Last update: August 24th, 2021 at 07:54 am

I get to escape for a weekend getaway with a girlfriend about once a year. The criteria set for the trip is pretty straight forward. We look for sun, a stylish hotel with a nice pool, some good shopping, a few nice meals, and perhaps even a late night out (or two).

For this year’s getaway, possibly influenced by a screening of La La Land, my friend Sarah and I chose Los Angeles. L.A. certainly has no shortage of luxury boutique hotels, but for this trip, the freshly renovated Kimpton Palomar in Beverly Hills won us over. Hot off an $11 million dollar facelift, the hotel has been completely reimagined to reflect an industrial-modern design, with iconic tributes to the film industry throughout. The excellent location, tucked in between Westwood and Beverly Hills doesn’t hurt either — only a short drive (or Uber) from Santa Monica, The Hollywood Hills, Melrose Place and Rodeo Drive.

About the Kimpton Palomar – Beverly Hills Boutique Hotel

From the moment we stepped through those Kimpton doors, we knew we were going to have a great stay. The Palomar lobby lounge features a beautiful modern fireplace, with an adjoining games room (pool table,shuffle board, darts and skee-ball).

The rooms are artfully decorated, and have all the expected Kimpton amenities. Having enjoyed Kimpton stays before, Sarah and I both immediately dashed to the closet for the Frette robes. Other in-room amenities include a yoga mat (I never use it, but I like that it’s there), delicious smelling Atelier Bloem toiletries, and a fully stocked honor bar (Join Kimpton Karma Rewards and get a $10 “Raid the Bar” credit, free wifi and more).

We couldn’t wait to get down to the pool to relax on the lounge chairs in the sun, and sip on something deliciously bubbly. If there wasn’t so much that we wanted to see in LA, we could have easily spent a good part of our trip poolside.

A stay at the Kimpton Palomar should include a visit to their restaurant Double Take. Chef Bryan Podgorski, whose previous gigs include The French Laundry and Bouchon Las Vegas, has created an inspired, yet unfussy SoCal menu. It was a week night when we dined at this brand new establishment, so things were a decidedly quiet, but the food — excellent. Even better, if you check for special offers at the Kimpton Palomar, you might find a deal that includes a dining credit.

Other things we loved about our Kimpton stay included the morning tea and coffee service, the choice of daily newspaper, the evening wine hour, use of the Kimpton bikes, and 24 hour access to the fitness and business centers. You can learn more about the swanky Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills boutique hotel at: www.hotelpalomar-beverlyhills.com.

Disclosure: During our stay, we were offered a complimentary stay by the Kimpton Palomar. All opinions in this post are entirely my own. As always on this site, however, I strongly encourage you to also thoroughly read recent reviews from other travelers prior to making a booking. Find current reviews for the Kimpton Palomar on Tripadvisor.