The Culver Hotel: Where The Past And Present Collide in Culver City

Photo Credit: Brooke Mason

There are some hotels that don’t just give you a key — they hand you a piece of history. And in Los Angeles, no place embodies that more romantically (or more stylishly) than The Culver Hotel, a six-story flatiron landmark that has stood in the heart of downtown Culver City since 1924.

It’s the kind of building that catches the light just so at golden hour — the kind that makes you slow your pace and look up. Once dubbed the city’s first “skyscraper,” it was designed by Curlett & Beelman (of Beaux-Arts fame) and dreamed into being by city founder Harry H. Culver. And while its guest list over the decades has included everyone from the stars of The Wizard of Oz to Charlie Chaplin (who once co-owned the hotel, only to allegedly lose it to John Wayne in a poker game), its latest chapter might just be the most compelling yet.

Photo Credit: BlueSky

When hotelier Maya Mallick discovered the property in 2007, it was in a state of neglect. What followed was not just a restoration, but a resurrection. She infused the 46-room boutique hotel with her love for vintage architecture, 1920s romance, and layered design — creating a space that felt cinematic, soulful, and rooted in place.

Fast forward to 2022, when Proper Hospitality (the team behind some of L.A.’s most design-forward stays) joined forces with the Mallick family. The result? A refreshed, re-energized Culver Hotel that honors its legacy while leaning into the creative pulse of modern-day Culver City — a neighborhood now buzzing with Amazon Studios, The Culver Steps, and a dining scene that just won’t quit.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

From the moment you walk into the Grand Lobby, you’re immersed in a visual moodboard of black-and-white glamour, European romance, and old Hollywood elegance. Crystal chandeliers drip light across velvet seating; antique armoires sit beside contemporary handmade pieces; vintage finds are reimagined in ways that feel fresh, not fussy.

Each guest room tells its own story — eclectic, layered, a little bit cinematic. Think deep colors, rich textures, rare vintage furniture, and that ineffable feeling that you’re staying somewhere with soul. It’s design-forward, yes, but it’s also deeply personal. The kind of place that feels like it could only exist here, in this city, in this moment.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

To mark its 100th anniversary, The Culver Hotel unveiled a culinary program that’s part old Hollywood, part modern L.A., and 100% delicious. Under the direction of executive chef Diana Khngikyan, the menu reimagines classic dishes with a distinctive Californian flair and a focus on locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.

There’s a theatricality to the experience — in the best possible way. The drinks themselves nod to the hotel’s whimsical side — the Culver Martini, the Ruby Red Slipper, the winking Listen Glinda — all served in cut crystal against a backdrop of marble, antique furniture, and ambient jazz.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

Dine in the Crystal Room for a sense of vintage elegance, or head to the newly refreshed garden patio for al fresco charm beneath flowering trees, surrounded by the hum of Culver City’s buzzy, refreshed downtown. And make no mistake: Downtown Culver City is having a moment — and The Culver Hotel is right at the center of it. Steps from creative studios, walkable plazas, and some of L.A.’s most interesting culinary concepts, it’s both a destination and a neighborhood hub.Either way, it’s the kind of dining that feels like an experience, not just a meal.

As the sun sets, the hotel shifts gears. The Grand Lobby transforms into a jazzy supper club, where live music fills the space with the kind of atmosphere you just can’t fake.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

There’s also an in-house art gallery, showcasing works by local and emerging talent, and an ever-changing roster of cultural programming — from intimate concerts to creative community gatherings. The goal isn’t just to host guests, but to create memorable, multi-sensory experiences that connect people to the spirit of the place.

In a city where shiny new hotels seem to open every week, The Culver Hotel stands out precisely because it doesn’t try to be the newest. Instead, it leans into being the most timeless — a place where history isn’t just preserved, it’s celebrated and reinterpreted through design, dining, and atmosphere.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

For travelers, it offers something rare: a hotel that’s rooted in legacy but alive with new energy. A place where you can sip a martini under a crystal chandelier, listen to live jazz in the lobby, and sleep in a room that feels like a love letter to another time — all while being firmly planted in the creative now.

And isn’t that the magic of travel? To step into a place that tells a story — and leaves you feeling like you’re part of it… is everything.

Photo Credit: The Culver Hotel

The Culver Hotel is located at  9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232