Our favorite b&b in Santa Barbara, out of many to choose from. We have been staying here for 20…read moreyears every time we come to town. It's a charming property with a great location and is peaceful. It's our home away from home, and we have brought family and friends here over the years who all loved it too. Special breakfast service and happy hour each evening are so lovely and much more than the usual continental breakfast you'd get elsewhere. Dominique and her staff go out of their way to make everyone feel comfortable and well taken care of. And McConnell's once cream is right around the corner! What else could you possibly wish for. We love this place!

We had a rocky start when we stayed here, as the address was a little off for our GPS, and we…read morecouldn't find the place! It was close to midnight when we arrived in LA, and when we called the place to ask how to get there, our sleepy greeter took us around in circles a few times, but we finally found it! We took a larger room [not the cottage, although it looked like a great place to stay for more privacy] which had sole use of one bathroom, and it was more than adequate for our needs. Sylvester served us a gorgeous breakfast every morning, and made sure we were off with bottled water every time we would leave. His demeanor in the morning was truly a great start to every day, and the breakfast was always fresh and HUUUGE portions! The parking is a bit of a pinch when it's full, as you end up somewhat squished between cars or in someone's way, but it was gated, which was lovely. The Secret Garden is situated right off the Sunset Strip, and very little legwork is needed to get to the heart of West Hollywood. For those who are more ambitious, you can walk into the hills, although it's a pretty steep walk. There are two gorgeous cats who walk around and will come and keep you company in your room, if you wish. :)

Whenever we head to LA to visit my in-laws we stay at a B&B that is within walking distance of…read moretheir home. On this visit however, they were booked for 2 of 3 nights we would be there. I secured the one night with them, but still needed a place for the other two nights. I did some research and after a cost comparison of the hotels in Century City, we decided that The Garden Cottage Bed and Breakfast was the best property for value and our needs. It's about a ten minute drive to the folks, but it's located in a lovely neighborhood. It is within walking distance to the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax, and there are some wonderful restaurants nearby on W 3rd. The property is a duplex built in the 1930s. The B&B is the upper apartment and the garden cottage in the back. The proprietors, Ahuva and Bob, live in the lower unit. The grounds and exterior of the house are well maintained (in keeping with the neighborhood!). The apartment itself is lovely - beautifully furnished with high ceilings, hardwood floors, wool rugs, tile floor bathroom. Since we were the only guests the first night, we had the place to ourselves. We stayed in the Terrace Room. The four poster king sized bed, made up with top quality bedding and a down comforter, was very inviting and comfortable. French doors opened out to a covered terrace that overlooked the garden below and the city skyline. The sound of the fountain was soothing. In the room on a side table was a vase of beautiful flowers, a bowl of fruit, some candy, water carafe and glasses. Our room included a private bath with separate shower and tub. There was a nice selection of natural and organic body soaps and lotions, shampoos and conditioners, as well as other essentials. The living room, dining room and kitchen are the common areas of the apartment. It was easy to curl up in the over-sized couch and peruse one of the books or magazines in the living room. In the kitchen we found supplies to make a cup of tea or coffee. There is also a refrigerator if you want to chill a bottle of wine or two, or stash away some treats. We slept like a log. The following morning, our hosts laid out a beautiful breakfast for us. Coffee, juice, salami, assorted slices of cheese, croissants, bread, butter, jam, and a granola-fruit-yoghurt parfait. Not enough? Have your eggs any way you like - omelet, scrambled, poached - served with a salsa on the side. Everything was freshly made or baked locally, and organic products/ingredients where possible. It was a great jump-start to our day. We got back late that night. As we tiptoed to our room we could hear muffled, friendly chatter but it quickly faded as we drifted off to another great night's sleep. We met the new guests in the morning and had a nice conversation over another stellar breakfast. After they left, we also got ready to check out. Before leaving, we had the opportunity to chat extensively with Ahuva and Bob and learn a little bit about their home and family. Ahuva and I chatted about cooking, something we both have in common. She and I could have talked all day if we both didn't already have other commitments. We felt so welcome by their hospitality that we didn't want to leave. Street parking is easy. Bob gives you a guest residential parking permit to hang in your car during your stay, but mind the signs so you don't park on the wrong side during street sweeping days. The neighborhood is quiet and we felt safe walking around at night. Wifi is available. The connection seemed to be best in the living room, less so in our room. For us, the price of our room for two nights was a better value than staying at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Our hosts were warm and friendly and couldn't do enough to make sure we were comfortable. They are on the top of the list of B&Bs to stay in LA.

As soon as you step foot into this lovely B&B, you'll instantly realize why it is the #1 B&B in LA…read more It is close to everything, is very comfortable, and the owners bend over backwards to make sure their guests are satisfied. We stayed in the cottage. It was serene and well-equipped with pleasant furnishings - full kitchen was a plus. The gourmet breakfasts are made to order and are divine. We will absolutely stay here the next time we are in LA!

We were fortunate to stay here two years ago today (Facebook reminded me). We spoke to Gail on the…read morephone Friday night to let her know we would be getting into town late. She was gracious and arranged for us to pick up the key after hours. We let ourselves in, and then didn't see Gail for the rest of our stay. We weren't able to get the parking pass she promised us, the bed wasn't made, and we couldn't get ahold of her to pay for Saturday night. (We had paid Friday night as a deposit.) But the house was beautiful and the neighborhood is my favorite in LA. We finally let ourselves out on Sunday. We made several attempts at contact to pay for Saturday night with no reply. The thought crossed my mind in frustration, "Did she die or something?!" Curiosity getting the best of me, I searched the obituaries in the LA Times, and sure enough! She died the weekend we were there! I felt terrible for being annoyed at the lapse in customer service - she had a really fair reason for not getting back to us! We were a little weirded out that we spent the weekend sharing space with our deceased innkeeper, but overall, we loved the property and wish we could return. Gail, RIP and thank you for sharing your beautiful home.

May 11 - After the owner commented on this post, I emailed her directly to explain in great detail…read morewhat our problems were with the place (which she was already aware of because we had to call her at least 3 times about problems while we stayed there... and I say "call" because she only dropped by the place once while we were there, and she only dropped by the place that one time to show some potential renters off of Craigslist the place... ). At any rate, I have not heard back from her. No apology, no explanation, nothing. This place has left the worst taste in my mouth that I've had from any business, ever. Folks, don't just stay away, RUN!

Your senses, especially smell, have the power to take you on an adventure…read more Yesterday, 4/11/24, I stepped into the world of Pacifica Beauty, where every scent embarked me on an olfactory odyssey and products encompassed the brand's high-performance crafted, science-backed formulas with compassion for skin, animals, and the planet. They are clean, effective, 100% vegan, and cruelty-free The event took place at the historic Lombardi House, a beautifully restored 1904 Victorian farmhouse in the heart of Hollywood. With a Western theme, activations were spread throughout the garden and barn. Attendees enjoyed mingling, aura readings, and indulging in a variety of cocktails and sorbets. As a memento, attendees were gifted personalized perfume bottles to commemorate the unforgettable occasion. If you are looking for a location for an event, this place is a must!

We attended the wedding here. Everything was top-notch service, very friendly staff in incredible…read moreaccommodations. Highly recommended, we will come again.

Great quaint place with nice staff and cozy accommodations small dab in the middle of a bunch of…read moregreat restaurants. This place has its own parking in a semi secure area off the main street. The rooms are these little bungalows, some with a garage type area. They've got all the basic needs covered and the room rates are highly competitive.

Starting with check-in: I couldn't find anyone at the front desk. A very nice gentleman cleaning…read morerooms offered to find someone for me. Strange encounter. The clerk wasn't outright rude, but for the first several minutes seemed pretentious, like I wasn't good enough to stay there. He didn't introduce himself or ask my name; I introduced myself and asked his name after check-in, and he warmed up a bit. It felt like I'd caught him doing something wrong or arrived before he was ready. I had to ask multiple questions because he didn't offer information or engage. My customer service was on point--his, not so much. I'd been driving all day and was exhausted, wearing very casual clothes, but he felt very judgey. I asked to see the rooms after reading reviews. The first was rundown and not worth the $150 he quoted. He kept going into the back office between questions, implying he was busy or nearly full (there was only one car outside). When I asked to see the other side of the hotel, which had allegedly been updated, he bragged about being fully booked, though I only ever saw three cars. Odd. The second room was just okay, but I was too tired to find another hotel, so I stayed one night. Few things frustrate me more than visible neglect and lack of detail. There were drywall screw heads popping out, scuffed walls, holes, and water-damaged bathroom drywall from a poorly placed glass shower door--crumbling onto the floor. The floor itself was dirty. The outer entry door was peeling badly, shedding bits of clear coating onto the floor and my hands. The blinds appeared to not have been cleaned in months--which should be done regularly. The bed frame was filthy--dust, debris, bits of wrappers and food. It was clearly dirty, with oils, handprints, and dried liquids (I'll leave that to your imagination). The closet doors, off-white, had visible hand grime. The disinfectant wipes I used were brown - yuck. The lamp was dusty, an outlet near the bed had a broken metal piece stuck inside, and both the bathroom vent and hair dryer were caked with dust. The dryer filter hadn't been cleaned in ages. The countertop above the mini fridge was detaching, the bathroom shelf was decaying, and the shower glass hadn't been cleaned. The creamy drip marks on the wall--hopefully conditioner or soap--remained, and the grout was mold-stained. A simple bleach spray would've fixed it. The shower water pressure was awful, with calcification that needs vinegar soaking. It also leaked from the stem. Meanwhile, the sink had too much pressure. The cleaning staff were wonderful--always offering help. The issues here clearly stem from management, not staff. I realize this isn't a four-star hotel and that my standards are higher than average. Having worked in property management and emergency response, I've been in many homes across all conditions and know what "clean" should look like. I attached photos (which don't even capture all of it) so others can decide for themselves. Public beds and showers should be cleaned frequently so dust, germs, and bugs don't build up. The initial clerk did warm up by the end, and wasn't outright rude, just awkward and pretentious at first. When I checked out, a different man was working. He was extremely pushy, insisting I stay longer despite me saying I had to get back on the road. Then he handed me a clipboard and said it was mandatory to fill out--a sheet listing my name, room number, and space for comments, stacked under previous guests' notes. I told him I'd review the hotel online instead. He insisted I fill in each section, so under "comments" I wrote "review on Yelp." Other than being pushy, he was friendly--but it was an annoying end to a stay that wasn't worth the cost. Not the worst stay I've had, but definitely not one I'd repeat.

The last time I had a meal at Chateau Marmont was brunch 12 years ago…read more This time, we went for dinner, and my only complaint is that I wasn't hungrier! Two of us had the spaghetti bolognese, which we both enjoyed. Another person had the cheeseburger and fries (she didn't share ANY), and our fourth person had the Caesar salad -- which, if you are a Caesar salad person, you know can be lighter or heavier on the anchovy-ness. This one was on the heavier fishy side, complete with an anchovy on top. If that's your jam, you will enjoy it! But the real star (see what I did there?) of the dinner was our dessert -- some kind of a magical ice cream sundae with peanut butter and pretzels and hot fudge. I wish I'd just ordered three of those! We shared it between the four of us and agreed it was the highlight. It was a pricy evening -- but honestly, that was more because of the drinks we had than the food, which I think for LA was reasonably priced. I am not someone who really cares about whether I see a celebrity, and wasn't looking for any -- but one thing I did notice was a real affection between the folks who worked there and some of the guests who were clearly repeat visitors. People hugged each other -- the servers and bartenders teased each other good naturedly. In a town that puts the "Boo" in "bougie," Chateau Marmont felt like a really comfortable, beautiful place to share a meal with dear friends.

Honestly we had a great time with food and drinks for a girls lunch. There were 4 of us and service…read morewas great. However, they really started cramp our style with the over emphasis on chateau being "private". Ok, you don't want photos taken, that's fine. But then at some point it got really ridiculous when every time we checked our phones they told us to put it away. I can check my phone without taking pictures. My phone has functions other than a camera. Then, as the hours went on, another group invited us to join them. We did not take any pictures. We did exchange contact information with the new group which requires, you guessed it, phones! A waitress approached our group and said another server "felt uncomfortable" because we had our phones in hand and they thought they were being recorded. At that point we had spent over $1000 on lunch & drinks, stayed at chateau into the evening and were now closing dinner for 7 people. I can't even tell you how much we spent that day. Why on earth would we record our server?? The whole phone situation was ridiculous, and offensive considering the pretty Pennies spent that day. It would've been an awesome day, but I wouldn't want to hang out here again for that reason alone.

I've visited a lot of B&Bs and this one is the bomb! The host is amazingly generous and inviting…read more They went overboard with a Leek, Lemon, and Goat Cheese Frittata and a raspberry-blueberry side. Coffee is made fresh by the cup, but I opted for a double-shot breva (half-and-half) cappuccino that perfectly hit that empty mornings spot. We're going to be here for several more days. I promise to update along the way.

I would never stay anywhere else in Hollywood even if I didn't have kids. Wonderful hotel. It's…read moreactually converted apartments but still has that apartment feel, complete with a kitchenette. Simple but classy decor. Comfortable bed and pillows. Shower head's a little low but that's the worst thing I can say about it. Service is wonderful. In addition to the popsicle hotline, they have unlimited snacks, soft serve (chocolate coconut and vanilla on our stay - the coconut was a wonderful surprise), and Coke remix. Good continental breakfast included. They even offered us more snacks for the road when we came back to collect our bags. The pool is small, but gets the job done - and open 24/7 (while observing quiet hours). Hollywood Boulevard is in walking distance and it's a short ride/drive to Universal Studios and other local attractions.

I recently found out the Magic Castle workaround, where if booking a night at the Magic Castle…read moreHotel directly and they tell you that they have openings at the MC upon booking, you can get into the MC without a member. So we did just that to celebrate my bf's birthday. Every staff member that I interacted with from the time of booking to the time of checkout went above and beyond with customer service. It's rare to feel such warm service these days and they provided just that. The hotel itself is rated a 3 star hotel so don't come expecting anything super fancy. It's an old hotel with very simple rooms. The bathrooms were a bit dirty, you have to slam your door to get it to latch, and you can hear your neighbors. But overall the room was comfortable and just what we needed for a place to lay our heads after a fun night at the Magic Castle. There are lots of fun complimentary amenities that make the hotel feel geared toward children, as well as a 24 hour heated pool. They offer self serve soft serve, one of the massive soda machines with tons of flavors, a popsicle hotline by the pool, snacks and full-size candy bars, and a morning espresso machine. There is a tightly-squeezed parking garage under the hotel and they'll drive you up the short hill to and from the Magic Castle if you need it. Overall the helpful staff and the simplicity of visiting the Magic Castle made this a good stay for us, even as LA locals.

The Treehouse is a very special place. This review is for the Treehouse itself as I have only…read moreattended events here and have never stayed overnight. It's a beautiful homey sanctuary tucked away in Bel Air. I've attended soundbaths and cacao ceremonies here, which have been truly beautiful each time. The home itself is indescribable; three stories and decorated with crystals, salt lamps, and many colors. They have a small outdoor area in the third floor and it truly doesn't even feel like you're in Los Angeles. The owner, Hedda, is very kind. She has a big heart and warm energy that you'll notice right off the bat. I highly recommend visiting the Treehouse. They hold soundbaths on the full and new moon, along with hosting many other interesting events.

This place is such an LA diamond... or should I say quartz crystal?…read more Hedda runs a tight 3 story vegan ship for lounging, yoga, retreats and good'ol fashioned bed'n'breakfast. I really love the attention to detail, the modern art, the fantastic floor to ceiling windows, the incredible gourmet offerings, the alkaline water, the pristine cleanliness, and hands down, the hostess with the mostest...Hedda... she is THE conscious creator of all that above and below, so be it. It's a new dawn of traveling my friends, with the advent of global proximity, staycations and yoga retreats! Check in to this place for a day, a week, a month... you won't want to leave.