When the 2012 Grammy Awards take over Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 12, Tinseltown’s hippest hotels will host the music industry’s brightest stars. For your best chance at spotting this year’s celebrity nominees — including Adele, Bon Iver, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Rihanna — book a room, visit the lobby or grab a seat at the bar at one of these hot hotels:
Chateau Marmont. “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont,” advised Harry Cohn, founder of Columbia Pictures. Open since 1929 and styled after a royal abode in France’s Loire Valley, the 63-room hotel is a playground for the rich and famous. For example, a wild caper in the 1960s had the Doors’ Jim Morrison dangling from a hotel drainpipe. Today, head to the hotel’s trendy Bar Marmont to mingle with musicians such as John Mayer, Zooey Deschanel, Stevie Wonder and Radiohead’s Thom Yorke.
Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Hollywood history and modern luxury meld beautifully at this 1927 Spanish-style hotel. Marilyn Monroe lived in the 12-story Roosevelt for a few years, and her ghost is said to still haunt the place. But ever since a 2005 renovation by noted designer Dodd Mitchell, you’re probably more likely to peep modern music makers than legendary specters. Jay-Z, Beyonce, Joe Jonas and Justin Timberlake have all been spotted in the lobby, at the sexy poolside Tropicana Bar or in glam nightclub Teddy’s.
The Beverly Hilton. The Beverly Hilton has been the official hotel of the Grammys since it hosted the first ceremony in 1959, when Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald were among the winners. The Four-Star hotel also presents the annual Recording Academy & Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala, which falls on February 11 this year. That means you have a solid chance of glimpsing star attendees, who in past years have included Rihanna, Katy Perry, Russell Brand, Taylor Swift, Kesha, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Cher and Mary J. Blige.
The Redbury. When hip-hop sensation Common celebrated his most recent birthday at the ultra-chic Redbury, high-profile guests included Kid Cudi and Kanye West, who was nominated for a record seven Grammys this year. The 57-room hotel, designed by photographer Matthew Rolston, features homey, apartment-style suites complete with kitchens, record players and a mix of thoughtfully mismatched Bohemian furnishings in each room.
Photo courtesy of Thompson Hotels
