The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Enjoys a Social Renaissance

A landmark Hollywood establishment debuts three new on-site venues and a classic make-over worthy of a close up.

One of Hollywood’s landmark stars, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, has just had a bit of a facelift and is looking younger and hipper than ever. The iconic 300-room hotel is enjoying a fresh renaissance with the redesign of the historic Cabana Rooms and the debut of three new entertainment venues: Public Kitchen & Bar, The Spare Room and Beacher’s Madhouse – all destined to draw the crowds and become stars in their own right on the famous strip that sets the stage for so many Hollywood starlets, movers and shakers.

Since 1927, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel has been a favorite celebrity haunt, sheltering the likes of Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Marilyn Monroe from the dreaded paparazzo. (It is also the birthplace of the Academy Awards.) As Hollywood continues to redefine itself through the generations, it is good to see the Thompson Hotel group is keeping up appearances and expanding on the ever-popular existing venues: Teddy’s,  Library Bar and Tropicana Bar, which remain late-night Hollywood staples for the beautiful and the damned.

The 60 Cabana Rooms, surrounding the famous Tropicana Pool with lush greenery, palm trees and the legendary pool mural hand-painted by acclaimed pop artist David Hockney, have been redesigned to evoke a Jetsetter’s retreat circa Palm Springs in the 1950’s. Light and airy with whimsical paraphernalia, the new Cabana Rooms feature hardwood flooring, herringbone-patterned fabric walls, chaise lounges with orange leather accents and white marble bathrooms, creating a modern twist on a clean and simple retro design aesthetic. Retractable walls of windows in all the Cabana Rooms allow for easy indoor/outdoor and pool access, while some rooms offer private patios and balconies for prime viewing of poolside activity. For the quintessential Hollywood experience, it doesn’t get much better than a poolside Cabana Room for exclusive access to the hottest scenes in town.

Located off of the Hollywood Roosevelt’s historic lobby, the Public Kitchen & Bar is an exciting new addition to the HRH dining experience courtesy of Executive Chef Tim Goodell and The Domaine Restaurant Group. This is a complete transformation in food, design and ambiance. Public has a bustling, comfortable vibe that inspires easy social interaction and people-watching, along with great food, cocktails and vibrant music. Dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients, and served alongside wine, artisanal beers, and hand-crafted cocktails. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served;  there’s also is a late-night dining menu and live entertainment. The restaurants interiors are designed by the LA-based  design firm Studio Collective, drawing inspiration from the hotel’s original Spanish Colonial architecture. The space is airy and boisterous with brass chandeliers anchored in the hotel’s original 1927 ceiling fresco, recently uncovered and restored. Rustic oak cabinetry, black walnut tables and Cabernet leather booths give it a clubby and comfortable vibe, while a prominent, three-sided, marble-topped bar looks out to the hotel’s grand lobby and serves as the entrance point.

The Spare Room, located above the lobby overlooking Hollywood Boulevard, provides unrivaled amenities to hotel guests as well as a unique destination for Hollywood players in the form of a modern-day gaming parlor. Facilities include two reclaimed bowling lanes and custom-built backgammon tables to be enjoyed along with a cocktail table service. The Spare Room is a new social experience where camaraderie, style (and taste) matter, sans the cigars.

Beacher’s Madhouse is a revolutionary Vaudeville-inspired theater on the hotel’s lower level, with European influences and echoes of the Folies Bergére. Guests enter the theater through an inconspicuous passageway, hidden behind a library bookcase, and travel through a light tunnel from ordinary existence into a fantasy-filled retro world. The venue extends 2,500 square feet, featuring tiered glass stages, oversized objects, and floor-to-ceiling crystal chandeliers. The walls are embedded with a mish-mash of unique objects, such as mannequins and old pieces of furniture, bringing the setting to life in a magical and mysterious way. Check their Facebook page to find out what’s on and get in on the act now.

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel is located at 7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. For more information or reservations, visit thompsonhotels.com or call 800-950-7667. Sign up for the Hollywood Roosevelt Live it Up Package and receive a $50 credit per night to be used at any of the hotels bar and dining facilities, as well as another 10% of the best available rate.