If, like us, you romanticize film noir — alcoholic private eyes, neon reflections in rain-slicked streets —then Sunset Boulevard is the only place to stay in Los Angeles. And if you also like a hotel with a conscience, 1 Hotel West Hollywood makes a strong case for itself as perhaps the city’s most sustainable place to stay.
Perched on the corner of La Cienega and Sunset, 1 Hotel West Hollywood offers a prime spot to soak in LA’s relentless sprawl, with sweeping views stretching from downtown to the Pacific. You’re a short drive from Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and all the usual hot spots, but if you enjoy walking (and don’t mind confused looks from car-dependent Angelenos), you’ll find plenty to explore on foot – boutiques, restaurants, and some of the city’s best people-watching.
1 Hotel West Hollywood leans into the brand’s eco-friendly ethos without skimping on luxury. The rooftop pool is a standout feature, with loungers and cabanas arranged around a cinematic view of the Hollywood Hills, and the poolside bar serves drinks that taste at least 10% better because of the setting.
Inside, there’s a well-equipped gym (including Peloton bikes for those who enjoy being yelled at by tanned instructors with too many teeth in their heads) and a spa offering holistic treatments with organic products.
Reclaimed wood, stone textures, and neutral tones make the hotel’s rooms feel warm and stylish while floor-to-ceiling windows let in natural light and showcase views that range from “glamorous LA skyline” to “the back of someone’s mansion in the hills”. We liked that small eco-friendly touches like refillable water bottles and motion-sensor thermostats reinforce the property’s sustainability credentials. That said, luxury isn’t sacrificed: the bedding is cloud-like, the monsoon showers excellent, and there’s a Nespresso machine because even eco-warriors need caffeine.
The hotel’s main restaurant, 1 Kitchen by Chris Crary, delivers on California’s farm-to-table reputation with well-executed dishes like charred octopus and avocado toast that manage to justify its price tag. Bold but not overcomplicated, the flavours were a joy to experience, and the presentation was refined without being obnoxious.
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| While you’re Out There |
| For a quirky walk around the Sunset area, try these spots: Book Soup is a legendary indie bookstore and a bibliophile’s dream. It offers rare finds, signed editions, and a solid crime fiction section. Meanwhile, Amoeba Music is one of the last great record stores, now on Hollywood Blvd, but still close. Dig through those record bins in search of vinyl, soundtracks and cult DVDs like it was the glorious nineties or noughties. You can’t forget about Mystic Museum, either, especially if a weird and wonderful mix of vintage oddities, occult books, and horror memorabilia appeals to you. It’s not quite Sunset, but this place is worth the detour if you’re into the macabre. |
For something more casual, the Juniper Lounge does good cocktails and light bites, and the rooftop pool bar has a nice lineup of salads and sandwiches to pair with the view. We found that room service kept pace with the restaurant quality, which isn’t always a given at high-end hotels.
The staff are warm without feeling like they’ve been through a corporate hospitality seminar on how to seem authentic. And whether you’re after a hard-to-book dinner reservation or just a solid taco recommendation, the concierge team knows their stuff.
1 Hotel West Hollywood does what a lot of “eco-luxury” places claim to do but don’t always pull off – it makes sustainability feel seamless rather than a marketing angle. It’s stylish, comfortable, and perfectly positioned for exploring LA while maintaining a sense of calm amid the city’s chaos.
With the growing interest in sustainability, it’s important to discern whether a hotel is serious about its vaunted mission, or simply performing. It’s easy to roll out the paper straws and reclaimed wood but still wreak havoc on the environment behind the scenes. What matters is whether they walk the walk. On this front, we found 1 Hotel West Hollywood reassuring: the hotel is recognized among Los Angeles’ most energy-efficient accommodations, boasting an impressive Energy Star score of 95. A smart irrigation system monitors soil moisture, optimizing water usage, while native and adaptive vegetation enhances biodiversity and minimizes environmental impact.
Guests have access to fully electric Audi Q8 e-tron house cars for local excursions, enabling exploration of Los Angeles with zero emissions. The city is no stranger to the devastating effects of the climate crisis, of course, and any big business that wants to succeed here needs to prioritise sustainability. If you’re looking for a place to stay that looks good, feels good, and lets you enjoy a little Hollywood escapism with a clearer conscience, this one’s an easy recommendation.
Photography courtesy of 1 Hotels
