CHATEAUMARMONT

8221 Sunset Boulevard
Hollywood, CA 90046

Hollywood is a city of swift change and whimsy Zeitgeist where trends are born and die faster than in most other places - in a city like that, an institution with a history of more than 70 years is outstanding enough, but the Chateau Marmont is more than that: it's a landmark, a myth, and a hotel. The legend of the Chateau Marmont connects to Hollywood history like no other place - if walls could talk, one could presumably spend weeks in here listening. The Chateau Marmont hotel has seen its share of scandal and affairs over the years, and most Hollywood gossip from the last few decades could probably be connected to this location in some way - Jean Harlow had her honeymoon affair with non-husband Clark Gable here, Jim Morrison jumped off a bungalow roof and John Belushi died here after consumption of a fatal snowball-drugcocktail (who'd have thought: with him that night were Robert DeNiro and Robin Williams). "If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont," was Harry Cohn's (founder of the Columbia studios) advice for his stars, and lots of them took him up on it. Billy Wilder once spent a few nights in a bathroom with the comment: "I would rather sleep in a Chateau Marmont bathroom than in another hotel" - only one example of celebrity testimonials and tales of scandals, tragedy and glory that can be linked to the Chateau Marmont until this day - be it photographer Helmut Newton who unfortunately died in the driveway in 2004 or Lindsay Lohan who hit the headlines with a humongous unpaid hotel bill here in 2006. Unfortunately, by the end of the 1980s the myth was worn down and the Chateau was in danger of losing its edge that had drawn so many stars over the years - until 1991 when André Balazs bought the estate with the vision of bringing it back to former glory. The Chateau Marmont was his first hotel in Los Angeles  (meanwhile, he is also responsible for the two Standard hotels), and every effort was made to preserve the character of the location while bringing it up to modern standards (i.e. telecommunications equipment, room service and a small restaurant were added) - successfully so. The Chateau Marmont still has its pseudo-gothic charm, the appearance of a French villa rather than a hotel and the notorious discreetness for which it became famous. The interior still has the feel of the hotel's heyday in the 1920s and the classic ambience is as charming as it used to be. The concept has proven successful: again, the Chateau Marmont is one of the locations to see stars. But the hotel has more to offer than just history: the rooms and suites are timelessly elegant and comfortable, and the generous room sizes show that the Chateau wasn't built to be a hotel. Especially remarkable is the picturesque garden area with swimming pooland the discreet and private bungalows - a wonderful oasis of tranquility right on busy Sunset Blvd. Another place ideal for a few quiet moments is the garden terrace in the inner yard - perfect for a coffee or an afternoon Martini depending on your preference. For a drink in a more bar-like atmosphere, try the adjacent
Bar Marmont - an outstanding bar, among the best Hollywood has to offer.
The Chateau Marmont is a definite recommendation and a wonderful place to stay at when in Hollywood. For all who would like to find out more about the Chateau Marmont hotel and its history, this blog provides some interesting insights. Enjoy!