The Petit Ermitage's rooftop pool. Photo / Supplied
The Petit Ermitage's rooftop pool. Photo / Supplied
Stephanie Holmes checks into Petit Ermitage, West Hollywood.
Location: On Cynthia St, between the famous Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevards, in the city of West Hollywood.
Getting there: I'd prebooked transport from LAX with Karmel Shuttles — much easier than taking public transport, and more affordable than taking a taxi or Uber. After picking up my luggage, I called Karmel and they gave me a driver number and estimated time of arrival. I waited about 15 minutes before my shared ride van arrived. Shuttles can take up to nine people, but I was lucky enough to have the van to myself. It took about 40 minutes to get to WeHo, in average traffic.
First impressions:
The hotel is on a leafy Beverly Hills residential block and is easy to miss, because it's covered in ivy and climbing foliage. Inside, the reception area had a bohemian feel and smelt of incense — not a hippie-kind of incense, more like the smell you get when walking into a musky, haze-filled Chinese temple. It's the hotel's signature scented candle, and I loved it.
Petit Ermitage, West Hollywood - the restaurant and bar. Photo / Supplied
Check-in experience:
I immediately warmed to Morgan after he exclaimed "Kiwi!" when I handed over my passport, and he was sufficiently impressed about how far I'd travelled to get to the hotel. I arrived around 11am, with check-in time not until 4pm. He assured me he'd give me a call as soon as my room was ready, and that it would be rushed through as soon as last night's guest checked out. He stored my bags and gave me recommendations for the local area while I waited.
I was in a Masters Quarters suite on the fourth of four floors. It was huge, with a step down to the living area — couch, armchair, coffee table, desk and chairs, gas fireplace and balcony. The bedroom level had an inviting-looking double bed with wooden headboard, stylishly laid out liquor collection, large wall-mounted TV and luggage rack. The suite had a bohemian gypsy circus vibe, carrying through from the rest of the hotel.
The luxurious Masters Quarters suite. Photo / Supplied
Bed:
Comfortable double, with beautiful white linen and feathery duvet and pillows.
View: Up to the vanity billboards of Sunset Boulevard and further to the Hollywood hills.
Bathroom: Green mosaic tiled walls, rainhead shower over bath, flattering lighting.
Toiletries: Le Labo — a high end luxury perfume brand based in New York.
Reading material: Slightly mixed messages — on the one hand you had a beautiful Taschen hardback compendium of Grimm's Fairytales. On the other hand, the coffee table book Sex and Cigarettes by Daniella Midenge, which is as saucy as it sounds. And at turn-down service, housekeeping delivered a bedtime story called Verde Prado, which translates to Green Meadow, a twisted tale about a young princess having a secret affair with a handsome prince and the slaughter of two fat ogres. I'll go for Grimm's, thanks.
Facilities: The fourth floor is also home to the rooftop pool, restaurant, bar, and butterfly garden. The pool is saltwater and heated, with an abundance of day beds and loungers.
Although it looks perfectly Instagrammable, photos are prohibited for guests' privacy. At night, the rooftop is a great party spot, with live music and events.
Food and drink: My suite had an extensive honour system mini-bar, offering different liquors and wines and a large selection of snacks. One thing missing was tea and coffee-making facilities; you have to order hot drinks from room service, which at US$8 a pop for French Press coffee, could soon rack up your bill. The in-house restaurant serves breakfast, all-day brunch, and dinner until 9pm. Room service is available all night from 10pm.
Wi-Fi: Free but patchy service — it kept dropping out for me and then wouldn't reconnect. Entertainment: Yoga on the rooftop, and live music or movie screenings throughout the week.
Noise: Birdsong and intermittent road noise, but nothing that stopped my deep, jet-lagged sleep.
