A Stroll Past The Magic Castle Hotel & Club

After breakfast I decided to take a walk and explore the block around the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel and Hollywood & Highland Center. I discovered tucked on the hillside across the street behind the hotel is the Magic Castle. I remembered the place was featured in an episode of Top Chef Masters which featured Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met You Mother") hosting a meal at the club.

The Magic Castle is a private clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts Inc, an organization devoted to the advancement of the ancient art of magic. The purpose of the Academy is to encourage and promote public interest in the art of magic. Membership is required to visit.

More information at magiccastle.com. These photos show the castle decked out for the holidays.

Johnny Rockets at Hollywood & Highland Center

Johnny Rockets at the Hollywood & Highland Center.

If you want to avoid the overpriced breakfast buffet at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, hop on over to Johnny Rockets at the Hollywood & Highland Center next door. It is one of the few in the chain that specifically serves breakfast as most locations are only open for lunch and dinner.

The main attraction of Johnny Rockets is its old fashioned 1950's setting and menu of shakes and hamburgers. This reputation is undeniable as the restaurant is full most evenings sometimes with a line outside. The fun surroundings make it ideal for families too.

Tabletop jukebox

Because this eatery is busy for lunch and dinner, I've largely avoided this location at those times. However for their slower breakfast service I found the staff very attentive/friendly and the food is good, fast and reasonable. For about half the cost of breakfast at the Renaissance hotel, one can enjoy a complete breakfast with coffee and orange juice and tip. I've been to this location twice in 2009 and again for this return trip to Los Angeles.

This time I tried the Patty 'n Eggs meal which includes a choice of grilled beef, turkey or soy patty, two large eggs any style, served with classic country potatoes and choice of toast or English muffin ($6.99). To wash it down is a glass of orange juice and coffee. The total with tax is $12.07 (excluding tip).

Patty 'n Eggs breakfast

Other breakfast choices include fluffy three-egg omelette, breakfast sandwich, pancakes, french toast, eggs your way grilled potatoes with your choice of cheese, onions, bell pepper, chili and ham.

The restaurant includes comfy booths or you can cozy up to the counter and watch the cooks prepare the incoming food orders. Items are also available to go. Visit johnnyrockets.com for more information. Location is on the 3rd level of the center; hours varies.

Above and below: Interior of Hollywood/Highland location.

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel: The View

View of pool deck & Hollywood & Highland Center bridge tower.

Hollywood & Highland Center Plaza.

After being assigned rooms at the back of hotels or facing the back of other buildings on some earlier trips, I've come to understand the value of being offered a room with a view. My two prior stays at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel were on lower floors with a view of the pool dick and rear of the Hollywood & Highland Center bridge tower (see above).

This time I was assigned a room on the 20th floor and had a more than decent view of the Hollywood & Highland Center, south of Hollywood Blvd and the roof of the Kodak Theatre (see pics to right & below). If you'd like a view of the Hollywood sign, you'll have to request for it. Rooms on the north and east side of the hotel have views of the sign. Please note that the Renaissance scales room prices according the floor and view. Prices start at $189/night for a standard room on the lower floor. If you visit during a slow week or season, you will find it easier to request for a room with a better view.

City View: South of Hollywood Boulevard.

Rooftop of Hollywood & Highland Center.

Rooftop of Kodak Theatre.

Zoom view of Hollywood & Highland Center Plaza.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Common Areas

Guest Room

Executive Guest Room

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

In Other Words, Do Not Disturb

My minor wonderment with the creative 'Do Not Disturb' signs continue at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. Above is the former colorful version of the 'Getting Our Beauty Sleep' sign. Below are the new uncluttered and slim designed versions.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Common Areas

Guest Room

Executive Guest Room

The View

Amenities

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel: Amenities

It all started with a bar of Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds. Alas all I got was just one upon checking into the room: one bar of chocolate was on the bed pillow. Now I don't know if this treat was only for guests on the Club Level or if this is now part of the hotel amenities but it was a nice welcome gift. Since it was a slow week, the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel had closed two floors of rooms and assigned me a standard room on the Club Level (20th floor). However the Club Lounge was unavailable since it is only open on weekdays and my two-night stay was during the weekend.

On top of the refreshment center is the complimentary coffee/tea service and a free small bottle of water. The tall bottle is not free. On the nightstand is an iHome unit ready to play your compatible Apple mp3 player (iPod or iPhone). Internet is offered for a fee.

In the bathroom the toiletries are provided by Aveda. You will have to call housekeeping if you find you need more than two of each kind of towel. A small container on the bathroom counter includes a sewing kit and cotton balls & swabs. An environmentally friendly toilet allows you to control the amount of water in a flush with the push of a button. I let logic be your guide when to use a full or partial flush.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Common Areas

Guest Room

Executive Guest Room

The View

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel: The Room

King Guest Room

The standard guest room at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel is available in a king or two double bed configuration measuring 400 square feet (36 square meters). You know a room is small when the door to the room, bathroom door and closet door somehow get in the way of each other. But the room is spacious enough to keep you from tripping over your own luggage and includes the basics one comes to expect from a room termed as 'standard'.

Included is a desk, sitting area for one with a ottoman, flat screen television, safe (located in the closet), bar and complimentary coffee. A set of drawers in the television stand and the night stands serve as extra storage.

Room prices start at $189/night before taxes for standard rooms. Prices are also determined by the view (City, Skyline or Hollywood Hills). Club level rooms on the 20th floor (key card required to access this floor via elevator) include access to this level's exclusive lounge and complimentary food.

The Larger Guest Room (622 sqft / 56 sqm) and Junior Suite (658 sqft / 59 sqm) offers extra living space and furniture. More space is offered in the Hospitality Suite (700 sqft / 63sqm). Of course if money is not a consideration there is the 2,105 square feet Panorama Suite. Please call the hotel for pricing to reserve this room. More info about all rooms at marriott.com.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Common Areas

Executive Guest Room

The View

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel: Executive Guest Room

Since I'm writing about my current visit to the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, I thought this would be an opportune time to look back on my stay in 2009. This post gives one a comparison between the standard guest room (see next post) and much larger executive guest room.

The executive guest room could be described as a one-bedroom suite without the wall that separates the bedroom from the living room space. With 220 extra square feet compared to a standard room, the room allows for additional furnishings including a living room set. From 2004 to 2009 the room has actually lost some of its furnishings leaving the room appearing to have a "something is missing" air about it. Incidentally this room used to be classified as the junior suite. The hotel now describes that all junior suites have a physically separate bedroom and living room space.

The room is practical in space for visitors with physical disabilities. The sofabed included makes the room practical for families as well. The bathroom includes a bath/shower and toilet in a room separate from the space where the sink/vanity is situated.

I understand that the hotel was in process of updating the rooms since these photos were taken in 2009. I sure hope the orange chair and ottoman are replaced. The material covering the chair was one of the most itchiest fabrics ever.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Common Areas

Guest Room

The View

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa: Common Areas

Lobby, above & below (2009)

The experience of entering a hotel lobby sets up an expectation about your room and stay. The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa is both stylish and sophisticated with quirky accents and colors that grabs your attention. The mezzanine level leads to a convenient hotel entrance/exit to the second level of the Hollywood & Highland Center, the hotel restaurant called Twist and ballrooms.

Back in 2004, the mezzanine had comfortable seating along its spacious and airy hallway with floor to ceiling glass windows overlooking Highland Avenue on one side and the ballrooms on the other. For some reason in 2010 most of the seating is gone.

Mezzanine level (2009)

The lobby level contains comfortable seating to lounge with family or friends and also contains the gift shop and concierge desk. The lobby bar on this level also serves as another option as a gathering place. The curving stairway to the mezzanine level adds drama to the surroundings.

Lobby chairs (2010)

Those enjoying the Spa Luce can also enjoy the adjacent pool on this level. As usual with most hotel spas, be prepared to pay up for some of the spa treatments.

The photos of the lobby is from my stay in 2009 and during the holidays of 2010.

Lobby (2010)

Pool (photo from marriott.com)

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Hotel Overview

Guest Room

Executive Guest Room

The View

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa

View from Hollywood & Highland Center.
Panorama Suite occupies the west end of the top floor.

I first discovered the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel back in 2004. One never really visits Los Angeles in general being it is the one of the most sprawling cities in the United States. Obviously your purpose for coming to L.A. would designate which parts of this massive metropolis you would visit.

In 2004 my purpose was to see the various casts of Baz Luhrman's directed version of 'La Boheme' at the Music Center. I wanted a hotel that would be close or convenient to other attractions as well. The hotels in downtown Los Angeles were the obvious choice but at night this area was really a ghost town and more so on the weekend.

View from North Highland Avenue

My hotel reward program at the time was only with Marriott so I was looking at the brands under this choice. A new hotel had opened under their Renaissance brand connected to the equally new Hollywood & Highland Center. This new hotel (actually refurbished) called the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel was also along the new subway line that connected to downtown LA to the east and was one subway stop away from Universal Studios to the west.

This hotel makes it one the most convenient in terms that you do not need a car to enjoy the attractions nearby or along the subway route. The hotel is part of a revitalized portion of Hollywood Boulevard with the shops and restaurants in the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Kodak Theatre and Grauman's Chinese Theatre all within a block of the hotel. One could spend an entire weekend enjoying this part of the city when including a visit to Universal Studios and Downtown L.A.

Located 13 miles from LAX, this stylish hotel boasts a modern design in bright and warm colors. 600 rooms including 32 suites are situated on 20 floors. Look for additional posts regarding aspects of this hotel property.

I had enjoyed my stay at this hotel so much, I stayed at this property on additional visits in 2009 and for writing of this post in 2010.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Promotional Hotel Video

Common Areas

Guest Room

Executive Guest Room

The View

Amenities

Do Not Disturb

A Sign at the Renaissance

Hollywood & Highland Center

Video: Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa

Official video to promote the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

Related Review Posts of the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel:

Hotel Overview
Common Areas
Guest Room
Executive Guest Room
The View
Amenities
Do Not Disturb
A Sign at the Renaissance
Hollywood & Highland Center

Two Weekends in December: L.A. and D.C.

View of Hollywood sign from the Hollywood/Highland Center (9/2009).

Over the next week I'll be posting about weekend visits to Los Angeles (12/4-12/6) and Washington DC (12/10-12/12). This would also be an opportunity to include features from these same cities during visits to LA in September 2009 and to DC in December 2008 that I failed to publish during my break from blogging. It'll be a few days until I have properly edited these posts. In the meantime above are pictures from my previous visits to these cities.

US Capitol Building (12/2008)