You’re a high energy, carpe diem kind of traveler who heads straight for the eye of the storm. In New York, that means Times Square. In London, you dig Soho.
And in L.A., where else but Hollywood and Highland, the buzzy intersection that's home to the Oscars, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl, the Walk of Fame, the Capitol Records Building—literally everything Hollywood, and it's all a few steps from your room at the Loew’s Hollywood hotel, part of the massive Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex.
You wake up in your room overlooking Babylon—literally, a massive three-story courtyard inspired by the Babylon scene from D.W. Griffith's film Intolerance, complete with elephant sculptures, on the same massive scale of the original set.
There are more than 70 shops and restaurants below, including — hallelujah — Sephora. The Metro Red Line Hollywood & Highland subway station is directly beneath the complex, meaning you can hop one stop north to Universal City, with its world-famous theme park and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Or you might take the train south to Downtown L.A., where Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, MOCA and historic Art Deco architecture await.
At the hotel, you start the day with one of the many daily yoga classes held in the studio on the fifth floor, then a quick steam, followed by a few laps in the gorgeous heated rooftop pool, where chic cabanas are available for free to guests.
You’re spoiled for food options in this ‘hood, but head straight for the famous coffee and flannel cakes at the iconic Musso & Frank Grill—it's a short walk from the hotel, and Greta Garbo’s favorite place to start the day (and Charles Bukowski’s favorite place to end it).
A ten-minute ride share takes you up a winding hill to the Griffith Observatory, with its famed Planetarium and the best views and hiking trails in the city. Then a quick dash back down the hill—you have tickets to a show at the Hollywood Bowl, one of the coolest outdoor venues to see live shows in the world.
Giddy with after-show excitement, you walk from the Bowl back to your hotel, and stop into Lucky Strike Live, the late night bowling alley and live music venue that’s part of the same complex.
After scoring four consecutive strikes, Lebowski style, you find yourself leaning back in an Eames chair in your suite, sipping a White Russian, observing the glittering skyline of this strange town and thinking about the Dude. You may live your life a mile a minute, but it’s good to know he's out there. Taking it easy for all us sinners.
Loews Hollywood
1755 N Highland Ave, Hollywood 90028
323-856-1200
