Two hotels, double the fun: My stay at the dual-branded AC and Moxy hotels in Downtown LA

Why have one when you’ll be able to have two? That appears to be the query for lodge builders world wide. An increasing number of as of late, dual-branded resorts — basically two completely different manufacturers sharing the identical constructing whereas providing two completely completely different lodge experiences — are popping up.

One dual-branded lodge in Los Angeles, although, has had this lodge reporter’s consideration because it first opened just a few years in the past (and was featured on our record of the best new hotels of 2023): AC Resort Downtown Los Angeles and Moxy Downtown Los Angeles, housed in a 37-story constructing proper by the Los Angeles Conference Middle and Crypto.com Area.

In complete, the double-feature, Yabu Pushelberg-designed resorts have 727 visitor rooms, 12 eating places, a complete flooring devoted to eating and nightlife, and two distinct vibes catering to various kinds of vacationers.

I stayed the evening at each resorts and spent a Saturday evening working my manner round Degree 8, the Las Vegas-like flooring stuffed with eating places, bars and nightclubs. This is what it is like — and why you must take into account staying at one (or each!) of those Marriott Bonvoy properties.

Associated: How I get good Marriott redemptions at AC Hotels in the US

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 notice that because of the lodge’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 at all times been a little bit on the cheekier aspect, newer iterations are feeling extra grown up, considerate and trendy — however with out shedding that youthful spirit that threads the resorts collectively. That is partially due to Lightstone, the event firm behind each the AC and Moxy in downtown LA, in addition to the New York places which have an identical vibe.

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And that is partly why Moxy, as a complete, gained Best Affordable Hotel brand at 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 observed inexperienced succulents contrasted towards concrete flooring and a large snake rug dominating the general public seating space the place folks frolicked or labored at massive tables. A bike 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 just a few completely different configurations, all of them have an identical aesthetic and related 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. toes. The huge, floor-to-ceiling home windows let in ample pure mild and sheer and blackout curtains pulled again to dam it when vital (like after a wild evening at Degree 8, however extra on that later).

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

Moxy resorts, generally, encourage people to get exterior of their room and spend time in social locations just like the foyer. So should you’re planning on working inside your room, know that the nightstand doubles as a small desk however there’s loads of nice coworking house downstairs.

The toilet house in my room, proper off the door, had a small vainness with a sink, towels and a number of mirrors. The toilet and bathe every had their very own small, slim sections.

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

I liked 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 occasions 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 preferred Australian espresso chain, is open from 6:30 a.m. till 2 p.m. It serves practically any sort of espresso you’ll be able to 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 traces.

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 lodge requires a visit to a sky foyer up on the thirty fourth flooring of the constructing accessed by means of a separate ground-level entrance, actually making it really feel like a completely separate lodge. AC Resorts are sometimes design-forward, typically with that form of pared again, easy model that makes you say: “I want my home appeared like this.”

This lodge is not any exception.

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All through the foyer, minimalist parts like elegant potted bushes and rock sculptures have been an earthy but stylish reminder of California’s numerous landscapes. To 1 aspect of the foyer, a library with communal seating stayed busy all through the day. The huge wall of home windows additionally stayed crowded with friends 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 rather more muted in shade and design in comparison with the neighboring Moxy (I spotted the 2 resorts have been really related on each flooring through a set of discrete double doorways within the hallways you’d most likely by no means assume to open).

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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 big departure from the format of the extra social-minded Moxy.

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The toilet space was additionally minimal, with the sink and mirror floating off to the aspect and, just like the Moxy, the bathe and bathroom divided into two rooms throughout from the vainness.

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This room additionally had a closet with cabinets and hanging house in addition to facilities all through like a secure, a fundamental 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 massive home windows and, most of all, how Los Angeles appeared throughout a dramatic sundown.

AC Bar & Lounge

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

I wrongly assumed that this spot can be open all through the day, so I used to be disillusioned after 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

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

To eat, I stuffed up on a scrumptious California-style breakfast burrito ($22) and a clean 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. In truth, I ended up spending chunk of my afternoon sipping margaritas ($18) and people-watching across the house.

Degree 8 needs to be seen to be believed. In full, the idea by the Houston Brothers (recognized for LA sizzling 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 actually tried.

Totally taking over the eight flooring, and with a non-public entrance from the road, my expertise began with a cowboy-themed pool occasion 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 outside Mom of Pearl to South American-style seafood and cocktails at Que Barbaro and contemporary sushi at Fortunate Mizu.

No matter you do, simply be sure you go to Sinners y Santos, which the resorts describe as “half ruined cathedral, half Lucha Libre ring.” Come for the cocktails and keep for the full-on wrestling ring that descends on prime 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 perfect 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 can too 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’ll be able to 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.