Fairmont Century Plaza
Century City is one of my favorite neighborhoods in Los Angeles. We loved living in the area, and it was nice to be back and visit while staying at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
THE PROPERTY
The hotel is one of the few tall buildings in the area, really making it stand out, especially with its intriguing curved shape. When you pull in, you are greeted by a valet. (I want to note that this hotel is valet-only, with a cost of about $65 per night to park. So be mindful of this while budgeting.) It is nice to just pull up and have a valet take your car, and though it can get very busy there at times, the staff has a great, organized, streamlined system. When you walk in, you are immersed in its open lobby, with a grand piano and a large bar as the centerpiece. There are many places to lounge and grab a drink, and the decor is elegant, with rich, warm tones. We actually had drinks here one night, and I really enjoyed the ambiance. You will see many patrons here just relaxing or even having business meetings over drinks. To the left is the check-in desk, and behind that is their one restaurant, Lumiere. To the right of the entrance is the area for Fairmont Gold members, as well as the elevator up to the pool. The pool is on the roof and has a beautiful view of the city. Gold members also have their own lounge where they can retreat. There is also a spa and fitness center on site. The hotel offers 400 spacious guest rooms with private terraces.
THE ROOM
We stayed in a one-bedroom suite with a living room featuring a pull-out couch, a small dining area, two full bathrooms, and a room with a king bed and a desk. It was a good-sized space, but didn’t get a ton of light as we were only on the 3rd floor, which is the first floor where the rooms begin. I can imagine the rooms higher up let in more light. The hotel has many levels, but the upper levels are for residents, with the floors below them for Fairmont Gold members. Regular patrons have the option of floors 3-9. If you are a Fairmont Gold member, be sure to opt for the higher floors. Overall, our room was cozy, and we had ample space.
THE SPA
One of the main appeals of this hotel is its 14,000-square-foot award-winning spa, and it truly is special. You can easily spend all day here. I indulged in a relaxing massage, and it did not disappoint. Afterward, I had access to all the spa facilities, including an aroma therapy steam room, a hamam, a Himalayan salt room, an aromatherapy rainfall shower, a sauna, and an ice bath. It is so worth carving out time in your day to enjoy these facilities; your body will truly thank you. My favorite part was the benches in the salt room and the open room that warm up based on your body temperature. The lounge area offers fresh tea and light bites, as well as divine little chocolates. This is one of the best-designed and most comprehensive hotel spas I have been to. I didn’t want to leave.
THE FOOD
The hotel offers one restaurant on-site, Lumiere, which serves French cuisine with a Californian twist. They offer breakfast, brunch, and dinner as well as specialty drinks from their bar. We enjoyed our dinner here. The fresh baguette will literally melt in your mouth; it was as if I were in Paris. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. There are not many options for pescatarians, but we enjoyed the sea bass. The meat options honestly sounded amazing, so if you eat meat, you will have plenty of options to choose from, also kind of like being in Paris (IYKYK). They also have a to-go section where you can order breakfast to go along with other quick bites, and the pastries were incredibly fresh and delightful. The restaurant also has a lovely outdoor seating area that I’m sure is lovely to enjoy on warmer days.
The restaurant's ambiance matches that of the hotel lobby's elegant setting, exuding fine-dining elegance with white tablecloths and elevated decor. I could see this being a great spot to just hang with friends or even have a nice date night. The breakfast and brunch menus also looked divine, but we could only do a quick to-go breakfast for the kids as our trip was jam-packed with activities and work.
There is also The Bar in the lobby, where you can experience speciality drinks and afternoon tea on the weekends. They also have live music on Tuesday through Thursday nights. If you want to stay in, you also have the option for in-room dining.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
As mentioned, Fairmont Century Plaza is located in Century City, a small area tucked between Beverly Hills and West LA. Nearby, you have the Century City Mall, which offers an array of shopping options and is my favorite mall in LA. They also have a movie theatre, many different attractions, and some great dining options. This mall is definitely worth a visit as it is beautifully designed and a great spot to hang out, as it has an indoor and outdoor element to it. Being in Century City, you are very close to Beverly Hills and the iconic Rodeo Drive, and you are also very close to Santa Monica, so there are many things you can explore without venturing far from the hotel.
Overall, Fairmont Century Plaza is a great location for visiting LA. The only downside would be the valet-only parking, and it is not the most kid-friendly hotel. Though kids can enjoy the pool, and it's nice that the hotel provides kids' robes and slippers, there are no other amenities for children. If you plan to explore more and spend less time in the hotel, this Fairmont Century Plaza is a good option, but I would say more for couples, friends, or even a work trip. I did notice that the weekend was not as busy, but as the week started, there were double, even triple, the number of people at the hotel, giving the impression that it is a hotel many businesses use for their travels.
See pricing and availability for Fairmont Century Plaza HERE.