Valentine treats from Jin Patisserie at the Intercontinental L.A.
Adam and I won’t be together on Valentine’s Day this year. I’ll be on the Love Boat (that is, the Crown Princess) and he’ll be, with any luck, skiing down a mountain. So when the InterContinental Los Angeles offered us a little Valentine’s getaway this past weekend…it felt like kismet.
True, the InterContinental is generally considered a business traveler’s hotel: snuggled up beside Fox Studios, MGM and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the IC often plays host to the entertainment industry. We were pleasantly surprised, though, to find it’s an ideal option for a romantic staycation.
Here’s why:
Gorgeous city views. Set in the heart of Century City, the IC faces Beverly Hills and Hollywood to the east. From our suite (#927), this was our view. (At home in Studio City, we look at our neighbor Gary’s house.) When you book, ask for a higher floor so you can get a whole new perspective on L.A.
The view from Room 927
A gem of a spa. The staff here is lovely — try a massage with Sagarie or Josephine — and so are the private Zen villas with aromatic oils and infinity bathtubs that fill from spouts in the ceiling. Guests can access the steam rooms and saunas from 5am to 11pm; outside is a quiet rooftop garden where you’ll find a hammock in a sunbeam and a view of Die Hard‘s Nakatomi Building (aka Fox Plaza).
Rooftop garden at the Spa InterContinental; infinity bath; aromatherapy
A long, elegant pool and a roomy jacuzzi. We borrowed celebrity smut mags from the spa, settled in on plush, cabana-shaded lounges, and contemplated picking up a poolside phone to order from a large menu of snacks and cocktails. But that would have involved moving ten feet…and by then, we were very cozy.
East and west views of the InterContinental's pool
Artfully presented cuisine in a calm, soothing space. Park Grill’s dining room has muted lighting and soft touches of red, and is quiet enough to allow meaningful conversation. Chef Jonathan Wood’s cuisine is California-French with a focus on locally-sourced ingredients. In his special three-course Valentine’s meal ($136 per couple), salmon en papillote is gently steeped in curry; the potato-and-shallot ravioli are a perfect balance of both. I’m not generally a fan of foie gras, but I was wowed by the Park Grill’s delicate en croute version, paired with a spicy mustard and sweet jam.
The Park Grill and its Valentine dessert collection
Jin Patisserie. The latest outpost of this local treasure (the original is on Abbott Kinney in Venice Beach) is a brightly lacquered jewel box of Japanese-inspired chocolates, cakes and cookies, each one a tiny work of art. Even their ($7!) hot chocolate is exquisite, a hand-mixed blend of milks and darks. Starting this week, they’ll offer a special Valentine’s Day edible chocolate gift box…with chocolates inside.
Jin Patisserie at the InterContinental Los Angeles
A sweeping lobby filled with flowers, light and sushi. The floral arrangements here are stunning; they pick one color palette and feature blooms in every conceivable shade. During the day, a glass ceiling filters the sun and at night, a glassed-in box of fire glows near a swanky lounge and sushi bar created by the head of the California Sushi Academy.
An elegant park terrace out back, with plenty of places to curl up together. We came out to this wide lawn dotted with outdoor couches and umbrella-shaded tables for a lunch of watermelon, spinach and feta salad; a delicious bacon-cheddar burger big as a baby’s head; parmesan-garlic fries; and fruit juice spritzers (cucumber mint for Adam, passion fruit for me). If you sit here into the evening, fairy lights start to twinkle in the trees.
Fruit spritzers in the sunny park terrace out back
Also nearby:
- Top Chef host Tom Colicchio’s steakhouse Craft, featuring 9-course tasting menus
- Ridonkulous shopping and great house-ogling in Beverly Hills
- One of L.A.’s best outdoor malls, the Westfield Century City, featuring 15 movie theaters
The InterContinental Los Angeles Century City is offering a Valentine’s Day special: Enjoy champagne and strawberries upon arrival to your deluxe suite before enjoying dinner for two at Park Grill, then return to your suite to find a plush bed of rose petals waiting for you. Priced at $329.00
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Oh my God, that’s absolutely beautiful, that $329.00 is really a deal for all that beauty and comfort. I love the Japanese influence there too, there’s nothing that speaks of luxury more than aesthetic excellence. thanks for sharing
Oh my gosh, I must drive right by the InterContinental once a week if not more – and I never knew it looked so nice on the inside! Thanks for this write-up.
Thanks for the write up. The view looks remarkable. Just another reason why I need to make my way out west one day. Doing the Crown Princess for fun or work?
@Jennifer, I know what you mean! Through the trees and ferns that border the terrace out back, you can see this pretty mural of a late-1800′s street scene that’s painted on one long side of Fox’s backlot. It’s a surreal reminder that while you feel miles away, you’re actually still in L.A.
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@Doug, you really should come on out here — it’s only February, and already the spring flowers are blooming. The Crown Princess is a week-long “romance summit” press trip to the Western Caribbean, and my first big-ship cruise. Though it’s for work, I plan to have fun!