INDUSTRY INSIGHT: 
The Thompson Hotel
Beverly Hills, CA
by Lilian Lee
In a city that shamelessly loves lavishness, the Thompson Beverly Hills is a hotel made for those who appreciate understated luxury.
With little signage and no wild architecture or colors, the Thompson Beverly Hills discreetly awaits its guests on Wilshire Boulevard, two blocks from Rodeo Drive. Inside, its compact size initially seems at odds with the sleek and spacious furniture, but the result is a pleasantly chic – and maybe even cozy – lobby.
As part of the New York-based Thompson Hotels, this hotel brings the look and feel of its sister property to Beverly Hills. For instance, urban nomads from Manhattan will have no problem recognizing BondSt, an acclaimed sushi restaurant in SoHo recreated for the new Thompson in the West. With a wooden communal table perfect for breakfast, a patio overlooking Wilshire, and an intimate sushi bar, BondSt offers an amazing array of dining choices in spite of it's deceptively small space.
Upstairs in the Penthouse and the Thompson Suite, Dodd Mitchell Design Associates, the designers behind some of L.A.’s biggest hotspots (think Dolce and the Roosevelt Hotel, to name a couple), have captured “California Modernism”. Expect no frilly designs or furniture here. With cowhide rugs, ebony wood, and mostly black and white furniture, the Penthouse and the Thompson suite both have a sexy, masculine quality about them. Inside the Penthouse, you’ll find of course, all the regular top-notch amenities including a chef’s kitchen with private entrance, a full dining area, an extra bedroom and an inviting spa bathtub. The Penthouse’s most discerning feature however, is the wall-to-wall balcony that lends guests a sunset gorgeous enough to distract them from the distant sounds of Wilshire Blvd traffic.
One floor up, guests will discover the crowning glory of the Thompson Beverly Hills: a two-level rooftop that could be considered a destination within itself. It's complete with a gym, spa, pool and the bar/lounge known as ABH, Above Beverly Hills. This aptly named area combines the luxury of Beverly Hills with the nightlife of Hollywood to create a spectacular scene. As with the lobby, the spatial construction of the rooftop makes it appear ingeniously larger. Secluded private cabanas hide sofa beds and fire pits while the upper level plays host to mingling folks. But of course there is a strict guest list, and you'll find an interesting mix of Hollywood's elite along with hotel guests traveling from afar.
Known as the Beverly Pavilion in its former life, the Thompson Beverly Hills has been reincarnated into a sleek, modern retreat. Here, Uptown Angelenos can find an oasis in their front yard, and those suburban nomads discover the lifestyle that made Beverly Hills famous.
