Moxy Downtown Los Angeles brings the chic design of its properties in New York and Miami Beach to La La Land. Guests will find this hotel to be convenient to the convention center, neighboring shops and restaurants, and a revitalized, residential neighborhood that is growing in popularity with locals.
Besides its associated Marriott Bonvoy perks, the clever interiors and party-like pool scene, this hotel has perhaps the best food and beverage experience in the city. If that seems hard to believe, just wait until you experience it. This hotel puts many Las Vegas resorts to shame for its restaurants. Hungry or not, these are five of the best reasons to visit Moxy Downtown Los Angeles.
The design
Inspired by the 1969 movie “Easy Rider,” the hotel has plenty of cheeky and rustic elements that give a nod to this film. The Yabu Pushelberg design is striking with the theme of a wild, wild west road trip through the desert with references to bikers and animals native to the region. Driftwood, leather and stone accents fill the space with Native American design and art pieces common.
In the guest room hallways, the carpeting looks like the runway and airport markings of nearby LAX with the room number signs a representation of the old-fashioned departure board numbers.
Sharing space with AC by Marriott Downtown Los Angeles, this dual-brand building has separate entrances for each property. The aesthetic of each is quite different with Moxy showing off a more youthful energy. In the lobby bar, don’t be surprised to see lots of locals stopping in for a drink, and the lobby is filled with co-working space and people typing away at laptops.
A studio area one level up from the main lobby is a popular spot for special events and has a DJ booth that adds energy to the space a few times a week. Guests of both hotels share access to the same health club and swimming pool.
The rooms
Continuing the Easy Rider story, guest rooms are the Moxy standard. These are not huge, but their impressive use of space is a hallmark. From underbed storage areas to walls of hooks to hang things, it’s easy to unpack and find a spot for everything. Desks fold down from the wall for an impromptu work session. Perhaps the most striking feature here are floor-to-ceiling windows permitting extensive light, especially at sunset.
The leather headboards showcase a similar look to the jackets that bikers like to wear. Bike handle bars on the wall are a modern take on traditional taxidermy, and gold mosaic tiles shimmer like the light of the Mojave Desert on one of the accent walls fronting the open-plan bathroom. Those markings on the wall are like the the “hobo hieroglyphics” often used by road travelers years ago.
The sink and vanity area have modern fixtures as does the separate shower stalls with MUK toiletries. Corner King rooms tend to be the largest with dual exposures and a bit more stretching room.
The location
DTLA (downtown Los Angeles) is growing in popularity as a destination in its own right. The city has cleaned up parts of town that make it worth exploring, especially around Figueroa Street, which is not far from the University of Southern California’s main campus. This is the closest hotel to the LA Convention Center, and concerts, games and events are a short walk to Crypto.com Arena.
The views
This high-rise also takes in sweeping views of the city skyline as well as the mountain range. You can see the Hollywood sign from here. Even the always bustling highway provides entertainment from this altitude. There are four outdoor spaces in the building giving guests plenty of panoramic scenery to enjoy.
The epic dining
With a dozen options to choose from, there is no shortage for choice here. The most famous feature of the hotel is Level 8, home to some of the city’s most impressive hotel dining venues. Brothers Mark and Jonnie Houston are responsible for some of the most popular restaurants, nightclubs and bars in town. At the behest of Lightstone Group, who wanted to make this a sought-after destination like their other Moxy properties, they were tapped for this project.
There are 8 world-renowned food and beverage venues, each headlined by top chefs. They include an upscale teppanyaki restaurant named Maison Kasai and blending Japanese and French flavors, a decadent shabu shabu and sushi venue with a dramatic, modern harp suspended from the ceiling that is played as diners eat below and South American grill Qué Bárbaro.
Don’t miss an evening at the piano bar where an aerialist dangles from the ceiling. There is also fun at the poolside carousel bar in seasonal weather and Sinners y Santos, a cathedral-inspired nightclub. Guests can choose which side they want to sit on (the church side or the sinners side). Wait for the big surprise when the boxing ring lowers electronically from the ceiling to entertain tipplers.
In all of the bars and lounges, secret bookcases open to reveal chic lounges tucked into hidden corners. It’s all part of the mood-lifting experience that draws long lines from the moment it opens. Live music and DJs perform in different venues. The newest venue is Mother of Pearl, an outdoor oyster bar. It sits near the al fresco, gourmet food truck serving Mexican fare with a local touch.
You haven’t seen anything like this in a hotel anywhere. The options are so great that some guests may never leave the hotel. When the weather is warm enough, pool parties and DJs keep the outdoor terraces hopping in the California sunshine.
