view is nothing spectacular, but there aren’t any high-rises on this side to block out the sun.
Copious natural light spills into the room during the day, heating up the room but leaving lovely black and gold stripes across the bed. It’s an energising sight in the morning. If The Godfrey had a soundtrack, it’d be more soft jazz and low-volume funk than pop, hip hop and EDM.
Rates are very reasonable (more on that below), but you’ll need to shell out a bit extra if you want a room with a courtyard-facing Juliette balcony. I’d imagine the addition of some snaking greenery adds a lot to the atmosphere. My room, instead, is very straightforward.
Designed with style to reflect the sophistication that once caked Hollywood’s streets, you’ll spot luxurious brass finishes and black marbled surfaces in the bathroom, ostensibly designed to resemble the flash of the papparazzi’s cameras. The rain shower is gorgeous and premium bathroom amenities punch well above the price tag.
Food & Drink
On the roof, you’ll find both an indoor and outdoor bar, with a third in the hotel lobby. There is no shortage of space to sit, drink and think across the hotel, especially if you want to hole yourself up away from L.A.’s punishingly stylish crowd.
About Last Knife is a good place for a quick burger or lobster roll at lunch and a nice steak at dinner, but there are no culinary tricks or Instagram-baiting concepts to make note of.
And honestly, good.
The Godfrey doesn’t pander to the social media crowd, favouring creatives, photographers and artists instead. The food is good. Great, actually. But nothing is tempting your camera to eat before you do. I don’t think I even snapped a photo of my lobster roll before I caught a Waymo over to West Hollywood.
Amenities
There’s a fully-stocked gym, a gorgeous courtyard with lounge seating, and a rooftop pool. You aren’t getting much else with The Godfrey, but why would you want to be tethered to the hotel and not be out there trying to track down the hidden gems of Los Angeles?
That dog-friendly rooftop is definitely one of those hidden gems. The actual swimming part is nothing to write home about. It’s just a pool. Not quirky design tricks or features. Just a nice, mid-sized swimming pool. The notable part is the view, outstretched in all directions with the kind of life-affirming scope that shouts L.A. glam from every corner.
Towards the bar, a 21-metre-tall projection mapping video wall turns the rooftop into a highly adaptable event space. There are a few fire pits scattered around as well.
Service
I found service to be fast and efficient, but pre-occupied. There were a few big groups checking in when I was at The Godfrey earlier this year and only one or two staff at reception. Wait was inevitable, but that’s more of a staffing issue than a service one.
Up on the rooftop, the bartenders setting up for the day are friendly locals with a rollerdex of L.A’s best suggestions. I’d suggest heading up here on your first day, scribbling down some intel, and then putting those recommendations to good use. As I wrote above, everything worth seeing in Hollywood is hidden in plain sight, so you’ll need some local tips to help dig through the dirt.
Value
Average rates start at around AU$310 (which is US$202). Compare this to a few of the surrounding hotels. W Hollywood starts around AU$488, which makes sense given its long history of celebritydom (Prince famously gatecrashed one of the hotel’s parties and used it as guitar practice).
Yet The Godfrey is just as well positioned. You’re in the heart of The Vinyl District and conventiently close to just about everything you’ll want to see and do in the neighbourhood. You’re also flanked, as mentioned, by both West Hollywood and DTLA.
US hotel prices are borderline ridiculous right now, so it’s nice to see a great hotel keeping it reasonable for visitors looking to spend a bit longer in The City of Angels.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
Address: 1400 Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles
Contact: +1 323-762-1000
godfreyhotelhollywood.com
The writer stayed at The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood as a guest and explored the city with Discover Los Angeles.
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