Andaz West Hollywood

The old “Riot Hyatt” on Sunset, site of countless acts of rock-star debauchery and destruction, is now just about unrecognizable. Mötley Crüe’s loss, however, is your gain — it’s been reborn as the Andaz West Hollywood, the old balconies, venue of many an aerial TV toss, sealed off with full-length windows to make more space for the swanky View Rooms. Hyatt’s Andaz hotels are well tailored to their locations, and the Andaz West Hollywood perfectly sums up today’s Sunset Boulevard, which has cleaned itself up quite a lot since the Seventies and Eighties heyday of the Strip’s hard rock scene.

In the hotel’s case, actually, cleaned up is an understatement. The new interiors are sleek, though still sunny, with plenty of white space and crisp modern furnishings. It’s a slightly spare style, which is probably more user-friendly for working guests, and gives the odd misguided rocker less furniture to trash.

As for the nuts and bolts of the place, it’s essentially a slightly hipper, marginally less plush version of the Hyatt’s luxury brands. There’s a rooftop swimming pool and sun deck with a stunning view, a 24-hour gym, a swanky lobby lounge, and a restaurant, Riot House, serving California cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients. And perhaps best of all, the riots these days are few and far between.

How to get there: Andaz West Hollywood is approximately a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport, but the trip can take up to an hour in traffic. Valet parking is available (charges apply).