This all-star team is making global headlines, so let us personally introduce you to the line-up:
Chef Sascha Lyon & Innovative Dining Group
Chef Lyon earned his five stars in New York, first working with Daniel Boulud at Daniel, and later at Balthazar and Pastis, where he was chef de cuisine by the time he was 28 years old. Innovative Dining Group, the company behind celebrated L.A. eateries Sushi Roku, Katana, Robata Bar, and BOA Steakhouse, lured Lyon to the West Coast, where they partnered to open French brasserie Delphine in the W Hollywood.
The restaurant opened its doors February 11 and immediately caught the attention of prestigious Los Angeles influencers and members of the entertainment industry who attended its grand opening fête. To dine al fresco, guests simply pass through Delphine’s white brick archway into the eclectic restaurant and bar Station, where they can relax on plush seats and enjoy visual entertainment in the form of the 600-square-foot drop-down screen that shows movies at night.
Victor Drai & Jesse and Cy Waits
Perhaps the aspect of W Hollywood creating the most buzz is legendary nightlife entrepreneur Victor Drai’s new club Drai’s Hollywood, opening in mid-March. This is not Drai’s first foray into the Los Angeles scene. The former actor, producer, restaurateur, and clothing entrepreneur operated several restaurants in the city in the 1990s, including his flagship Drai’s, before heading to Las Vegas, where he ended up revolutionizing the nightlife scene with his venues Drai’s After Hours, Tryst at the Wynn, and XS at Encore. He credits his success in Vegas to his partnership with twins Jesse and Cy Waits, the managing partners at Drai’s and Tryst.
The trio is bringing their special brand of Vegas nightlife magic to the W Hollywood. Their innovative approach, strongly articulated vision, and uncanny sense of what people want have Hollywood A-listers eagerly anticipating the pending opening. Collins explains, “[Drai] gets hospitality, service, and quality. That was the final determinant.” In addition to the club, the W will include a Drai’s-style restaurant featuring the culinary masterpieces of Chef Claude Segal; an exclusive lounge on the ground floor of the hotel solely for the crème de la crème of Hollywood, members, and private events; and a rooftop pool deck that opened with a bang on February 26. In a town where clubs come and go as often as often as films premiere and then disappear from the Silver Screen, Drai’s Hollywood is expected to hold the attention of the fickle masses indefinitely.
Sotheby’s & Russ Filice
The Residences at W Hollywood offer owners the chance to enjoy all the perks of the W Hotel on a permanent basis, which is certainly appealing. Sotheby’s, one of the most respected names in luxury real estate, recognized the potential of the property early on and signed on as the exclusive sales representative of the project. Russ Filice, the No. 1 seller of luxury high-rise condominiums in L.A., was brought on board as the director of sales for the project.
The compound includes 143 W-branded one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, all with spectacular views that come from living in the heart of Hollywood. Residence owners have access to all of W Hollywood’s modern amenities and services, including two pools, two SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness centers, Bliss Spa, and W’s signature Whatever/Whenever service.
W Hollywood has also “gone green”—it is the largest property registered for Silver LEED certification in Southern California. The property has direct access to the Metro Red Line with its own station, and it is this environmentally conscious attitude combined with all the state-of-the-art extravagance that has the residences attracting young, ambitious, and freethinking buyers who recognize a good thing when they see it.
Russ Filice feels that the up-and-coming Hollywood generation is rejecting the opulent suburban lifestyle in which they were raised, instead opting for a city setting. Instead of having to employ an immense staff, the W does it for them. “People want to reject this Beverly Hills model and want to live in this urban landscape that is new and energizing,” he says. “We are the project in Hollywood that L.A. is relying on to revamp the area. We want to put the face of humanity back in the neighborhood again.”
