Scene
A Tulum-inspired retreat in the heart of L.A.
When picking a hotel in Los Angeles, finding the right balance between a central location and a nightly rate that isn’t absurd is, pretty much, the whole challenge (in every big city, for that matter). Tommie Hollywood checks both of those boxes. Opened in late 2021, Tommie Hollywood is the Thompson’s more Fifty Grande-y sibling — a cool, design-forward and easier-on-the-wallet option — located between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard and just around the corner from the Thompson Hollywood.
When you walk into the Tommie lobby, it’s fair to say the hotel’s designer had a thing for wood. There are the heavy carved wooden doors when you first enter and the windows are covered in wooden beaded curtains. The lobby is a living-room-style space — more wood — that’s full of fiddle leaf figs, plenty of seating and an all-day cafe. The cafe closes around 10 p.m. and will get a bit clubby before the other bar spaces open. There’s also a fireplace, which is a nice touch, albeit one that seems out of place in L.A., yet a cozy gathering spot.
Location
Central to Hollywood but not far from the rest, either
Tommie is actually walkable (in LA!?) to a few touristy spots but also restaurants and bars. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is within a few blocks, if that’s your thing. You’ll see the stars for Bob Hope, Marlene Dietrich and Lassie, just to name a few. But if you want to go farther afield, the Hollywood/Vine Metro station is a short walk away, which has the B Line that goes to Union Station, Koreatown and North Hollywood.
While you’re here, be sure to also check out:
- Lots of restaurants. You can’t throw a rock without hitting a great one. Superba’s Hollywood outpost has a stunning garden space and freshly baked bread and pastries. Musso and Frank is a legendary Old Hollywood spot with plush booths and Italian fare. Delicious Pizza is a great spot for a quick bite.
- Bars galore: Funky themed spots like Tramp Stamp Granny’s and Scum and Villainy and clubs like Tao and Beauty & Essex are close by, as is the classic L.A. dive Frolic Room.
- Rooftops: Hit up one of the dozen or so rooftop bars in this part of Hollywood, including at tommie, the Thompson, Dream and Mama Shelter. Grandmaster Recorders also has a nice rooftop.
- Entertainment: Hollywood is full of spaces to see comedy, magic shows and music. The intimate music space The Hotel Cafe has hosted a number of acts over the years, including Adele and Leon Bridges, so you never know who you might see. Black Rabbit Rose hosts magic shows along with small bites and cocktails.
- Museum of Death: If this is your type of thing, it has a wild collection of photos, artifacts and exhibits on serial killers, medical oddities and more.
- Shopping: You’ll find the big-name brands, but if you want to shop local, pick up records from the legendary Amoeba Music, fresh food at the weekly Hollywood Farmers’ Market and you-know-what from the omnipresent dispensaries.
Rooms
Varying sizes but great views
The 212 pet-friendly rooms (including seven suites) at the tommie are comfortable, but the standard size is what you’d expect from somewhere like New York, so be ready not to spend a ton of time in them. The rooms are cool, though. There are floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-screen televisions, blackout curtains and Imperial Barber toiletries. The modernist art above the beds give that very-California vibe.
- 1 King Bed: The 195-square-foot room comes in varying views, either of the inner atrium to the hotel or the surrounding Hollywood Hills.
- 2 Twin Beds: The 204-square-foot room has two beds but the same view options and amenities.
- 1 King Bed With Terrace: The king room gets an upgrade with slightly upgraded square footage and a terrace. There’s also an accessible version.
- 1 King Bed Deluxe: These rooms have the same features as the other king rooms but are located on the top floor and also have accessible versions and Hollywood Hills views options.
- 1 King/1 Queen/2 Twin Bed With Tub: The 204-square-foot accessible room has a luxurious bathtub and comes in king, queen and two twin bedding arrangements.
- 1 King Bed With Tub Hollywood Hills View Deluxe: The accessible room is the largest of the standard rooms at 270 square-feet.
- One-Bedroom Suite: The top-floor 388-square-foot space has a separate living area, a king bed and city views, plus a Nespresso machine.
Amenities
All the perks of a trendy Hollywood hot spot without the price tag
There is a resort fee of $25 per night, which can be annoying, but guests do get some perks for their money. This includes the standard stuff like two bottles of water at checkin, free coffee and tea every morning, a complimentary drink ticket to use at any of the tommie and Thompson’s venues, weekly yoga classes, weekly social hour, free admission to The Hotel Cafe and discounts on the Hollywood Starline tours. If this is your first visit to L.A., it’s a good chance to take advantage of all of the benefits. The hotel also has free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center and a modest rooftop pool with daybeds, chairs and towels.
If you’re driving, valet parking is your only option as self parking isn’t offered through the hotel. You can either go with the valet rate of $45 per night, which includes in-and-out privileges, or risk it with street parking.
The complimentary drink ticket can be used for a glass of wine, beer or a non-alcoholic drink at any of the tommie’s food and bev outlets, along with those at the Thompson, which is great at keeping guests there.
Speaking of the dining spaces, tommie Café has the standard coffee drinks and pastries by day as well as cocktails by night. There’s also an adjacent area where you can purchase beer, wine, bottled drinks and snacks.
KA’TEEN by chef Wes Avila is a popular Mexican restaurant that takes the Tulum motif even further with a dramatic entrance made out of rattan, plentiful lanterns and a lush garden space. Avila, also of Guerrilla Tacos, creates dishes like hamachi ceviche and mushroom birria, plus tequila and mezcal cocktails and weekend brunch.
The rooftop doubles as Desert 5 Spot, a Pioneertown-inspired country-estern bar that attracts the Stagecoach crowd. The open-air space has decor akin to vintage motels and a wall of Dolly Parton memorabilia as well as frozen margaritas, beer and bites. Come for the country and rock playlist and weekend DJs.
