Both Historic And Modern, This Iconic Southern California Hotel Is A Perfect LA Getaway
By Natasha Kayes|Published January 16, 2024
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Natasha Kayes
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I was born and raised in sunny Southern California and will never tire of the West Coast, although I spent several years living in Southeast Asia, about as far from California as you can get. Wherever I am in the world, I love straying from the beaten path, experiencing local life, and discovering hidden gems - camera in hand. The beach is my happy place and when I am not there (or writing), you will usually find me baking, watching movies, and cuddling my pugs. I have traveled around the country and around the world, and it never, ever gets old. Being able to combine my passion for travel and my love of writing is nothing short of a dream.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
I am a big fan of the staycation – whether in the strictest sense of staying home, ordering in, and pampering myself, or in the slightly broader sense of staying somewhere close to home just to get a little break from my normal routine. As much as I love flying halfway around the world for an adventure, a great room, lovely hospitality, and a unique dining experience not far from home is sometimes all I need for the perfect reset. I recently heard about a luxurious new Southern California hotel that took over a historic space in LA and I just had to check it out for myself. My experience at The Delphi Hotel in Los Angeles was so lovely that I just had to write about it.
The Delphi is a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, on the edge of the Jewelry and Financial Districts and within walking distance of the Los Angeles Central Library, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Pershing Square, Grand Central Market, etc.
Natasha Kayes
Just under a year ago, the hotel brought new life to the renowned Standard Hotel, a building with a great deal of historical significance that brought people (and still does) from all over the world.
Natasha Kayes
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What I love about The Delphi is that it combines style and elegance with an air of comfort and accessibility - sophistication without taking itself too seriously. Everything about The Delphi feels classic but updated at the same time, from the architecture to the chandeliers to the restaurant.
Natasha Kayes
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This building started as the headquarters of Superior Oil in the 1950s and there are cool remnants and nods to its history, such as this relief sculpture over the main doors.
Natasha Kayes
The rooms are simple, tasteful, and a bit retro in the best way. The beds are very comfortable, with great pillows and cozy duvets. They feature comfortable platform beds with cozy duvets, great pillows, tall ceilings, a large tiled bathroom with a separate water closet (awesome when sharing space with fellow travelers).
Natasha Kayes
I am a sucker for the *little things* that level up a hotel stay, and there were plenty of those - bathrobes, a wireless charging station with multiple ports, Chromecast and streaming apps on the TV, a lock on the mini-fridge (in case you need to keep some expensive champagne on hand!), wine glasses, and other thoughtful touches.
Natasha Kayes
We were greeted with not only a gorgeous little selection of freshly-made desserts (which tasted even better than they looked!) but also a hand-written welcome note with my name on it.
Natasha Kayes
The hotel website says “To us, it’s all about providing personal service without being stuffy. We’ll know your name and anticipate your needs - but don’t worry, we’ll keep *rolling out the red carpet* to a metaphor.” I couldn’t say it better. From the note to the front desk asking how we liked the macarons to the restaurant staff, the hospitality was on point. This no shortage of luxury hotels in LA, but The Delphi is already doing a great job of setting itself apart.
The beautiful Lobby Bar has cozy seating, perfect lighting, and serves up coffee drinks and concoctions, cocktails, and light bites. I am told that there are more unique dining options in the works, including a cool omakase kitchen. Clearly, I will have to come back again.
Natasha Kayes
The lobby bar wasn’t open when we got there, but we were immediately greeted and welcomed into the on-site bar and restaurant, Denae’s Diner.
I have to say, Denae’s was an absolute highlight and while still a hidden gem, I am confident that word of mouth will make this place a legend. Denae’s is a modern, upscale take on a classic 50s diner. The menu has all the favorites you would expect but with little twists and surprises everywhere. Also, the service is wonderful.
Natasha Kayes
We started with some drinks from the bar. The cocktail menu - titled “Social Lubrication” is delightful, with a lot of seasonal drinks and fun creations that wink at LA culture, like Notorious P.O.G. (if you know, you know), Bonita Applebummmm, and Sour Peche Kid, complete with sour dust on the glass and a little Sour Patch Kid on the rim. It was so good, though I am pretty sure they all are.
Natasha Kayes
The manager and our server each spent time chatting with us and both gave us some great food and drink recommendations. I opted for the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which has spicy aioli, caramelized onions, provolone, and pickles. It smelled so good that I forgot to take a photo before digging in! A side of perfectly crispy tots and homemade ranch dressing was the perfect compliment. My dinner buddy had the Chicken Pot Pie which has a croissant dough crust. Everything was delicious.
Natasha Kayes
I learned that the restaurant keeps waste to a minimum and prices affordable by using a limited set of ingredients in creative ways throughout the menu. For example, the croissant dough is also used to make French Toast (more on that in a minute). Win-win!
Oh, and if you decide to dine here yourself, I recommend the Chocolate Pie - dense, smooth, rich, and not too sweet. So yum.
Natasha Kayes
There are so many cool and interesting touches throughout this place that some may not pay much attention to but are worth noting and definitely add character. The ceiling of the diner is covered with this giant pixelated map of Griffith Park (I had to ask, made up of tiny pots of moss that sustain themselves by pulling moisture from the air - how cool is that?
Natasha Kayes
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Denae’s has a pretty outdoor patio that would be lovely for a summer brunch.
Natasha Kayes
In the evenings, guests can come down to this little patio oasis and relax around the fire pit. I got so relaxed in my room after dinner that I just stayed in, but something to look forward to next time!
Natasha Kayes
Dinner was so great that we decided to head back down to Denae’s for breakfast, too (after sleeping in because The Delphi doesn’t make you check out until noon!) I just had to try The Black Dahlia - cinnamon-croissant French toast - and it did not disappoint. Incidentally, breakfast is actually served all day and The Black Dahlia would make a great dessert!
Natasha Kayes
Real talk? I am usually not a fan of diner coffee, so I was glad to see that there were other options on the menu (espresso, lattes, etc.), but as good as everything else was so far, I decided to just order a plain cup of Joe. To my surprise, rather than a typical pot pulled from the warmer, I was given a French Press full of fresh coffee, left unpressed so I could control the strength. Perfect.
Natasha Kayes
The Delphi is quickly positioning itself as the best new hotel in LA, and I cannot wait to see what they come up with next. Have you had a chance to stay or dine at this hotel? Book your room at The Delphi for an oh-so-LA getaway. Or head to Denae’s Diner for a fun and affordable dining experience. Do you have a favorite hotel in SoCal that we haven’t featured? Share your recommendations with us in the comments. If you are visiting somewhere other than LA, check out even more incredible hotels and resorts throughout Southern California!
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