It’s more like a clubhouse inside than it is like a hotel lobby, with a hand full of hide-out spots and in the centre of the hotel, a black and white tiled, open-aired restaurant called Mardi, which is one of WeHo’s most popular outdoor dining spots.
The interiors are eclectic with curated knick-knacks spotted throughout the foyer and worn leather couches.
It’s small but bustling at Palihouse, with 37 studios, one and two-room guest suites and loft-style residences.
The location is perfect for exploring the uber-cool neighbourhood, with the shops on Melrose Place nearby and the Sunset Strip a 10-minute walk away. Runyon Canyon is also just 15 minutes by car from our stylish digs.
Our one-year old spots taxidermy on the wall as our bags are loaded onto a luggage trolley and we’re directed to our room.
We ride the lift to the third floor of the low-rise accommodation. Our loft-style suite is huge - bigger than most LA apartments.
Split over two levels, we find a large house-size kitchen with an island bench and all the newest amenities our hearts’ desire – particularly the coffee machine.
The décor is cosy with large chesterfield sofas, patterned rugs and tartan blankets on the bed.
There’s a small outdoor patio on the first floor, a bedroom with an ensuite and a separate lounge area and office - the latter big enough to be our son’s room for the next couple of days.
Upstairs is an oversized main bedroom with a huge shower for two and a separate toilet. There’s also an outdoor terrace with a table tennis table. The bathrooms are sleek with white marble and feature in-house products.
The rooms are big enough and completely self-contained for a family to stay for longer periods, which is part of the appeal for many travelling actors and production staff who head to the Hills to make movies.
You won’t find a gym or spa here so if you’re a holiday exerciser, you might need to get your fix at Runyon Canyon. My husband and I are not, so we appreciate the break.
There’s also a rooftop bar, which is packed with locals drinking cocktails when we head up after getting unpacked. It’s no wonder; there are 360-degree views of Hollywood Hills and West Hollywood.
After a restful nights’ sleep, we head downstairs for a big breakfast at Mardi. We enjoy eggs and fresh orange juice and then we have the valet pull out the car for a day of exploring.