Chateau Marmont, by Alan Light

HOTEL SITE

Jesse Spencer of House

CELEBS SPOTTED: Clare Danes, Christopher Lloyd, Lindsay Lohan, Lily Allen, Demi Moore, Anthony Kiedis, David Cook, Robert Deniro, Dita Von Teese, Jesse Spencer, Josh Hartnett, Eliza Dushku, Zac Effron, Rosario Dawson, Leonardo, DiCaprio, Katy Perry

Originally built as apartments in the late ’20s, Chateau Marmont in Hollywood became a hotel in 1931 and it’s been a celebrity hot-spot ever since. Infamous because it’s where the late, great John Belushi died in 1982, it’s never stopped the stars from hanging out.

Everyone from Elizabeth Taylor to Jim Morrison to James Dean to Lindsay Lohan has spent time at the Chateau Marmont. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have even recorded songs there.

Private terraces and balconies abound at the Chateau Marmont

The founder of Columbia Pictures, Harry Cohn, once said, “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.” I don’t want trouble, really, just to live it up in the manner to which I’d like to become accustomed.

Where the stars sleep

There are 63 rooms, cottages, and bungalows at the Chateau, many of which have full kitchens. Yeah, there’s something to be said for apartment buildings that have been converted into hotels. Since the hotel was built to be earthquake-proof (and has survived quite a few of them), the walls are all rather thick – even soundproof – so if you’re looking to host a party, this might be the perfect place.

Living it up Chateau style

Junior Suites with a queen-sized bed, kitchen, and dining area start at $480 a night. A Two-Bedroom Suite with queen bed, twin beds, dining room, kitchen, and private balcony (overlooking the pool) begins at $835 a night. Bungalows range from $520-$1,800 a night.

The Suite Life at Chateau Marmont

And the Penthouse? You can get a one-bedroom with king-sized bed, living room with hardwood floors, formal dining room, kitchen, and two private patio terraces for a mere $2,200 per night. The two-bedroom penthouse includes working fireplace and goes for only $3,700 a night. The views from the penthouse? Spectacular. Sigh, yeah, when I’m rich and famous, I suppose.

The hotel features amenities such as a heated pool, free wifi, cashmere throws, maid service (twice a day, because clearly you’re that filthy), and even a 24-hour shoe shine. I don’t know about you, but that’s a long time to spend shining my shoes. I have things to do!

The Bar Marmont is famous for its ambiance and cuisine, as well as being one of the favorite places for celebs to be seen. Highly recommended you make reservations, of course, because otherwise you’re likely to be shut out and forced to hit an In-and-Out Burger, not that that’s a bad thing. But when you’re expecting high-class and cool, a burger joint may be a bit of a let-down.

Bar Marmont

Katy Perry hanging at the Chateau Marmont

Of course, there are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the Chateau Marmont. There’s the Curry Palace and Sunset Thai, amongst many others. It’s Hollywood, after all.

If it’s good enough for the old-school stars like Clark Gable, as well as the newbies such as Katy Perry, the Chateau Marmont is good enough for you. And if it’s not, I don’t know if we can be friends when I’m all big and famous.

Photo Credits

Top photo by Alan Light

Tom Cruise with Suri in Hollywood

Lots of celeb spottings at the Mondrian in West Hollywood, California, that’s for sure. That’s because it’s a luxury hotel with all the trimmings, not to mention some of the hottest spots in Hollywood. Lindsay Lohan? Check. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes? Check. Britney, Leonardo, Jewel, and other one-name stars? Check, check, check. They’ve all been seen at the Mondrian.

It’s tough to grab a table at the Mondrian’s Asia de Cuba restaurant, or a spot in the Skybar, but if you’re looking to be treated like a star (and see some, too), then I think you’ll really dig it. Exquisite details permeate every room, whether it’s the 30-foot mahogany doors, the plush lobby, the fine Egyptian linens, or the breathtaking scenic views from the Balcony Suites. It’s art deco at its best.

Luxury pool at the Mondrian Hotel in Hollywood, California

Surprisingly, the Mondrian is also (relatively) reasonable in price, too. If you’re looking for a standard room, they start around $295 a night. Balcony Suites are under $500 a night, and the deluxe Apartments are – wait for it – $2,500 a night. But hey, we’re talking lap of luxury here. Wet bars, double rainfall showers, lovely flat-screen HDTVs, even 24-hour room service. Even now as I write this, I’m imagining myself getting a 90-minute massage in my room, while girls fan me and feed me grapes. *sigh*

The suites at the Mondrian hotel in West Hollywood are exquisite

If you’re going to rub elbows with people like Kevin Spacey and Hugh Grant, you’re going to pay the price. But it’s unlikely that the Mondrian will disappoint. And if you’re lucky, the paparazzi may see you outside and accidentally think you’re Somebody. What? It could happen!

Nearby Restaurants: Katana, BOA Steakhouse, Koi, and the O-Bar

Singer Jewel spotted near the Mondrian in West Hollywood

Photos: Daylife.com, Mondrian hotel web site

Hotel Shangri-La, Santa Monica, CA

Everyone wants to feel like a movie star, even if you have no desire to trod the boards or too many scruples for full frontal. The Hotel Shangri-La, in Santa Monica, California, is the kind of old school glamorous hotel that real celebrities prefer, the ones who want the luxury that fame brings, without the gawkers and paparazzi that a stay at the Chateau Marmont entails. They might not even let Lindsay Lohan stay here, she’s so B-list these days!

The ritzy yet paparazzi-free lobby

The property is finishing up a $30 million renovation, and you have to admit, they spent their money well. This place looks like a movie set! Photographer Bruce Weber — inventor of the soft core porn pretty boy Ambercrombie model shots — loves to use the hotel as location for his shoots.

This is what celebrities see when they wake up

Hotel Shangri-La was built in 1939, and has seen its share of celebrity guests, from JFK Jr. to Madonna to Tom Cruise. It sits on a cliff above the Pacific, offering amazing views, and it’s also walking distance to the Santa Monica pier. They’re advertising introductory rates from $255/night.

And this is the suite where celebrities drink coffee, vodka or both

I would probably do full frontal to stay there. But of course, I love hotels. And drinking vodka on animal print rugs.

The Chateau Marmont where real celebrities party with fans

The allure of David Cook is somewhat lost of me — let’s be kind and chalk it up to me being too old for him — but apparently he has a crazed bunch of groupies who chase, harass and stalk him in hotel rooms.

Gee, I wonder if they use my favorite site, “Hotels of the Rich and Famous” track him down?

However they find him, apparently these enthusiastic girls (guys? the articles don’t mention gender…) are managing to get into his hotel rooms and invade his sacred and holy privacy.

This had David in such a tizzy that he resorted to posting a screed on his MySpace page telling fans that their attempts to provide “turn down service” are unhealthy.

I have several questions:

• How bad it the hotel security where he stays that people can get into his room? Are they mugging maids? Hasn’t he heard of throwing the deadbolt?
• How ugly are these fans that he’s not “enjoying” their company?
• What kind of a rock star scolds his fans for trying to be groupies?
• WWTLD? (What would Tommy Lee Do? — and I think we all know the answer to that)
• Shouldn’t David be too busy drinking, fornicating and working on his “craft” to complain about too much fan attention?

David Cook is trying to single-handedly destroy the whole celebrity hotel room mystique, and I think he should be stopped. Where is Lindsay Lohan when we need her? Or Britney Spears? One of them needs to set up a private tutoring session at the Chateau Marmont, including proper celebrity hotel etiquette like drunk lobby antics, television tossing, and maid flashing.

The future of rock and roll depends on it!