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 resort builders world wide. Increasingly more as of late, dual-branded motels — basically two totally different manufacturers sharing the identical constructing whereas providing two completely totally different resort experiences — are popping up.

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

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

I stayed the evening at each motels and spent a Saturday evening working my approach round Degree 8, the Las Vegas-like ground filled with eating places, bars and nightclubs. Here is what it is like — and why you must contemplate 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 the right way to ebook

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

Simply word that because of the resort’s location close to the conference middle and Crypto.com enviornment, 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 sometimes inexpensive life-style model. Although Moxy has all the time been just a little on the cheekier facet, newer iterations are feeling extra grown up, considerate and trendy — however with out shedding that youthful spirit that threads the motels collectively. That is partly due to Lightstone, the event firm behind each the AC and Moxy in downtown LA, in addition to the New York areas which have an identical vibe.

And that is partly why Moxy, as an entire, received Greatest Reasonably priced Resort model on the 2023 TPG Awards.

Moxy Downtown Los Angeles was impressed by the 1969 movie “Simple Rider” and the spirit of Southern California. Upon getting into the foyer, I seen inexperienced succulents contrasted towards concrete flooring and an enormous snake rug dominating the general public seating space the place folks frolicked or labored at giant tables. A motorbike 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 although they arrive in a number of totally different configurations, all of them have an identical 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 large, floor-to-ceiling home windows let in ample pure mild and sheer and blackout curtains pulled again to dam it when essential (like after a wild evening at Degree 8, however extra on that later).

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

Moxy motels, typically, encourage of us 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 area downstairs.

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

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

I beloved my nook king room. It was comfy, clear and really trendy. And people floor-to-ceiling window views have 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 numerous instances all through the day. I did not have the possibility to eat at Bar Moxy, however the menu included gadgets like a cheeseburger ($21), Thai glazed hen wings ($19) and a buffalo hen flatbread ($21). There have been numerous cocktails, mocktails, beers and wine on provide right here, as effectively.

Bluestone Lane

Connected to the Moxy foyer, Bluestone Lane, a well-liked Australian espresso chain, is open from 6:30 a.m. till 2 p.m. It serves practically 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 strains.

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

The Vibe

Whereas Moxy’s foyer is situated simply off the road, checking into its smooth sister resort 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 completely separate resort. AC Resorts are sometimes design-forward, typically with that form of pared again, easy fashion that makes you say: “I want my home seemed like this.”

This resort is not any exception.

All through the foyer, minimalist components like elegant potted timber and rock sculptures have been an earthy but stylish reminder of California’s numerous landscapes. To at least one facet of the foyer, a library with communal seating stayed busy all through the day. The large wall of home windows additionally stayed crowded with company taking in sweeping views of the Metropolis of Angles.

The room

I stayed in a nook king room on the AC Resort Downtown Los Angeles. Just like the foyer, the room was way more muted in coloration and design in comparison with the neighboring Moxy (I noticed the 2 motels have been really related on each ground by way of 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 format of the extra social-minded Moxy.

The toilet 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 area in addition to facilities all through like a protected, a primary espresso maker, a hairdryer and a steamer.

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

AC Bar & Lounge

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

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

La Lo La Rooftop

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

To eat, I crammed up on a scrumptious California-style breakfast burrito ($22) and a easy 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. Actually, I ended up spending a very good chunk of my afternoon sipping margaritas ($18) and people-watching across the area.

Shared facilities

Each motels share an environment friendly and slightly giant health club with loads of gear — and unimaginable views — excessive up within the resort.

I additionally discovered a CVS merchandising machine on one ground that had practically something you would possibly 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 company.

Degree 8

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

Totally taking over the eight ground, and with a personal entrance from the road, my expertise began with a cowboy-themed pool get together 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 Degree 8, starting from a spritz and crispy tuna rice on the out of doors Mom of Pearl to South American-style seafood and cocktails at Que Barbaro and recent sushi at Fortunate Mizu.

No matter you do, simply ensure you 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 varied venues.

The very best 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 may as well 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 actual 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 resort to substantiate accessible room sorts earlier than reserving and to make sure the resort can accommodate every visitor’s particular wants.

Testing

Folks would possibly let you know that Downtown Los Angeles is a blended bag — and it may be. However you possible will not remorse rooting a keep at both of those dynamic motels. Whether or not you are in search of a stylish foyer filled with hip creatives, like on the Moxy, or need an elevated, design-forward keep, because the AC gives, you will be comfy. And better of all, with Degree 8 and all of its leisure choices actually within the constructing, all you must 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 resort on the planet.

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