The Orlando, Los Angeles
Rishi and I stayed at The Orlando in the heart of Los Angeles. After a very long and tiring drive back from San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway, we arrived in the evening to this busy, unique hotel. Check-in was super fast and easy with the friendliest front desk attendants. When we arrived, their restaurant/bar, Cleo, had a lot of activity going on which looked like a great time! We would have joined in on the excitement if we hadn’t been so exhausted.
The Location
One of the best features of The Orlando is the location. It’s situated right in the middle of all L.A hot spots of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. There is so many great restaurants, bars, and coffee shops walking distance from the hotel. The famous Magnolia Bakery is right across the street where we experience no line ups, it’s the only location on the West Coast! The beautiful Beverly Centre is also walking distance and makes a great view down along the street. During our stay we notice a lot of nightlife activity going on West 3rd St. The area also felt super safe even at night, which you can’t say the same in the Hollywood neighborhood.
The Room
The room was a standard size with two very comfortable fluffy queen-sized beds. They had chocolates on the pillow which was welcoming. The room had lots of storage and counter space. There wasn’t a closet but an armoire at the end of our bed. The armoire, desk and minibar area made a part of the room a little snug but the rest of the room was quite spacious. The minibar was stacked of chocolate, candy, snacks, a bottle of wine and water available for purchase as well as a Keurig machine with a great selection of coffee. Everything was very clean.
Our view from the room looked over the pool and we were able to catch a great West Coast sunset. The bathroom was well designed and spacious with a heavy sliding door. There was a big storage shelf next to the shower as well as a large vanity which is always a plus. The standing shower was super clean and roomy.
The Amenities
The Lobby
The Orlando’s lobby was modern and colorfully designed. There were always two attendants at the front desk so you never have to wait. The lobby has a separate lounge area with large comfortable couches, TV and lemon water dispensers. It’s also had lots of reading material and felt very homey.
The Restaurant: Cleo
The lobby is attached to Cleo, a Mediterranean restaurant that faces 3rd Steet. When we first arrived at the hotel, we could see the restaurant was very lively on a Saturday night. The restaurant had two floors, beautifully designed. They are known for their craft cocktails and delicious food. They also offer great happy hour specials.
Cleo completely changes its ambiance from nighttime to daytime. The same restaurant hosts breakfast for The Orlando. It’s not included and is a-la-carte. Prices were decent with lots of great options.
The Pool & Gym
The Orlando has got a great outdoor pool. Not very large but definitely just the right size. They pool chaises all had extremely comfortable pillows. They also had a shaded cozy cabana.
We used the gym which was small but adequate. It was super clean with stocked towels and water bottles.
The Parking
There is paid to park at The Orlando; valet only. The valet attendants were all great and were super quick to help with a smile. The parking cost is pricey, from $30-$40, but the reason is due to the hotel being in a great location and not many options for overnight parking available nearby.
Our experience at The Orlando was very pleasant. The location and the friendly staff were the highlights of our stay. If you are looking for a great hotel in Los Angeles, The Orlando should be on your list.