Two hotels, double the enjoyable: My stay at the dual-branded AC and Moxy hotels in Downtown LA

Why have one when you possibly can have two? That appears to be the query for lodge builders round the world. More and extra lately, dual-branded hotels — primarily two completely different manufacturers sharing the similar constructing whereas providing two completely completely different lodge experiences — are popping up.

One dual-branded lodge in Los Angeles, although, has had this lodge reporter’s consideration because it first opened just a few years in the past (and was featured on our listing of the greatest new hotels of 2023): AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles and Moxy Downtown Los Angeles, housed in a 37-story constructing proper by the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena.

In whole, the double-feature, Yabu Pushelberg-designed hotels have 727 visitor rooms, 12 eating places, a whole flooring devoted to eating and nightlife, and two distinct vibes catering to various kinds of vacationers.

I stayed the evening at each hotels and spent a Saturday evening working my approach round Level 8, the Las Vegas-like flooring filled with eating places, bars and nightclubs. Here’s what it is like — and why you need to take into account staying at one (or each!) of those Marriott Bonvoy properties.

Related: How I get good Marriott redemptions at AC Hotels in the US

How a lot the hotels value and learn how to e book

Rates at each the Moxy Downtown Los Angeles and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles begin as little as $184 per evening or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Just notice that as a consequence of the lodge’s location close to the conference middle and Crypto.com enviornment, these charges can fluctuate wildly as main occasions and live shows arrive.

What it is like staying at the Moxy Downtown Los Angeles

The vibe

Moxy is Marriott’s playful and sometimes reasonably priced way of life model. Though Moxy has at all times been a bit on the cheekier aspect, newer iterations are feeling extra grown up, considerate and trendy — however with out shedding that youthful spirit that threads the hotels collectively. This is in half due to Lightstone, the growth firm behind each the AC and Moxy in downtown LA, in addition to the New York places which have an identical vibe.

And that is partly why Moxy, as an entire, received Best Affordable Hotel model at the 2023 TPG Awards.

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles was impressed by the 1969 movie “Easy Rider” and the spirit of Southern California. Upon coming into the foyer, I seen inexperienced succulents contrasted towards concrete flooring and an enormous snake rug dominating the public seating space the place individuals frolicked or labored at giant tables. A motorbike with a sidecar was the star of many visitor images. The vibe felt distinctly cool, and I loved spending time in the foyer.

The room

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles has 380 rooms, and although they arrive in just a few completely different configurations, all of them have an identical aesthetic and related options, like a design-forward tackle Moxy’s signature peg wall holding the TV and clothes hangers.

My room was a nook king overlooking the conference middle and measured in at about 267 sq. toes. The huge, floor-to-ceiling home windows let in ample pure mild and sheer and blackout curtains pulled again to dam it when vital (like after a wild evening at Level 8, however extra on that later).

Though Moxy rooms are sometimes small, they provide sensible storage options, like under-bed storage and a number of locations to hold garments.

Moxy hotels, in common, encourage people to get outdoors of their room and spend time in social locations like the foyer. So in case you’re planning on working inside your room, know that the nightstand doubles as a small desk however there’s loads of nice coworking area downstairs.

The rest room area in my room, proper off the door, had a small vainness with a sink, towels and a number of mirrors. The rest room and bathe every had their very own small, slim sections.

The hallways resulting in the rooms in the Moxy had enjoyable carpeting, type of mirroring an airport runway — however with a bit alien-themed twist. This space additionally featured help-yourself amenity closets the place you might seize additional towels and different issues one would possibly want throughout a stay.

I cherished my nook king room. It was comfy, clear and very trendy. And these floor-to-ceiling window views had been the icing on the cake.

Bar Moxy

In the foyer, Bar Moxy is the place to hold. It’s open for espresso, cocktails and meals at numerous instances all through the day. I did not have the probability to eat at Bar Moxy, however the menu included objects like a cheeseburger ($21), Thai glazed hen wings ($19) and a buffalo hen flatbread ($21). There had been numerous cocktails, mocktails, beers and wine on provide right here, as nicely.

Bluestone Lane

Attached to the Moxy foyer, Bluestone Lane, a well-liked Australian espresso chain, is open from 6:30 a.m. till 2 p.m. It serves practically any form of espresso you possibly can consider plus an all-day menu of bowls, toasts, sandwiches and burritos. Pro tip: scan the QR code in your room to order forward to skip the lengthy morning traces.

What it is like staying at the AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

The Vibe

While Moxy’s foyer is positioned simply off the avenue, checking into its smooth sister lodge requires a visit to a sky foyer up on the thirty fourth flooring of the constructing accessed by means of a separate ground-level entrance, actually making it really feel like a very separate lodge. AC Hotels are sometimes design-forward, usually with that type of pared again, easy type that makes you say: “I wish my house looked like this.”

This lodge is not any exception.

Throughout the foyer, minimalist components like elegant potted bushes and rock sculptures had been an earthy but stylish reminder of California’s numerous landscapes. To one aspect of the foyer, a library with communal seating stayed busy all through the day. The huge wall of home windows additionally stayed crowded with visitors taking in sweeping views of the City of Angles.

The room

I stayed in a nook king room at the AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. Like the foyer, the room was far more muted in coloration and design in comparison with the neighboring Moxy (I spotted the two hotels had been truly related on each flooring by way of a set of discrete double doorways in the hallways you’d in all probability by no means assume to open).

The room had a small sofa in the nook and a small, round desk.

Across from the mattress, a TV hung above a big desk with a chair, a lamp and a writing pad — a major departure from the structure of the extra social-minded Moxy.

The rest room space was additionally minimal, with the sink and mirror floating off to the aspect and, like the Moxy, the bathe and bathroom divided into two rooms throughout from the vainness.

This room additionally had a closet with cabinets and hanging area in addition to facilities all through like a protected, a fundamental espresso maker, a hairdryer and a steamer.

The room was comfy, stylish and environment friendly. I slept nicely and loved the views of the metropolis from my giant home windows and, most of all, how Los Angeles seemed throughout a dramatic sundown.

AC Bar & Lounge

Open for breakfast, dinner and late evening drinks, AC Bar & Lounge serves the normal lodge restaurant classics: Caesar salad ($16), a burger ($27) and a Spanish cobb salad ($28), alongside cocktails like the lodge’s signature gin & tonic ($19).

I wrongly assumed that this spot can be open all through the day, so I used to be upset after I popped over round 11 a.m. on Sunday for meals and realized I’d missed breakfast and the kitchen would not reopen till dinner.

La Lo La Rooftop

My Sunday brunch different was La Lo La Rooftop, perched on the thirty fourth flooring and (largely) open all through the day. When the solar is shining and the there are few clouds, the views alone are value a go to to the lounge-like area absolutely of tables, couches and a bar.

To eat, I stuffed up on a scrumptious California-style breakfast burrito ($22) and a easy Bloody Mary ($19). The avocado- and egg-stuffed burrito was scrumptious (and messy, naturally!), however consuming it from a sofa with these views actually made my day. In truth, I ended up spending chunk of my afternoon sipping margaritas ($18) and people-watching round the area.

Shared facilities

Both hotels share an environment friendly and moderately giant fitness center with loads of tools — and unbelievable views — excessive up in the lodge.

I additionally discovered a CVS merchandising machine on one flooring that had practically something you would possibly want or have forgotten at dwelling, like toothpaste, painkillers and extra. There was additionally a microwave in this space, which could appear random however may very well be useful for visitors.

Level 8

Level 8 must be seen to be believed. In full, the idea by the Houston Brothers (identified for LA scorching spots like Dirty Laundry and Break Room 86), has extra bars, eating places and experiences than one may presumably attempt to go to in an evening — although I actually tried.

Fully taking over the eight flooring, and with a non-public entrance from the avenue, my expertise began with a cowboy-themed pool celebration at Golden Hour (that includes a carousel bar with a pool deck).This set the tone for my Saturday evening, which concerned galavanting between bars and eating places on Level 8, starting from a spritz and crispy tuna rice at the out of doors Mother of Pearl to South American-style seafood and cocktails at Que Barbaro and contemporary sushi at Lucky Mizu.

Whatever you do, simply ensure you go to Sinners y Santos, which the hotels describe as “part ruined cathedral, part Lucha Libre ring.” Come for the cocktails and stay for the full-on wrestling ring that descends on high of the bar to catch real-life Lucha Libre-style wrestling surrounded by bottle service, DJs and an entertaining combine of individuals coming and going all through the numerous venues.

The greatest tip I bought, although, was to cease by the rooftop taco truck, open late into the evening, to seize mouthwatering tacos to take again to my room.

If clubbing is not your factor, you too can simply go to the eating places that open earlier than issues get too loopy. My Sunday dinner was at Maison Kasai, a French-meets-Japanese teppanyaki spot by Michelin-starred chef Joshua Gil the place you possibly can select from a tasting menu or order high-end steaks and seafood cooked proper in entrance of you. While I very a lot loved all of my hearty steak, the actual showstopper was a squash blossom appetizer.

Accessibility

Both hotels provide rooms ADA-compliant rooms, in addition to wheelchair entry to the public areas, elevators and to most bars and eating places.

TPG at all times recommends calling the lodge to substantiate accessible room varieties earlier than reserving and to make certain the lodge can accommodate every visitor’s particular wants.

Checking out

People would possibly inform you that Downtown Los Angeles is a blended bag — and it may be. But you possible will not remorse rooting a stay at both of those dynamic hotels. Whether you are searching for a classy foyer filled with hip creatives, like at the Moxy, or need an elevated, design-forward stay, as the AC presents, you will be comfy. And better of all, with Level 8 and all of its leisure choices actually in the constructing, all it’s a must to do is hop on an elevator for an evening out you will always remember.

If I discover myself in DTLA once more, I’ll gladly rebook at both of the hotels in what’s arguably the most unusual dual-branded lodge in the world.

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