Two motels, double the enjoyable: My keep on the dual-branded AC and Moxy motels in Downtown LA

Why have one when you possibly can have two? That appears to be the query for lodge builders world wide. Increasingly as of late, dual-branded motels — primarily two totally different manufacturers sharing the identical constructing whereas providing two completely totally different lodge experiences — are popping up.

One dual-branded lodge in Los Angeles, although, has had this lodge reporter’s consideration because it first opened a number of years in the past (and was featured on our listing of the very best new motels of 2023): AC Lodge Downtown Los Angeles and Moxy Downtown Los Angeles, housed in a 37-story constructing proper by the Los Angeles Conference Middle and Crypto.com Enviornment.

In whole, the double-feature, Yabu Pushelberg-designed motels have 727 visitor rooms, 12 eating places, a whole ground devoted to eating and nightlife, and two distinct vibes catering to various kinds of vacationers.

I stayed the evening at each motels and spent a Saturday evening working my manner round Stage 8, the Las Vegas-like ground filled with eating places, bars and nightclubs. Here is what it is like — and why you need to think about staying at one (or each!) of those Marriott Bonvoy properties.

Associated: How I get good Marriott redemptions at AC Resorts within the US

How a lot the motels price and e-book

Charges at each the Moxy Downtown Los Angeles and AC Lodge Downtown Los Angeles begin as little as $184 per evening or 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Simply notice that because of the lodge’s location close to the conference middle and Crypto.com area, these charges can fluctuate wildly as main occasions and concert events arrive.

What it is like staying on the Moxy Downtown Los Angeles

The vibe

Moxy is Marriott’s playful and usually reasonably priced life-style model. Although Moxy has all the time been a little bit on the cheekier facet, newer iterations are feeling extra grown up, considerate and trendy — however with out dropping that youthful spirit that threads the motels collectively. That is partially due to Lightstone, the event firm behind each the AC and Moxy in downtown LA, in addition to the New York areas which have the same vibe.

And that is partly why Moxy, as an entire, gained Finest Inexpensive Lodge model on the 2023 TPG Awards.

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles was impressed by the 1969 movie “Straightforward Rider” and the spirit of Southern California. Upon getting into the foyer, I seen inexperienced succulents contrasted in opposition to concrete flooring and an enormous snake rug dominating the general public seating space the place folks frolicked or labored at massive tables. A bike with a sidecar was the star of many visitor images. The vibe felt distinctly cool, and I loved spending time within the foyer.

The room

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles has 380 rooms, and despite the fact that they arrive in a number of totally different configurations, all of them have the same aesthetic and comparable options, like a design-forward tackle Moxy’s signature peg wall holding the TV and clothes hangers.

My room was a nook king overlooking the conference middle and measured in at about 267 sq. ft. The huge, floor-to-ceiling home windows let in ample pure mild and sheer and blackout curtains pulled again to dam it when vital (like after a wild evening at Stage 8, however extra on that later).

Although Moxy rooms are usually small, they provide sensible storage options, like under-bed storage and a number of locations to hold garments.

Moxy motels, usually, encourage people to get outdoors of their room and spend time in social locations just like the foyer. So in the event you’re planning on working inside your room, know that the nightstand doubles as a small desk however there’s loads of nice coworking house downstairs.

The lavatory house in my room, proper off the door, had a small self-importance with a sink, towels and a number of mirrors. The lavatory and bathe every had their very own small, slim sections.

The hallways resulting in the rooms within the Moxy had enjoyable carpeting, kind of mirroring an airport runway — however with a little bit alien-themed twist. This space additionally featured help-yourself amenity closets the place you might seize additional towels and different issues one may want throughout a keep.

I cherished my nook king room. It was snug, clear and really trendy. And people floor-to-ceiling window views had been the icing on the cake.

Bar Moxy

Within the foyer, Bar Moxy is the place to hold. It is open for espresso, cocktails and meals at varied occasions all through the day. I did not have the prospect to eat at Bar Moxy, however the menu included objects like a cheeseburger ($21), Thai glazed hen wings ($19) and a buffalo hen flatbread ($21). There have been varied cocktails, mocktails, beers and wine on provide right here, as effectively.

Bluestone Lane

Connected to the Moxy foyer, Bluestone Lane, a preferred Australian espresso chain, is open from 6:30 a.m. till 2 p.m. It serves almost any form of espresso you possibly can consider plus an all-day menu of bowls, toasts, sandwiches and burritos. Professional tip: scan the QR code in your room to order forward to skip the lengthy morning traces.

What it is like staying on the AC Lodge Downtown Los Angeles

The Vibe

Whereas Moxy’s foyer is positioned simply off the road, checking into its modern sister lodge requires a visit to a sky foyer up on the thirty fourth ground of the constructing accessed by a separate ground-level entrance, actually making it really feel like a very separate lodge. AC Resorts are usually design-forward, usually with that kind of pared again, easy type that makes you say: “I want my home regarded like this.”

This lodge isn’t any exception.

All through the foyer, minimalist parts like elegant potted timber and rock sculptures had been an earthy but stylish reminder of California’s varied landscapes. To 1 facet of the foyer, a library with communal seating stayed busy all through the day. The huge wall of home windows additionally stayed crowded with friends taking in sweeping views of the Metropolis of Angles.

The room

I stayed in a nook king room on the AC Lodge Downtown Los Angeles. Just like the foyer, the room was rather more muted in colour and design in comparison with the neighboring Moxy (I noticed the 2 motels had been really related on each ground through a set of discrete double doorways within the hallways you’d most likely by no means assume to open).

The room had a small sofa within the nook and a small, round desk.

Throughout from the mattress, a TV hung above a big desk with a chair, a lamp and a writing pad — a major departure from the structure of the extra social-minded Moxy.

The lavatory space was additionally minimal, with the sink and mirror floating off to the facet and, just like the Moxy, the bathe and bathroom divided into two rooms throughout from the self-importance.

This room additionally had a closet with cabinets and hanging house in addition to facilities all through like a protected, a primary espresso maker, a hairdryer and a steamer.

The room was snug, stylish and environment friendly. I slept effectively and loved the views of town from my massive home windows and, most of all, how Los Angeles regarded throughout a dramatic sundown.

AC Bar & Lounge

Open for breakfast, dinner and late evening drinks, AC Bar & Lounge serves the usual lodge restaurant classics: Caesar salad ($16), a burger ($27) and a Spanish cobb salad ($28), alongside cocktails just like the lodge’s signature gin & tonic ($19).

I wrongly assumed that this spot could be open all through the day, so I used to be disenchanted after I popped over round 11 a.m. on Sunday for meals and realized I might missed breakfast and the kitchen would not reopen till dinner.

La Lo La Rooftop

My Sunday brunch different was La Lo La Rooftop, perched on the thirty fourth ground and (largely) open all through the day. When the solar is shining and the there are few clouds, the views alone are value a go to to the lounge-like house totally of tables, couches and a bar.

To eat, I stuffed up on a scrumptious California-style breakfast burrito ($22) and a clean Bloody Mary ($19). The avocado- and egg-stuffed burrito was scrumptious (and messy, naturally!), however consuming it from a sofa with these views actually made my day. In truth, I ended up spending chunk of my afternoon sipping margaritas ($18) and people-watching across the house.

Shared facilities

Each motels share an environment friendly and fairly massive gymnasium with loads of gear — and unimaginable views — excessive up within the lodge.

I additionally discovered a CVS merchandising machine on one ground that had almost something you may want or have forgotten at house, like toothpaste, painkillers and extra. There was additionally a microwave on this space, which could appear random however might be helpful for friends.

Stage 8

Stage 8 needs to be seen to be believed. In full, the idea by the Houston Brothers (identified for LA sizzling spots like Soiled Laundry and Break Room 86), has extra bars, eating places and experiences than one might presumably attempt to go to in an evening — although I actually tried.

Totally taking on the eight ground, and with a non-public entrance from the road, my expertise began with a cowboy-themed pool occasion at Golden Hour (that includes a carousel bar with a pool deck).This set the tone for my Saturday evening, which concerned galavanting between bars and eating places on Stage 8, starting from a spritz and crispy tuna rice on the outside Mom of Pearl to South American-style seafood and cocktails at Que Barbaro and recent sushi at Fortunate Mizu.

No matter you do, simply be sure to go to Sinners y Santos, which the motels describe as “half ruined cathedral, half Lucha Libre ring.” Come for the cocktails and keep for the full-on wrestling ring that descends on high of the bar to catch real-life Lucha Libre-style wrestling surrounded by bottle service, DJs and an entertaining combine of individuals coming and going all through the assorted venues.

The perfect tip I received, although, was to cease by the rooftop taco truck, open late into the evening, to seize mouthwatering tacos to take again to my room.

If clubbing is not your factor, you can too simply go to the eating places that open earlier than issues get too loopy. My Sunday dinner was at Maison Kasai, a French-meets-Japanese teppanyaki spot by Michelin-starred chef Joshua Gil the place you possibly can select from a tasting menu or order high-end steaks and seafood cooked proper in entrance of you. Whereas I very a lot loved all of my hearty steak, the true showstopper was a squash blossom appetizer.

Accessibility

Each motels provide rooms ADA-compliant rooms, in addition to wheelchair entry to the general public areas, elevators and to most bars and eating places.

TPG all the time recommends calling the lodge to verify accessible room sorts earlier than reserving and to make sure the lodge can accommodate every visitor’s particular wants.

Trying out

Folks may let you know that Downtown Los Angeles is a combined bag — and it may be. However you seemingly will not remorse rooting a keep at both of those dynamic motels. Whether or not you are on the lookout for a classy foyer filled with hip creatives, like on the Moxy, or need an elevated, design-forward keep, because the AC provides, you will be snug. And better of all, with Stage 8 and all of its leisure choices actually within the constructing, all you need to do is hop on an elevator for an evening out you will always remember.

If I discover myself in DTLA once more, I am going to gladly rebook at both of the motels in what’s arguably essentially the most distinctive dual-branded lodge on the earth.

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