The Hollywood Roosevelt, Los Angeles
Where Hollywood’s Golden Age Still Takes Center Stage
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● One of Hollywood’s most legendary hotels, host of the very first Academy Awards in 1929 and home to generations of film icons.
● A magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival landmark where original architecture, glamorous interiors, and cinematic history remain beautifully intact.
● The iconic Tropicana Pool, David Hockney’s famous mural, legendary bars, and newly restored penthouse suites make this a true Hollywood institution.
The Hotel That Built Hollywood
Few hotels are woven so deeply into the story of a city as The Hollywood Roosevelt. Since opening its doors in 1927 on Hollywood Boulevard, directly opposite the Dolby Theatre and beside the Walk of Fame, the Roosevelt has been the backdrop for nearly a century of cinema history. The very first Academy Awards ceremony was held here in 1929. Marilyn Monroe lived at the hotel during the early years of her career. Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Montgomery Clift, Charlie Chaplin, and countless other stars all passed through its doors. Today, remarkably, the Roosevelt still feels like a place where Hollywood’s mythology continues to unfold rather than merely being remembered.
Spanish Colonial Revival at Its Finest
Designed during Hollywood’s golden era, the hotel remains one of Los Angeles’ finest examples of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Vaulted timber ceilings, hand-painted beams, carved stone archways, wrought-iron chandeliers, patterned tile floors, antique fountains, richly textured plaster walls, and dramatic courtyards immediately transport guests back to the glamour of the late 1920s. Extensive renovations by Yabu Pushelberg have carefully refreshed the interiors without sacrificing their historic soul, allowing the building’s remarkable architecture to remain the undisputed star.
Rooms That Span Hollywood Eras
Accommodation reflects the hotel’s unique evolution through nearly a century of design. Tower rooms celebrate the property’s original Spanish Colonial elegance with contemporary comforts subtly woven into the historic architecture. Around the famous pool, the cabana rooms embrace a distinctly mid-century character inspired by the glamorous years when Marilyn Monroe called the Roosevelt home. The true showpieces, however, are the recently restored penthouse residences. Redesigned by Los Angeles designer Kevin Klein, the Gable & Lombard Penthouse and Johnny Grant Apartment combine period craftsmanship with contemporary sophistication. Rich walnut, Italian marble, antique mirrors, handcrafted furnishings sourced from more than 25 countries, and original architectural discoveries—including a long-hidden ceiling mural uncovered during renovation—create spaces that feel less like hotel suites than private Hollywood residences. A shared rooftop terrace offers sweeping views across Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign.
The Pool That Became an Icon
Few hotel pools are as instantly recognizable as the Tropicana Pool. Framed by towering palms and colorful cabanas, its floor features David Hockney’s celebrated underwater mural, transforming an already legendary swimming pool into one of Los Angeles’ most photographed works of public art. By day, the atmosphere feels like classic California glamour. By evening, cocktails, music, and softly illuminated palms create one of Hollywood’s most enduring social scenes.
Hollywood Never Really Sleeps
The Roosevelt has always been more than a hotel. Shirley Brasserie serves relaxed French-American cuisine, while the lively Tropicana Bar anchors daytime life around the pool. Hidden deeper inside the property are some of Hollywood’s most beloved nightlife venues, including The Spare Room—a glamorous cocktail lounge complete with a vintage two-lane bowling alley—and the intimate Library Bar, where conversations often continue long after midnight. Every corner seems to carry another story.
Why It Works
The Hollywood Roosevelt isn’t simply preserving Hollywood history—it continues to create it. By balancing magnificent Spanish Colonial architecture, carefully restored interiors, iconic public spaces, and nearly a century of cinematic legend, it remains one of America’s truly great heritage hotels. Glamorous without feeling nostalgic, historic without becoming theatrical, and endlessly entertaining, the Roosevelt proves that some stars never stop shining.
