Nestled between Beverly Hills and Santa
Monica and smack dab in the middle of Los Angeles is the fun college town known
as Westwood.
This charming little neighborhood also happens to be the home of
my new favorite weekend retreat, Plaza La Reina, a sweet little boutique hotel conveniently nestled on the fringe of where
the residential area meets the popular
downtown area of Westwood.
Plaza La Reina
offers the convenience of today’s lifestyle, with the refined elegance and
vintage style reminiscent of those early days of Westwood. That’s what makes it
the perfect destination for a romantic little getaway.
The stylish development of Westwood began
in the 1920’s, when a master plan was created as a Mediterranean-style shopping
area, with small and easily walkable angled streets.
The prominent building
style at the time was Spanish Colonial Revival with its beautifully tiled roofs
and walk-through plazas and courtyards. All this vintage personality is still
evident today as we walked around town.
Tucked away from the rest of the city, we felt so at home staying at the Plaza La Reina. Our beautiful one-bedroom private suite was very comfortable and even included a large private terrace.
The view from our room was evocative of
Italy, as our room overlooked the beautiful terracotta roofed buildings nearby. In
the evening, the twinkling city lights of Los Angeles’ modern cityscape framed
the scenery. It was like having our own private apartment in the city!
Walking out the front doors of the hotel, we had dozens of great restaurant options that were only a short walk away. Some of our favorites are Tanino Ristorante, Le Pain Quotidien, Skylights Gardens, and California Pizza Kitchen. There’s even an In ‘n Out Burger nearby, which is a necessity in any college town!
Our room was filled with so many modern
conveniences that you might not expect from a luxury hotel. We had a fully
stocked kitchenette that even included a Bosch washer and dryer! So perfect for
a weekend or for a longer extended stay!
I’m a very light sleeper, so despite
being in the heart of a large, bustling city, our room was quiet and cozy and I
slept like a baby!
I crave tranquility when I travel, and
the general vibe here was very relaxing. If we needed anything, the friendly staff was on hand to answer our questions.
The rooftop terrace at the Plaza La Reina has plenty of comfortable seating and is a great place to take in the
spectacular views of surrounding hillsides, curvy tree-lined streets and
statuesque buildings of Wilshire Boulevard.
We got a chance to have breakfast on the rooftop while we relaxed on lounge chairs, all while enjoying the fragrance of the potted citrus trees nearby, where notes of lemon permeate the air.
I couldn’t help but feel thankful for
the beautiful, sunny January day and the lovely orange, lemon and kumquat trees
surrounding us. This defines California living, at its best!
The Napa Valley Grille is now one of our new
favorite restaurants, and it's where we met our good friends Lisa and Tony on Sunday for
lunch and dined alfresco on their large patio.
Also around the corner was
Espresso Profeta, a darling little café that makes yummy cappuccinos. And
conveniently enough, Trader Joe’s and Target are also only blocks away.
Westwood is best enjoyed on foot.
Touring the city by sidewalk is a must to take in all the sights and sounds. We
had to stop a moment and take it all in, as the smell of warm buttered popcorn infused
the air as we walked past the historic Fox and Bruin movie theaters.
It
brought us back to those fun college days in Westwood when the streets were
packed with rowdy college kids.
Years ago, I met my future husband in Westwood when he was a student at UCLA, and I was just about to graduate high school. So, you see, Westwood is near and dear to my heart. Spending last weekend in Westwood not only gave us a chance to reacquaint ourselves with some of our favorite places, but it also gave us the opportunity meet close friends at a newly discovered restaurant in the village.
Since the opening of UCLA in 1929, the village of Westwood has grown and evolved graciously. Over the years, many generations of Angelinos have enjoyed Westwood’s small town environment that’s still filled with a storied past. And, of course, the bonus is having great restaurants, shops and movie theaters to visit.
The European flair of the Plaza La Reina fits in perfectly in this inviting setting. In keeping with Westwood’s lovely architectural style, you’ll immediately notice the iconic Santa Barbara tiled staircase that leads you upwards from the street level and into the intimate courtyard of the Plaza La Reina. This colorful staircase is perfect for a little photo op.
We had such a fabulous time
and can’t wait for our next visit!
ciao! fabiana
Plaza La Reina
10850 Lindbrook Drive Los Angeles, California
(310) 986-6888
For more information, visit:
however all opinions are genuinely my own.
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