Sunset Marquis Hotel is a luxury hotel in West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California. It is owned by George Rosenthal, and located at 1200 Alta Loma Road, and situated just off the Sunset Strip. Known for its celebrity clientele, especially rock stars and people in the music industry, the hotel offers almost all suites and several villas located on 3 1/2 acres. Cavatina, the hotel restaurant, is popular for an expansive al fresco dining area and Bar 1200 was the original Whiskey Bar. The Nightbird Studio, a professional recording studio in the lower level of the hotel is very popular with professional musicians and many Grammy winning songs have been recorded here. The hotel is also home to the Morrison Hotel Gallery which features fine art photography of rock legends. As of October 2017 room rates range from $350 to $10,000 per night.
History
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“In the summer of 1960, two years before he broke ground on The Sunset Marquis Hotel, real estate developer George Rosenthal sat in the living room of Chicago’s Playboy mansion with Hugh Hefner, trying to decide whether or not they should accept a twelve-million-dollar loan from Jimmy Hoffa. On the plus side, it was the entire amount of money Rosenthal needed to build a Playboy Club and Hotel in the heart of West Hollywood’s legendary Sunset Strip. On the downside, it meant getting into business with Jimmy Hoffa, a proposition that presented the very real potential of being hazardous to one’s health.
After mustering the courage to turn down Hoffa’s proposal, Rosenthal was able to find local financing for an office building to house Playboy’s West Coast operations (and the club), but not the Playboy Hotel. Shortly after construction began on the office building and still believing in the need for accommodations for the performers and guests at the club, he purchased property just down the street at 1200 Alta Loma Drive.
The Sunset Marquis, as he would call the place, initially opened in 1963 as an apartment-hotel with limited services. Since then, it has evolved into a full-service hotel with 152 suites and villas, a restaurant, a spa, a recording studio, where dozens of Grammy-winning records have been produced, and it spawned one of the most notorious bars anywhere. For 50 years, the hotel has served as the home away from home for actors, comedians, writers, artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, supermodels, restaurateurs, billionaire entrepreneurs, and the newest breed of entertainer when the doors first opened: rock stars.
In a city where few careers last more than fifteen minutes, that the Marquis has prospered over five decades is remarkable. That it is as vibrant today as it was when its doors first opened makes it, like many of the personalities who gather here, a phenomenon. The Marquis holds an almost mystical place in the music and entertainment industries while also maintaining a low profile, kind of like a secret track on your favorite album. Despite its location in the heart of West Hollywood, it’s where celebrities who are constantly in the public eye can hide in plain sight. The hotel transports them to a place that’s secluded, protected, where they can breathe once again and be themselves. There are more opulent hotels. There are hotels with more breathtaking locations. There are other hotels, even in the same neighborhood, where celebrities are known to congregate. But while some hotels are famous for who died there, The Sunset Marquis is where artists come to live, to create, to feel at home, and to be stimulated by other artists. “ From the book If These Walls Could Rock.
The Sunset Marquis opened in 1963 as an apartment hotel with limited services. It has evolved into a full service hotel with 152 suites and villas. Over more than 50 years, the property has grown to include nearby homes which have become villas for hotel guests. The hotel appeals to the entertainment industry due to the extremely private environment and paparazzi free location.
The Sunset Marquis Hotel announced the completion of its 100 remodeled suites in 2014. These junior and one-bedroom suites offer oversized bathrooms, in-room dining/work area and custom furniture in vibrant and inviting colors. With an average of 529 Sq. Ft. in the suites, most rooms have balconies or roomy patios. Interior designer Oliva Villaluz has been involved in the renovations of the Sunset Marquis for 10 years, working alongside Sunset Marquis’ Owner Mark Rosenthal, to develop a new look for this celebrated property.
Originally a set designer, Oliva’s vision was to take the 1960s look back to a more classic style with a little twist. Villaluz brings her singular vision of modernity, casual elegance and zen infusion to an eclectic array of Hollywood’s most prestigious properties.
Villaluz’s goal was to create a “home away from home†for Hollywood’s elite. With rich textures and colors, the vibe of the hotel is a bit more masculine and comfortable. “I traveled for inspiration,†Oliva said, going as far as Shanghai & Beijing to source out textiles, metals and furnishings.
Over the years, the hotel has undergone an expansion that included an additional 40 villas, the Cavatina Restaurant and a second pool.
Architecture
The Sunset Marquis is inspired by Mediterranean style villas, with white and cream buildings and clay tile roofs. The long entrance pavilion of the hotel is reminiscent of hotels in Mediterranean France or Italy. It has 152 rooms. The rooms are extremely spacious and are mostly junior and one bedroom suites. Villas are equipped with alarm systems, private entrances, terraces, large screen TV's and some feature baby grand pianos.
The grounds are spread over three and half acres and, despite close proximity to the Sunset Strip, are set in lush tranquil gardens. Its restaurant was previously known as The Room, and catered in French fusion cuisine among other cuisines. In 2008, it changed its name to Restaurant, headed by Chef Guillaume Burlion. More recently, the venue has been renamed Cavatina and Chef Michael Schlow has been instrumental in assisting with development of menu concepts and positioning with Executive Chef Chris Turano managing the operation.
Cavatina
The hotel restaurant is Cavatina and it features an expansive outdoor terrace under a canopy of trees. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is a popular location for entertainment industry meetings. There is an outdoor bar area and several adjacent spaces for more privacy. As of 2017, Cavatina, located inside the legendary Sunset Marquis hotel, welcomed Chris Turano as Executive Chef. Turano brings more than fifteen years of experience in independent and corporate restaurants, private clubs, hotels and resorts, including over twelve openings. A culinary craftsman, he focuses on local seasonality, classical technique and modern influence. Turano joins renowned James Beard award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow, who developed the original concept for Cavatina, his first West Coast venture. Both chefs will collaborate to bring exciting new menu changes to Cavatina over the coming months.Chef Chris Turano was the executive chef.
Bar 1200
The bar of the hotel, known as BAR 1200, was established in 1996. It is a small bar and only accommodates about 45 people, but it is known as a hangout for musicians and celebrities. It is often visited by musicians such as Billy Gibbons, U2, Rolling Stones, Robbie Williams, John Mayer, Aerosmith and Eminem. It regularly hosts music industry and entertainment related events and parties. This is the original Whiskey Bar where Rande Gerber partnered with the Sunset Marquis to create the exclusive concept. Bar 1200 continues the legacy of appealing to the music industry and music lovers.
References
External links
- Official site
