The Crescent

Hotel description

Beverly Hills, minus the luxurious excess, at bargain prices — that’s the appeal of the Crescent. Built in the early days of Hollywood as a dormitory for silent film actors, today it’s something of a social hub for the entertainment and media industries, and an affordable yet reasonably chic boutique hotel just steps from Rodeo Drive, offering a stripped-down alternative to the over-the-top luxury properties that are its neighbors.

Forget about chandeliers and grand pianos. The Crescent’s aesthetic is an austere one, with guest rooms in black and white with grey concrete bathrooms and sleek Nordic fixtures. Technological indulgences include iPods under glass, wireless internet access and flat-screen televisions with DVD players. And there’s no shortage of creature comforts: low-slung platform beds come with down comforters and fine Italian linens, and those bathrooms, however spartan, are softened by plush robes and top-shelf bath products.

The bustling scene here, populated more by behind-the-scenes Hollywood players than by big-name stars, is key to the Crescent’s appeal, but has its drawbacks as well — light sleepers or early-to-bed types may wish to ask for rooms toward the back of the hotel, as the lounge and patio stay busy into the night. Think of it this way: you’re saving quite a bit on the room rate, and you’re walking distance from the Golden Triangle, home to some of the planet’s best shopping.