Situated on Broadway just south of the historic theatre district, the 174-room Hoxton occupies a 10-story, 1920s Beaux-Arts high-rise that was originally built as the headquarters of the LA Railways streetcar company. The building outlasted the railway company and has lived to see its neighborhood reborn. The Ace Hotel is one block away, while the Figueroa, NoMad and Freehand (all direct competitors) are within easy walking distance.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it: The rooms are small. I reserved and paid for a “Biggy” room, which is the hotel’s largest room category. However, “big” is not an apt description. I can’t help but wonder if I might have been snookered into a bait-and-switch because this room perfectly matches the photos of the “Roomy” category (one size down) as depicted on the hotel’s website. But I’m here for just for one night, and room No. 1007 is indeed comfortable. Plus it’s got an incredible view of the downtown skyline, so I don’t bother calling the front desk.
The bed is very British, which is to say ultra soft. But the linens and pillows are first-rate. In fact, the down pillows are fantastic. My only complaint, really, is the lack of bathrobes and slippers, especially when it’s cold outside and the tile floors get very, very cold. That should at the very least be an option, even it it’s an extra charge.
There’s an all-day diner called Sibling Rival adjacent to the lobby, where breakfast is served all day. The pancakes and waffles are superb. And on the opposite end of the lobby, there’s a cozy coffee bar and pastry shop. It all blends together seamlessly.
There’s a second restaurant on the rooftop, an indoor/outdoor cabana-style affair that’s open only for dinner, yet it was closed on the night of our visit. There’s also a bar next to the pool, which is supposed to open at 11 am daily, but on my visit the staff must have been severely hungover because by 12:30 pm they still an hour (or two) away from getting set up and ready to go. It had rained the night before, but it wasn’t raining any more at 11. This was hugely disappointing. Posted hours are posted hours until it becomes false advertising. I had hoped to have a drink at the rooftop bar before checking out, but sadly that couldn’t happen.
The staff otherwise couldn’t be more charming. It’s like seeing old friends at the front desk. One of my favorite things about the Hoxton is the flexible check-in/check-out policy. When you make a reservation directly on the hotel’s website, you can choose exactly when you want to arrive, and when you want to leave. Early check-in? Late check-out? No problem.
Bottom line: The Hoxton is a perfectly charming hotel at a bargain price, even when booking the largest room category. And the South Park neighborhood provides easy access to anything going on downtown.
Rates from $115 (“Biggy” from $170). 1060 S. Broadway, L.A., 312-761-1700, thehoxton.com
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