
Stayed here for two nights after a conference. Hoped to enjoy some of the nearby museums. From the moment we checked in, and were greeted by the stench of old fish which filled the lobby and elevator, the stay was far below what we have come to expect from Kimpton. We had assumed that perhaps the odor was coming from the restaurant, but since it was located six floors up, that didn’t seem likely. The front desk staff was lovely, and since our room wasn’t ready they offered us another, but we opted to have lunch and wait for the room we had originally reserved. The restaurant and pool area were modest but sufficient for our needs and most of the food was good. The only exception was the cornbread croutons in the salad were cooked in rancid oil and had an off flavor. We were so hungry that we put them to the side and informed our waiter when he came to check on us. He was kind and apologetic. Again, lovely staff. The outdoor patio area was filthy and grimy with a gas fire pit that had been used as a trash can / ash tray by quite a few smokers for garbage and cigarette butts. Pretty distasteful. The cushions were unfit for sitting on as well. When our room was ready, the nice young woman from the front desk hand delivered the key and a voucher for breakfast. Her name was Alex and she was wonderful. Our room was rather small and dark, but good enough. It did have a red stain on the light carpet right next to the bed that made you not want to walk barefoot in the room. The patio to the outside had a nice colorful mural but unfortunately the patio furniture was worn, faded, and had a cigarette burn in the cushion. The plantings between the patios were bedraggled and didn’t afford much in the way of privacy at all. That evening, we were talking to some other guests who were also familiar with Kimpton and had stayed at many of their other properties as we had and they expressed how dissatisfied they were with the quality of their room and the Hotel Wilshire. Their room had ripped curtains and strange odors. When we checked out we were rushing to make a flight and didn’t take the time to speak to a manager. That was our mistake. The following week when we emailed the Manager Mr. Garcia there was no response. He was also not available to speak on the phone. When we tried again with a second email and phone call to Mr. Garcia and Ms. Mac Lang also no response. The third time an attempt was made I reached the General Manager Ms. Rincon who explained that the restaurant was owned by others and out of their control. She apologized and would pass the complaints on. I am so dissatisfied with the handling of this matter and will never frequent this property again. With so many other wonderful places to stay in Los Angeles, why would I? This would never have happed at the Cosmo in Las Vegas, Kimpton in Chicago, Philadelphia or San Diego where we stay often throughout the year. Poor customer service and a run down shabby property. Do yourself a favor, and spend your...
Read moreOh, where do I even begin with my extraordinary stay at Kimpton Hotel Wilshire? It was like stepping into a cocoon of luxury, and every moment felt like a scene from a dreamy movie. From the moment I strolled in, I was welcomed by an ensemble of warmth and elegance that left me absolutely spellbound.
A special shoutout to the real MVP of my check-in experience – Gaby! If there's an award for the friendliest and most efficient front desk wizard, Gaby would win it hands down. Her smile was like a burst of sunshine, and she navigated the check-in process with such finesse that I felt like a VIP rockstar. Gaby, you're not just a hotel superhero; you're the heart and soul of Kimpton Hotel Wilshire!
Now, let's talk about the rooms – they're not just rooms; they're little slices of heaven. The decor is so swanky that I felt like I was in an upscale Pinterest board. The bed was a cloud of happiness, and the amenities were like little surprise gifts waiting for me. I genuinely considered hiding in the closet and never leaving.
And oh, the view! I could write sonnets about the view from my room. The city lights twinkling like a million stars – it was like having my own private light show. I may have spent an embarrassing amount of time just staring out the window, but who can blame me?
The staff, oh the staff! They're not just professionals; they're a squad of hospitality rockstars. Housekeeping? Impeccable. Restaurant team? Culinary magicians. Every encounter was sprinkled with genuine kindness and a dash of personality that made me feel less like a guest and more like an old friend.
The rooftop pool and fitness center were the cherries on top of an already fabulous cake. I broke a personal record on the treadmill, and then promptly undid it with a refreshing dip in the pool. Life is about balance, right?
In conclusion, Kimpton Hotel Wilshire is not just a place to stay; it's a symphony of indulgence and friendliness orchestrated by an amazing cast of characters. If you're looking for a stay that transcends the ordinary and enters the realm of unforgettable, do yourself a favor and book a room here. As for me, I'm already planning my next escape to this slice of paradise. Bravo, Kimpton...
Read moreThe Hotel Wilshire (aka The Kimpton Wilshire) is a small hotel that's just a half block from the Marriott AC hotel, both on Wilshire Blvd (cross street is Crescent Heights Blvd). This stretch of Wilshire is currently (12/2021) in transition. The city of LA is extending it's subway system that will include a line that runs the length of Wilshire from downtown LA west to the Pacific Ocean. There is currently road construction on Wilshire between Fairfax and Crescent Heights. Although this area is generally safe (you're 1 block away from the pricey Beverly Glen residential area), you should use caution around the construction area at night, which is quite dark and can attract unsavory characters. This aside, I found the hotel quite nice. I had the opportunity to stay in the standard king room, which was a tight 280sqft or so, as well as a suite which was a nice 800sqft. Both rooms had a very comfortable bed with nice linens and both feather and poly-fill pillows. The towels and washcloths are likewise very nice. The standard room has a 32" TV while the suite has two 60" screens. A nice touch is a small panel below the TV that includes inputs normally found on the back of the TV, making it easy to connect your laptop, DVD player or pretty much anything else to the TV. I brought my streaming media player and it worked just fine, no need to pay for on-demand or put up with limited hotel channels (note: you should have a web browser app installed, ad you'll need it to authenticate to the hotel's WiFi. Room service is provided courtesy of the rooftop restaurant which serves Modern American fare from 8am to 10pm. The front desk has a small selection of candy, nuts, beer, wine and soda available 24 hours. There are also a bunch of restaurants within walking distance which would cater to most tastes, from McDonalds to sushi to upscale Italian. The sweeping view of the Hollywood Hills is worth taking an evening trip up to the rooftop for a drink at the bar. My only issues were a loose handle on the shower door and lack of any grab-bars in the shower itself which could be an issue for older folks. Otherwise, I really enjoyed my stay and would recommend this place for the...
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