The Standard Hotel in Los Angeles - A review

We've reviewed Andre Balaz's hotel 'The Standard' in NYC with their infamous exhibitionist windows & how you can buy a piece of The Standard.

Now it's time to check out The Standard in Downtown Los Angeles.  First the stats:  It's a former oil headquarter office building built in 1952 and it's been converted into this hip hotel.  The hotel has 184 rooms (plus 23 suites) and rates can be as cheap as the upper $100's up to the lower $500's depending on the room and day you book.

Amenities include a gift shop, hair salon, a 2-story lobby lounge that dubs as a disco complete with pool tables plus DJ and a restaurant that's open 24/7.   It's best feature is it's roof top pool and bar.  It's got amazing views of Downtown LA plus the scene there is much like a Hollywood club, it's jamming.

(the 12 story The Standard in Downtown Los Angeles - since 2002)

One sexy feature of the hotel is the bathrooms in the rooms.  They feature glass walls so you better not be shy.  Lots of reviewers either like it or hate it, depending on who they booked the room with.  If you're with your SO, it's great....if you're with a casual friend on business, yikes.

(the infamous glass bathroom walls, you can curtain up the commode)

The roof top pool is always hot.  They got a DJ up there so if you're on floors 10 or up you might be hearing the noise till they shut down around 1:30am, but this hotel is not a place where you come to relax, it's the more a hip party type of hotel.  Drink prices can be pricey at $15 and more but as a guest of the hotel, at least you don't have the pay the $20 cover charge for the roof top club on Friday and Saturday nights.

You might remember the pool at this Standard from 2007 when Brittany Spears decided to get topless in the pool with some random college dude.  Check the story here:   Brittany parties at The Standard.

• Free Wifi for guest
• Parking is $30 for one day
• The beds are platform beds
• 24-hour gym facilities
• 24/7 room service available
• On-site dry cleaning

(locals tip:  you can go to the pool for FREE, even as a guest)

 For more info, visit them at:  Standard Hotel.

Would you like to take a piece of The Standard Hotel home with you?

Way back I posted about The Standard Hotel in NYC (check "you might also like" below) and how this hotel is one sexy/naughty hotel spot.  As a recap, they have wall-to-ceiling glass that allows the guests to flaunt it all for the world below to see, and they do watch.  

Well, now you can take home Standard light bulbs for $65 for a 3 pack.  What makes these light bulbs worth that?  The light bulbs are designed by swank designer Brian Donnelly who at one point was a hip graffiti artist.  In the late 90's Brian gained fame for his vinyl toys, T-shirts, shoes and wallets, many of which feature the "XX" logo found on the Standard's light bulbs.

(the bulbs in place at The Standard)

And now they're selling 1,000 of the 3 packs to the public and each pack has a purple, red and green light bulb with XX's as the filaments.   You can buy these bulbs at:  Standard Shopping, but if you're gonna do it, do it before they sell out.   Personally, I won't be picking these up, but they do seem pretty cool.

The Standard in NYC - a voyeurs & exhibitionist dream come true!

By now anybody who has visited the High Line (especially at night) has probably heard about, or seen, the peep show that goes on nightly through the windows of the towering Standard Hotel.  Hotel ownership, Hip hotelier Andre Balazs, is thrilled by the press coverage this newly built hotel, 2008, has gotten.  Evidence of his delight comes today from the Standard Hotel's blog, where they have asked for photo evidence!  They're asking for photos of sex in the Standard's rooms, like these racy photos (rated R for sure) in this Purple magazine shoot. 

The Standard NYC

Located in NYC's "Meatpacking District" this 18 story - 337 room modern hotel has had steady bookings since it's conception.   The building is supported on huge concrete pillars and extends into two glass-curtain slabs; the construction seems as if it leaps above the old freight tracks of the High Line and floats.

Lobby of The Standard

 

Rooms at The Standard can be as cheap as $195 and be as costly as  $1,800 depending on the room you book, day of the week and time of year.  (don't forget to tack on a 14% NY hotel tax)   But for these prices you do get OTHER cool things.  Upon arrival you get a fresh fruit platter, free valet parking and a free 24 hour state-of-the-art fitness center.

There's a hotel restaurant, The Standard Grill, on premise that's serving up 5 star quality dining.  Call for reservations.

Sample room

The rooms are outfitted with contemporary furniture, 300 thread count Italian sheets, XL fluffy towels, large lofty pillows, mood lighting, 6 piece "Kiss my Face" organic bath amenities, huge HD TV's, I-Pod read sound systems, 24 hour room service, overstocked mini-bars, free WiFi and custom bathrobes.  

Amazing views

The views get better the higher you go, so plump for 8th floor and above if you can. The Standard Room 11.20, for example, has fabulous views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty, but if you prefer looking out of the Manhattan skyline, any room ending in .25 looks out to the north and .24s have corner windows.

The "voyeur" crowd below

All The Standard NY’s rooms feature either deep-set bath tubs open to the living area or exposed glass-walled showers, so this is not a hotel for bashful bathers.  The rooms are also encased with floor to ceiling non-reflective low iron, "white water" glass pleasing some of the High Line park's guest below.  If you're shy, cover up!

One exhibitionist

 

Guests at the Standard Hotel have been spotted having sex, drying off and masturbating.  Guests are also reported to have been seen making a porno.  A worker in the nearby park told the New York Post article people come to the park specifically to watch the erotic exhibitionism.  The Standard Hotel has issued a statement saying its managers will try harder to "remind guests of the transparency" of the windows.

Two exhibitionists

So if you're in the mood for a different type of hotel experience and you happen to find yourself in New York why not check out this naughty but nice hotel.  They can be contacted at 212.645.4646 or reached at their web site, The Standard Hotel website

BONUS LINK:  The Standard Hotel Webcam