SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills

After much hype I decided to grace the SLS at Beverly Hills with my presence.   After reading many reviews I decided to give it the top to bottom once over.  Note:  Lots of pictures!

I didnt have any expectations.  I arrived around 3 PM and when I drove on to the property and it was like driving into no mans wasteland.

I drive in and out of nowhere, several people surround my ride.  I was like is this a Beverly Hills adjacent "mugging"?  Oh, it's just the valet staff.


RANKINGS
Check-in/Check-out [5 out of 5]
After being "helped" out of my car and my bags "taken" from me, I was whisked to check in.  I love the attention - yes I'm shallow!  A couple of people were checking in in front of me and a few people were checking out.  There is no dedicated Platinum/Gold check in line.  It took about 5-7 minutes to actually check-in. 

Once it's my turn to check-in, I'm made to feel as though I'm the only person at the property.  The person checking me in said, "we've been awaiting your arrival" [apparently they read my reviews].  I was told I've been given upgraded to one of their top suites, but it's on a lower level and they hope that's, "OK".   I'm escorted to my room, told about the hotels amenities and such. 

This property can send folios electronically.

Common Areas [4]
As a creative person, I loved the branding.  It's not for everyone.  But I got the message.
The outdoor library, the elevators, the pool tables located near the elevators on each floor along with the pool deck all work to ensure that all the square footage in the hotel is being used in some manner.

 

 

I love the murals in the Elevators

 

 

The inner corridor of the hotel is very W-esq, as it's a bit dark, but the other portions are modern, sleek and well lit.


Guest Rooms [4]
After a looong walk to my room, I arrive and I'm very pleasantly surprised.  The room is a nice sized suite although a bit uneven.  Its a nice space for a couple and if you want to entertain.
I love the privacy indicators.  They should be standard in every hotel.

Inside

Outside

Overall First Impression: Booya!

Parlor
Furniture & Decor: New, modern, slick and well maintained.  The blinds were jammed and one call took care of that.
Closet Space:no closet in the parlor portion of the hotel.
TV: Floor to ceiling TV and audio equipment wall.  Very high tech.  HD and lots of channels.  On the opposite side is the TV for the bedroom
Lighting: decent
Workspace: Table at end of the room doubles as dining and work table.  Due to the lighting placement, it makes the room unbalanced.
View: In a residential area, and the view is of the residential street.

Bedroom
Bed: Amazing!  It looks so comfortable it just calls to you.  High end linens, nice firm mattress and great accoutrements.  The bed was so comfy I didn't want to get out of it!
Furniture & Decor:  Same as parlor as there is a bench on same side as the parlor table.
Closet Space: No closet but there is a huge armoire.  The armoire is directly across from the bathroom.  This little area works as a dressing area.
TV:  Floor to ceiling TV and audio equipment wall.  Very high tech.  HD and lots of channels.  On the opposite side is the TV for the Parlor
Lighting: Lots of lighting.  One over the bench, one on the desk behind the bed and one in the "dressing" area.
Workspace: Very nice desk and stationary.  Plenty of sockets
View: Of a residential street.  The wall is an illusion as the windows are not the full length of the wall.   For someone like me who enjoys a lot of light that might be viewed as a negative.
Radio/Audio: ipod docking clock, first time I’ve seen this model.

 

 

 

Guest Room Bathrooms [4]
No pictures of the bathroom due to the reflective surfaces.  All the pics suck.  So use your imagination kids.  The bathroom has a cool sink and the mirror is the moving wall that separates the bathroom from the bedroom.  When open you can look directly into the bedroom.  The towels were super soft!  The area is large enough for two people but the size of the sink will make it hard for two people to use it at one time.

Sink: Small surface area, but definitely an art piece.  Toiletries are in large refillable bottle and are quite nice.
Shower: Nice spa/rain shower, but there was a bit of rust around the corners.  The bottles of the toiletries kept falling of the ledge when wet.  The shower had great pressure and the water temperature was great!  .
Tub: NO tub, but there was plenty of room in the bathroom for one.
Toiletries:  The large bottles were very useful, although I didn't use any of the products other than the hand wash and lotion.  Nice fragrance that wasn't overwhelming.

Housekeeping [N/A]
I was there only one night, but the room I was assigned had a broken window blind and rust in the bathroom.  At a high end property, those things should not be seen by a guest.  The response/recovery time to fix those things was immediate and the staff was professional and apologetic.

Club Level/Lounge [N/A]
There was no lounge.  I never found the reported "lounge"

Fitness Center [5]
The best gym I'd ever had the opportunity to use! It was gorgeous.  Plenty of machines, all brand spanking new.  The environment makes you want to work out.

Pool [1]
Overall, I enjoyed the property, HOWEVER, the pool and deck was my biggest let down.  On the surface, the space is creative and looks nice.  But the loungers look like ground zero for the H1N1 virus!  I met some friends up there and made some friends with some other guest.  I wondered why everyone was standing, then I looked down and we all comment how nasty the lounge chairs are and how one of the chairs in the wading pool itself is about to type over and the rusting.

 

 

 

 

Business Center [N/A]
I didn't' use it, but there is a large business center near the gym and spa.

Concierge [N/A]
Didn't use, but there is a concierge on staff located in the lobby across from reception. She was very busy whenever I walked past. From the looks of things it appears she earns her salary!

High Speed Wired/Wireless Internet Access [4]
Internet was good, throughout my stay.  I forgot to see if there is a signal on the roof deck and out door library and if it's free or not. 

Parking/Valet [5]
Lots of staff and they manage the cars very well.  Gave a bottle of water every time I left the property.

Dining [4]
I dined elsewhere, but between meals I had a burger at Tres.  The staff was great, the service was nice and the burger was off the chain!  It was fantastic.

 

 

 

Miscellaneous
Google maps does not display the property in the correct location.




FINAL IMPRESSION
Overall hotel cleanliness:
Boutique property that appeals to the hip, cool and artsy fartsy types.

Staff attitude, conduct & support:
Professional and accommodating.  The staff went out of their way to make me feel as though I was the only guest on site.

Location:
Good location if you want to be near the Pacific design center or the Beverly Center, but not if you want to be within walking distance to the heart of Beverly Hills.

Would I return?
Yes. But would compare price with other properties.

Would I recommend this as family friendly?
NO...NO...NO

Good for business travelers?
Probably not as this is more a boutique property aimed a leisure travelers and those with disposable income.

Good for a romantic get away?
Yes, nice rooms, and services. 

Would I recommend for someone looking for Dining/Nightlife?
Short drive to clubs, bar and night life.

Would I recommend restaurant?
Yes, home base to one of the hottest restaurants in LA.  Tres itself, should not be underestimated.

Value for price paid?
Pricey, but I left feeling I was treated very well and I wasn't just a number.

Overall property rating on a scale from 1 to 10 = 8.5