The Charlie

This particular corner of West Hollywood has changed a bit over the years, to say the least, but back when Charlie Chaplin owned it this jumble of English-style bungalows fit right in to the pastoral landscape. Chaplin left LA over sixty years ago, of course, and it’s a minor miracle that these houses still stand — but thanks to an enterprising hotelier, they do, in the form of the Charlie, a truly unusual boutique hotel. (We always mean that as a compliment.)

The cottages, though restored and refurbished, remain true to their original English countryside style. They all bear single-word names, coyly matching the names of Hollywood luminaries who are said to have lived here in Chaplin’s day: from Charlie himself to Marlene, Marilyn and Valentino. The blanks are easy enough to fill in.

They’re somewhat residential in aspect, with kitchens and washer/dryers alongside the usual hotel-suite fare. What’s notable above all is the privacy, from the physical isolation of the cottages to the discreet, hands-off nature of the service. It’s no wonder the Charlie has found favor with a modern generation of Marilyns and Valentinos.

Like most of the best things in Los Angeles it’s hard to say where the tall tale ends and the hard facts begin. Suffice it to say the romance and the fantasy are essential rather than incidental. There are bigger, plusher, more conventional hotels in town, that’s not in doubt — but if you value character above all else, then this one is tough to match.