Commissary restaurant, housed in a picturesque greenhouse overlooking The Line hotel's swimming pool, does very good things with vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Photo / Supplied
Commissary restaurant, housed in a picturesque greenhouse overlooking The Line hotel's swimming pool, does very good things with vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Photo / Supplied
Jo Elwin checks into a hip hotel in the heart of bustling Koreatown
Check in experience: The hustle and bustle of The Line's position on the corner of a busy intersection in the heart of Koreatown quickly evaporates as you move from forecourt to lobby where the hotel staff are as laid-back as the concrete-cool minimalist interiors.
With ceilings covered with old T-shirts and a cafe and bar that encourage the neighbourhood to use it as their local, you realise things are done differently here.
Room: Each room has a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive views across the city that prevent the exposed concrete walls (some walls are wallpapered with photographed exposed concrete) closing in on you in what is a fairly small space.
Modern art, floor lamps and chairs covered in Mexican blankets bring warmth and colour.
What's so good about this place? It's hip, young and good fun in the heart of Koreatown (K-town), which is a fast-paced 24-hour neighbourhood that's moving on up. The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, serving guests and the local community from morning to late at night.
And the bad? It is party central — there is a nightclub on site, and street noise can creep up later in the week.
A room at Los Angeles' Koreatown hotel, The Line. Photo / Supplied
What's in the neighbourhood? An indigestion-inducing selection of outstanding Korean barbecue, dumplings, short ribs, bibembap, kimchi and desserts heavy on matcha and red bean paste. Nightlife is 24/7, The Wiltern Theatre, Rose Bowl and Bootleg Theatre. Indoor bowls at the divey but fun Shatto Lanes.
Toiletries: Baxter of California — a men's grooming specialist — so one for the boys but girls will love it too.
Food and drink: LA street-food legend Roy Choi reigns supreme with a series of restaurants within the hotel. Commissary, housed in a picturesque greenhouse overlooking the swimming pool does very good things with vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pot Lobby Bar serves ridiculously good Korean-style bites and hotpots with a drinks list to match. Pot Cafe caters to everything from American-style sandwiches and salads to Asian bakery specialities with some Latino thrown in to reflect the neighbourhood. Break Room 86 is a nightclub they queue around the block to get into and, be sure to order at least one room-service meal — they come in metal containers stacked tiffin-style and tied up in beautiful pieces of cloth.
The Line hotel's pool. Photo / Supplied
The bed: Comfortable with crisp white sheets and a headboard that also serves as a large desk.
Bathroom: Compact, but the bonus is a walk-in shower.
Exercise facilities: You could use the 24/7 gym but it's a heap more fun to book one of the hotel's Linus bikes and explore one of the many bike routes — maps are also supplied by the hotel.
Perfect for: The young-at-heart and those who like mid-century/modern design and architecture.
CHECKLIST
The Line hotel is at 3515 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA. Phone: +1 213 381 7411.
