The Room IS The View: A Staycation at SLS

“If one day can clear out a week of stress, this might become a regular thing.”

That’s what the guest next to me at the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills check in says aloud as he looked forward, obviously to a staycation at this escapist property on LaCienega Boulevard.

One day at SLS may certainly be able to erase an entire week. While many designers emulate (even copy) the aesthetics of Phillppe Starck, there is only one hotel in LA to have his design aesthetic on every inch: the SLS. You have never seen a hotel quite like this—or, I confess, I haven’t.

With aesthetics described alternately as industrial, futuristic, or meta-retro, it is an endlessly eclectic experience, with books everywhere, as if a version of the Library of Alexandria recreated in a space station. Lamps shaped like Kalashnikov rifles, tables held up by pigs and classical portraits of monkees set the tone, for which the word surreal does not suffice. The common areas might be described as an almost ‘deconstructed” lobby, with the restaurant Bazaar by José Andrés taking the main entrance (the hotel entrance is to the side, beyond a small outdoor lounge), and every experience open to the others. There is a hidden back patio which is pleasant at night, and a billiards table on every  guest floor.

The “Altitude” Pool deck on the 6^th floor has a convivial European feel to it, with several cabanas and outdoor dining areas close together with the chaises around the pool—surrounded by mirrors and faux art canvases, duplicating the properties interior sense of play and performance. This is the daytime  social hub of the hotel, without a doubt

Of course, in the evening, it’s all about the Bazaar, star chef Jose Andrés’ restaurant-bar serving modern molecular gastronomy and handcrafted cocktails in a freeflowing space where no two square feet are alike. The property also offers Trés, a more casual, accessible dining experience (still with plenty of creative twists). And there’s still a Morton’s Steakhouse attached—the perfect balance to Bazaar’s experimental edge, a tested, truly American quality menu.

For shoppers, the Beverly Center and many Third Street boutiques are actually in walking distance (I know, don’t faint), and Robertson is quite close by as well. Shopping might be the theme of the hotel itself—objects to purchase are literally everywhere….from the lobby café/bar Tres, surrounded by intriguing books, to the “bazaar” section of Bazaar, offering whimsical and lavish gifts from cake shaped candles to baccarat crystal, spices and Spanish foods; to the rooms themselves, where the expected mini-bar is abetted by a small shelf of playful offerings (a die, kaleidescope, hand fan), two boxes of munchies labeled “saints”(healthy) and “sinners” (not so much), Aromapothecary bath gel, a stone massager and Venetian cut crystal.

Everything is whimsically designed to a T, from the oversized notecards, pull-down fully appointed cocktail bar, and glove leather chaise bench to the soft-cornered triangular stainless sink. and sliding peekaboo window to the bathroom. There are mirrors virtually everywhere, a mirror hides the TV screen (a dvd player is cleverly hidden on the side) …even the walls of the shower are mirrored. The center-room bed (the desk hidden behind) has buttersoft sheets and a faux fur spread, with glowing marble light panels on each side and an iphone/ipod docking stereo.

On the second floor, there is a small SPG concierge lounge, a small business center with five macbook stations, a very nicely appointed gym, with all new technogym and Kinesis machines..and the Ciel Spa. Bright white, with only six treatment rooms, Ciel might actually be the most austere part of the property, offering as many treatments for face as body (and some for teens and kids too). You’ll find a very interesting selection of retail products here, too.

Part of the Luxury Collection affiliated with Starwood Preferred Guests, the property also includes seven lifestyle suites with personal gym equipment, 32 hypoallergenic Pure Rooms, and a 1900-square-foot Presidential Suite.

SLS Hotel At Beverly Hills is located at 465 South La Cienega Boulevard, 310.247.0400