Location, History & Concept: Set amidst the iconic luxury high rises along Los Angeles' Wilshire corridor and adjacent to the art deco era Westwood Village, Hotel Palomar pairs the modern aesthetic of today with the opulence and glamour of old Hollywood. A palette in high contrast with an accent of lipstick red creates drama while touches of glass and polished chrome add sparkle and energy. 

 

As home to Hollywood's gala movie premieres; Westwood evokes the glamour of the 1930's and serves as the perfect backdrop for the Hotel Palomar. Guests enter on a rich wenge and white oak chevron patterned wood floor that creates a dramatic exclamation point under chocolate custom carpets with carved cream colored
leaves. An over scaled decorative bronze mirror running the length of the
lobby reflects the stunning ceiling height rouge colored fireplace and
lobby beyond. Backlit patterned glass panels lead guests to the
macassar ebony and platinum leaf registration desk. 

 

The grand rouge marble fireplace is the focal point of theLobby/ Lounge area
and draws the eye towards the gracefully curved seating areas. The shimmer
of dramatic suspended acrylic panels lead guests to another inviting curved
sectional. Warm platinum walls envelop the space while a soft palette of
taupe, chocolate, and French gray fabrics host the richness of macassar
ebony and dark wenge millwork. Red lacquer walls  reminiscent of
the lips of Hollywood sweethearts, draw guests into the
elevator lobby and up to the guestrooms above.

 
View From the Sixteenth Floor

Guests are transported from the lobby to the guest rooms in elevator cabs clad in red glass and wenge paneling. Stepping out of the elevator, guests meander down the corridor. Cream colored walls provide a crisp contrast to the rich chocolate
star patterned carpet. Repeating the richness of finishes found in the lobby,
guestroom doors are surrounded with macassar ebony veneers. 

   

Guestrooms & Suites: The guestrooms evoke the comfort and opulence of penthouse flats overlooking Wilshire Boulevard and Beverly Hills beyond. It is here that the alluring lipstick color makes an encore appearance with the bathroom door and
stylish lacquered bedside tables. Soft pearl colored walls set a backdrop for a magnificent limed ebony headboard. Crisp white linens are topped with cut velvet damask shams and a striking plush turquoise velvet bolster pillow. The piece de resistance is a luscious black faux fur throw at the end of the bed. Polished
chrome accents throughout the room give a twinkling effect while faux
snakeskin upholstered panels on the TV chest add an unexpected
touch of the exotic. The elegant lines of the chaise lounge, summon
guests to kick up their feet and enjoy the cityscape views.

Prefunction/Meeting Rooms/ Ballroom: A spacious prefunction area leads to the ballroom and adjacent boardroom. Subtle snakeskin inspired walls provide
an unexpected yet neutral backdrop perfect for any event.

 

6th Floor: A neutral palette and access to the adjacent business center
provide convenient and flexible space for many different
functions in the hotel's four Hospitality Suites.

 

Pool: Dramatic red lacquer walls appointed with artwork lead guests to the pool area where artisanal hanging lantern sconces on red painted walls provide a fun lounging atmosphere. Textiles in cream, chocolate and lime accent luxurious seating areas comprised of tightly woven chocolate resin and invite guests to lounge in style.

Under the direction of world-renowned interior designer Cheryl Rowley, the Westwood hotel received a complete make-over. Kimpton Hotels'
commitment to personalizing its properties and emphasizing the unique energy of each location is readily apparent:   Hotel Palomar will debut 264 beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites - all are outfitted with high-end amenities and services like complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access, flat-screen TVs, 300-thread-count Frette sheets, L'Occitane bath amenities and pet friendly offerings. Flexible meeting space, a full-service restaurant and in-room spa services complete the setting of our Los Angeles luxury hotel. Of course, it's all about location, location, location and ours does not disappoint.
Whether it's the two-block walk to the UCLA campus or Westwood Village,
or taking advantage of the easy access to nearby Beverly Hills, Hollywood
and all that makes up the "city of angels," you will find yourself
planning your next visit before the credits roll.

Cheryl Rowley Design from CRD is an award-winning hospitality design firm, based
in Beverly Hills, which has completed luxury hotel projects for Starwood,
Kimpton, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, among others.

Restaurant: In its first days, Wilshire Boulevard intersected fields of barley.
Over the years, these fields materialized into an unmistakable cosmopolitan skyline, and Wilshire Boulevard became one of the world's most well known thoroughfares.

 

Palomar Westwood's restaurant/bar lounge Blvd 16, pays homage to the organic
and agricultural roots of the site's past with a seamless blend into the
glamour and sophistication of Wilshire Boulevard today. 

Our experience was absolutely fantastic! A red wall of glass mosaic tiles serves
as a beacon to passersby. This fractured sunset is pierced by a series of
wooden boxes offering a small glimpse of the spirits flowing inside.

Walls in the color of sun-kissed wheat are paired with bronzed mirror and intricate upholstered panels. This elegant texture intersects with wood slats that line the
soffits - emphasizing the shift in ceiling height and adding interest above eye level.

 

Stylized oak branches grow up the face of the honed chocolate marble bar. A Café Forest marble top gives the effect of looking through the foliage to the clear skies above. The wooden boxes seen at the entry wall pierce through to the inside bar wall adding a connection to bustling Wilshire Boulevard beyond.

Banquettes upholstered in supple cream and milk chocolate leathers contrast with
the dark wenge floors. Curved sectionals surrounded with a translucent portiere provide an intimate dining experience for guests while retaining the
feeling of openness throughout the restaurant.

 
Long Island Ice Tea                                    Sunrise Martini   

At Blvd 16 you start feeling the vibration as soon as you enter the restaurant. With
an amazing bar, with an incredible choice of drinks, wines and beers. I started
with an Italian Grappa and my guest with a Long Island Ice Tea.

The dinner at Blvd 16 is truly an experience for food lovers.
The ambiance, service and food was spectacular!


Roasted Garlic, Butter and Beets

The casually elegant ambiance and gorgeous décor set the stage for an enticing
blend of upscale food, with influences from new California and classic cuisine.
Blvd has garnered a strong local following since.

We were welcomed warmly by the hostess and led to our table, walking through the dining room. Even at 6:30pm the dining room was beginning to fill, with a few couples and a family of eight already clearly enjoying their meals. We were greeted by our server, who eagerly offered to start our meal off with an aperitif. The wine list at Blvd 16 is well thought out, with a generous selection of California, Italian, and French wines. As our server delivered glasses of Montes Sauvignon Blanc, a clairvoyant, grassy wine from the heart of Chilean wine country, we turned to the menu, which offered an equally tempting array of what Blvd 16 calls "Exquisite California Cuisine."


Hawaiian Tuna Rolls

We began with a selection of appetizers that looked amazing; the Hawaiian Tuna Rolls, with jalapeno, lemongrass, kumquats, sea beans and dungeness crab, a delicious appetizer that was great in taste and presentation, and also very light!

 
Burratta Mozzarella                               Sumac Grilled Shrimp

Next we had the Salad Caprese with heirloom tomato filet, burratta mozzarella, balsamic jelee, organic olive oil and basil, a small salad and again, very fresh and
light, not good to share, but great to eat on your own. Soft cubes of fresh mozzarella and slices of grape tomatoes tumbled on the plate, tossed with slivers of fresh basil and accompanied by a fanned avocado and a single clove of roasted garlic. A
thick drizzle of balsamic vinegar finished the dish, adding visual depth to the
spectrum of white, red, and greens, while offering an acidic backbone
to the classic combination of creamy, fresh, and tart.


Hot and Cold Summer Squash Carpaccio

The Sumac Grilled Shrimp with shaved avocado, crusty bread salad and yellow tomato puree, was a good start, and very pleasant to the palate. Again, not to
be shared, but simply delicious. The Hot and Cold summer squash carpaccio,
with trufle vinaigrette, toasted macadamia nuts and shaved summer
black truffles, was very good and nicely presented.


Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallops

Talented Executive Chef Simon Dolinky surprised us with couple extra appetizers that I would certainly eat as my entrees; the Lobster and Dungeness Crab Risotto and the Bacon Wrapped Diver Scallops, both were equally tempting and delicious.

 
Lobster and Crab Risotto                               Fried Calamari         

By now, we were already feeling a bit full, but our entrees were on their way and again, we were not disappointed.

While our first course had satisfied our childish desires,
the second impressed our adult sensibilities.

 
Side of Smashed Potatoes
Before our entrees arrived, our server brought a glass of The Four Graces
Pinot Noir, an absolutely astounding wine that would prove
a versatile accompaniment to our diverse entrées.


Sake and Pink Peppercorn Braised Sea Trout

My Sake and Pink Peppercorn Braised Sea Trout arrived atop a white corn soubise, pickled baby corn and macerated plums. The trout itself was cooked to perfection moist and flaky, it pulled apart with the gentle urging of my fork. The corns were
the most surprising element of the dish: sweet from cooking yet retaining
their tartness, they added a bittersweet complexity to each bite.


Char-Grilled Lamb T-Bone

My date's Char-Grilled Lamb T-Bone practically defied the definition of lamb. Pillowy soft, the meat barely called for a knife. Following suit, the side fingerling smashed potatoes were a great combination to this dish. We spent the next few bites in
silence, sampling both our own and each other's dishes, trying to determine
which version of comfort we most preferred. The debate, of course,
continued in a stalemate until the last bites were gone.

While we could not have been more satisfied, we eagerly accepted desserts, selecting three of the more popular pastries to conclude our meal. The signature dessert;
Cherry and Chocolate Cannoli, was far from baby-sized: an enormous
circular form commanded the plate, while two elegant scoops of
pistachio ice cream tagged along. One bite indeed seemed
devilish, with chocolate so rich it begged to be savored.


Cannoli, Lemon and Walnut Tart, Vanilla Panna Cotta

The Lemon and Walnut Tart was also delicious. Both desserts were accompanied
by a mélange of fresh berries, although the local, fresh fruit had nothing
on the flavor and sweetness of these succulent concoctions.

Our final was the Strawberries and Cream, a vanilla panna cotta, with organic strawberries and basil syrup… we were in heaven!

While we were unable to come close to cleaning our wickedly rich plates, the
smiles on our faces revealed that we were enormously satisfied. Finding a
place where casual meets comfort is one thing; finding a place where
comfort meets elegance is quite another. Blvd 16 has somehow
managed to combine all three, and may possibly be the only place in
Los Angeles where the staples of great food go hand in hand with the
pleasures of quality ingredients, artful presentation, and exquisite taste.


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