Moody Reds
Working for a travel company means you are occasionally in danger of becoming rather blasé about hotels. Sometimes they all seem to blur into each other; one empty mini-bar at the end of a stay looks much like another.
However, on a recent trip to California I had the good fortune to stay in a number of unique properties. The first I want to showcase is in LA. I love LA, each barrio has its own distinct appeal and feel, and each evokes some kind of cinematically-minded response. I particularly like the slightly seedy end of Hollywood where a number of great establishments are now housed, one of which is the wonderfully decadent Redbury Hotel. There are plenty of nods to Hollywood’s glamour here, in the lightbulb strewn entrance and the dark red hues reminiscent of crimson lipstick and Lynchian dreamscapes. The corridors are dark tunnels with iconic photos of hollywood greats, shining glossily and louchely in the dim, languid pathways to your room.
The rooms are situated around a central green courtyard, giving a vibrant airiness to temper the seductive interiors. My room had a marvellous four-poster bed and walls adorned with colourful artwork, a cool breakfast bar with coffee-maker and a great lounge with beautifully designed mismatched and quirky furniture. But the piéce de résistance was the old-school record player and selection of vinyl to play (hello, Mama Cass). It was a great touch, hearing the scratchy notes play as we readied ourselves for the evening’s entertainment.
We began at the elegant Library Bar on the first floor; chilled-out, sophisticated, and perfect for an aperitif before heading down to Cleo’s—a lively and loud restaurant with impossibly attractive servers and great cuisine. Cleo’s is named after the iconic Egyptian queen and the menu is inspired by middle-eastern dishes: exquisite couscous and tasty artichoke leaves, Lebanese yoghurts and meatball tagines, perfect mezzes for sharing and savouring. And if this is not your thing there is a fabulous sushi joint just across the road; Katsuya by Starck sticks to the sultry, dark design theme and hip vibe.
Anton Lynch hosted a The Mamas & The Papas themed dance party at the hotel later that night, which was also rather louche—but that’s another story entirely.
