I watch the LA sunset on the rooftop terrace garden of Palihouse West Hollywood, the chic residences we’re calling home for a few days. The evening sky is your typical ombre of magenta, pink and orange – no biggie. “I could seriously sit around here all day and enjoy this  life,” I say to Glenn.

The story of Palihouse West Hollywood

Founded by hotelier Avi Brosh, the Paligroup creates modern accommodation for cosmopolitan creatives and chic travellers, spearheaded by Brosh’s discerning eye. Eclectic decor and vintage treasures fill Palihouse West Hollywood, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Sunset Boulevard.

This boutique hotel in West Hollywood is a blend of luxury and spacious lodges that give you the comfort of home away from home and the hip imagination of an urban oasis, very much like The Drake Hotel Toronto.

We fly in a 6:30am and thankfully, manage to check in early. Bless the concierge, she even upgrades us to a One Bedroom Residence which comes with a fully equipped kitchen, master bath, office area and a private terrace. It really sets the exquisite tone for our first time in LA!

After a recovery nap to overcome jet lag, we head to breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Mardi. Trendy locals are already powering through their morning coffee and talking about their next film script at the tables nearby.

Where to shop till you drop

Our first stop of the day is Paul Smith store and its Instagram-famous pink wall. The store stocks the latest season from the English designer and a variety of kooky homewares. A 15-minute walk from Palihouse West Hollywood, we head to the too-cool-for-school Opening Ceremony next. I’ve been dying to try on the latest Raf Simons SS18 collection and I’m in luck!

For those who can’t get enough of brands like Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Fear of God, head to Maxfield on Melrose Avenue. They carry a mix of edgy streetwear and rare runway one-offs, perfect for those who travel in style. 

Where to eat like a local

West Hollywood is a food mecca for those with a culinary inclination – cafes and restaurants are all within walking distance from the boutique hotel. We hang out and eat like L.A. locals at Zinque a couple of times and also try Peruvian cuisine for the first time at the popular Rosaline.

E.P. & L.P. is a stylish eating house I highly recommend, serving a modern mix of Asian flavours like Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese and Fijian.

Glenn and I love Mardi, the boutique hotel’s restaurant, for its informal yet chic dining atmosphere. The Parisian-style courtyard is reminiscent of a Wes Anderson set where guests dine and catch up.

Fun fact: Lisa Vanderpump fabulously walks out on Kyle Richardson and Dorit Kemsley during dinner here in one of the recent Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode.

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Must-do near Palihouse West Hollywood

We visit LACMA, only a quick 10-minute drive away. A great place to check out permanent collections and special exhibitions if you love art, this is also where you find the famous Urban Light installation, which has become synonymous with the city.

For those who love the outdoors, head to Runyon Canyon Park for a stunning hike and if you’re lucky, spot celebrities along one of the many tracks. Multi-million dollar homes with swimming pools and tennis courts nestle in the Hollywood Hills and you’ll get a birds-eye view of this spectacle.

Getting to and from Palihouse West Hollywood

Getting around LA can come be tricky but the hotel’s location makes it easy to scoot in and out. There is valet car parking if you hire a car but for those who don’t drive, jump onto an Uber or Lyft and you’ll get to the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or the bustling Hollywood Boulevard within 15 minutes.

It’s a 40-minute drive from LAX Airport depending on the traffic. Our early arrival means it’s a smooth drive but make sure to consider the typical LA traffic on your departure so you don’t miss your flight!

Palihouse West Hollywood is great for Glenn and I, especially travelling as a couple where we can easily unwind amongst the glitz of WeHo. We also love aesthetically driven hotels that feel like home and this West Hollywood accommodation ticks all the boxes.

It’s our last day in West Hollywood before we head to Downtown LA to sink in a different vibe. I wake up early and head up to the hotel rooftop terrace garden, this time to experience the sunrise. Given LA’s track record of gorgeous weather all year round, I know I’ll be in for a treat.