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The rooms are small (European-style, this is a British brand after all), but the design-forward approach, buzzy dining scene, and picturesque rooftop pool are serious draws.
I spent a night in a "Roomy" room, which starts at $215. Smaller options can be booked for as low as $179, which is a nice deal for style-minded travelers.
As a Los Angeles native who treasures my 1936 home and makes every effort to lovingly maintain its vintage style, I just adore seeing other buildings that reflect the city's vibrant, aesthetically stunning history, updated for modern comfort.
Opened in October, The Hoxton Downtown L.A. is the ninth hotel in the group (which also has relatively new locations in London, Europe, Brooklyn, Portland, and Chicago), which originated in London. It took over the 10-story Los Angeles Railway Building, a vintage beaux arts-style structure from 1922 that once housed the L.A. Railway Authority, and later, a garment manufacturer and candy shop.
The building is very much a part of the city's history. Downtown L.A.'s heyday really began in the 1920s and '30s and saw spectacular architectural and cultural development before starting a decline. The Hoxton's style feels like a throwback to those glory days. Which is, in contrast, to some of downtown's newer hotel towers, like the decade-old JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton. They're comfortable, amenity-rich, and glamorous, but not historically distinguished in the same way.
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The Hoxton is located in the bustling heart of a revitalized downtown area bursting with dining, entertainment, and the nearby Los Angeles Convention Center. The collection of travelers I saw at the hotel when I visited appeared to include those mostly visiting for events or conferences that were buzzing around purposefully with lanyards and rolling bags. The crowd was mostly young and overtly stylish, but at least one elderly couple haunted the lobby spaces during a visit that overlapped with mine.
The Hoxton's new incarnation is fairly compact and intimate, though there are still a respectable 174 rooms in all. Rooms tend to be small. The entry-level type is dubbed "Snug," and starts at $179 for under 200 square feet on average. The category name is also an apt description.
I spent the night in the third tier, "Roomy," which was comped for review purposes but starts at $215 per night, and fills an average of 259 square feet. Reasonable, but not super spacious.
The largest type is "Biggy," which are only moderately larger at an average of 301 square feet, with rates starting at $233.
The smallish rooms are perhaps also a nod to the hotel brand's European roots, where rooms tend to be smaller. But communal spaces, dining, and drinking options are stylish and cool, intended to lure guests out of their rooms. Indeed, they're frequented by hip locals, and the rooftop pool has killer views of the downtown skyline - a slam dunk for the 'Gram.
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The Hoxton Downtown Los Angeles is for those who eschew traditional, sometimes generic hotel chains, choosing a stay that's experiential and photogenic over the chance to earn loyalty points. I checked out the historic-meets-hip concept and found it delivered every bit on that promise.
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I arrived to the Hoxton and dropped off my car at the curbside valet with ease as traffic whizzed by. Inside, I found the hotel to be filled with stylishly furnished communal spaces. A seating area had sumptuous, Art Deco-inspired furnishings and rich upholstery that looked expertly curated.
The reception was simple and straightforward: several staffers were ready to welcome me from behind a small curvilinear desk. There was no one in line in front, although the restaurants flanking the reception were bustling at mid-day with what I presumed to be a combination of tourists, the local lunch crowd, and miscellaneous hipsters.
I got my key promptly and headed up to my third-floor room, dubbed "Roomy," which is among four categories in order of size: Snug, Cosy (again, European-size, and spelling!), Roomy, and Biggy.
My corner room was airy and bright, with views on two walls of other downtown buildings and the traffic below. I'd call the views much more urban — even gritty — than glam per se.
Though it was considered "Roomy," I found it to be diminutive, typical of a European hotel room, despite being the second to largest category. The type averages 259 square feet and starts at $215 however, which was reasonable for the size.
Decor had a vintage lean, with distinct paneling, a bubbled glass shower door, chevron flooring, velvet throw pillows, and other small details that made the room fun and memorable.
I particularly liked accessories such as a retro telephone and Marshall radio. Both were tricked-out and fully operable.
There was also a thoughtfully produced custom map and "Hoxton survival guide," which was a pamphlet explaining the property and its amenities.
The room also included coffee and tea, a Smeg kettle to prep them, and a mini-fridge stocked with milk and water.
Unfortunately, I found the milk in my fridge expired when I tried to make coffee. I assume this to be a kink of a brand new hotel working out the final details as I was likely one of the first to stay here.
The bed, with its artistic wood and rattan headboard, was quite comfortable and conducive to sleep.
Nevertheless, as might be expected for an urban property in a downtown location, street noise was quite noticeable. A higher floor might have insulated the noise a bit more. If you're sensitive to sound — I am — ask for a location accordingly, and travel with earplugs. Those did the trick for me.
The hotel's buzziest attractions are the on-site F&B options: The Hoxton partners with Sunday Hospitality, which is the team behind New York's fan-fave Brooklyn restaurant Sunday in Brooklyn.
On the ground floor is Sibling Rival, offering takes on American classics with California produce as the star. I was starving when I checked in and made a late lunch of avocado toast, rendered truly hearty and unique with the addition of cashew cheese and nori on top.
Sibling Rival is also home to the lobby's coffee bar with coffee by local roastery Tectonic Coffee, homemade pastries, and a soft-serve ice cream bar. These offerings are open all day until 11 p.m.
I worked much of the afternoon in the light-filled, street-level space with its wall of windows, perfect for both people-watching and concentrating, and complete with ample places to charge up.
After work, my husband joined me for dinner at Pilot. Pilot is a Mediterranean-inspired, seafood-heavy spot on the rooftop with skyline views.
Because the hotel is new and working out some early decisions, I received differing answers as to when the restaurant actually opened for dinner. Some staffers and web sources cited 5 p.m., and others 5:30 p.m., which turned out to be accurate.
The confusion was OK though, because we started poolside before moving inside when the restaurant formally opened. In addition to the food — cacio e pepe was a standout — we found the music to be a highlight of the experience. It's the kind of place to take a date who has Mos Def and Biggie Smalls on their playlist.
Among its many charms, the Hoxton's central location is walkable to most key attractions in downtown Los Angeles. The Staples Center is an eight-minute walk and next door to L.A. Live, a splashy entertainment and dining complex.
All of that action also abuts the Los Angeles Convention Center, which regularly draws throngs of attendees.
On a more practical note, the hotel shares a block with a CVS drugstore, which makes it convenient to replace any forgotten toiletry items if needed. I stopped in for cash back on a cold drink when I found myself without even enough cash to tip the valet on my way out.
As a brand new hotel, the Hoxton has only a few online reviews so far. Early Trip Advisor feedback notes "cozy but beautifully maintained rooms," and a "good location walking distance to fashion shops."
More abundant reviews are for the hotel's restaurants, and these are overwhelmingly positive. Although one reviewer noted slow service, others were far more impressed writing, "Sibling Rival is gorgeous, the dinner of my glam dreams." Another shouted out the rooftop venue Pilot: "The new rooftop bar and restaurant (Pilot) are absolutely lovely."
Who stays here: Style-minded youthful travelers, and anyone who appreciates the vintage aesthetic and want a more unique experience than a cookie-cutter hotel. Plus, meeting-goers and conventioneers bound for the Los Angeles Convention Center and other downtown venues.
We like: The design-forward details and historic 1920s style which feel far more distinctive than nearby global chain hotel options.
We love (don't miss this feature!): The rooftop pool is small but a standout. Don't miss seeing it — and taking pics — whether you actually go for a seasonal dip, or just lounge on the chaises poolside.
We think you should know: Overnight parking is a spendy $49. Avoid driving if you can; rideshare is easily accessible, and the property is walkable once on-site.
We'd do this differently next time: Try the pancakes at Sibling Rival. The waiter raved about them as a cult favorite, and Time Out notes the restaurant's Brooklyn counterpart Sunday makes arguably the "best pancakes in New York."
The Hoxton Downtown Los Angeles is filled with artsy details and amenities to satisfy visitors with high standards for comfort — but who'd prefer something reasonably priced.
The Hoxton honors the city's history and a deco-era aesthetic for a stay that's certainly more memorable than the traditional, modern global chains that largely represented the area until now. It's a place where buzzy energy combines with Insta-ready style in a highly convenient and walkable location.
You'll need to be comfortable with some street noise, and this isn't the place to find a sprawling room. Think under 200 square feet to start. But with rates starting at $179 for Snug rooms, it's a good option for the overall experience.
