Standard Hotel: The Highest Standards In Downtown Los Angeles

Review of The Delphi Hotel | 550 South Flower at 6th Street
boutique hotel convenient location
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Emily
Emily 
Updated
| 3 min read

Imagine yourself stepping into a Pan Am first class lounge in the 1960s, managed by the interior decorator of the Sterling Cooper & Partners office. That’s what it feels like to walk into The Standard Hotel, a 21st century boutique hotel decked out in mid-century modern style, but with the conveniences today’s jet-setter craves. And it’s all at a pretty standard price for a big-city dwelling. It’s Metro-friendly in an area with plenty to see and do within walking and riding distance - and that’s not a guarantee in a city built on autos.

Designed for a hip state of mind

standard hotel: the highest standards in downtown los angeles | designed for a hip state of mind

For the cutting edge of cool, The Standard is it. The lobby’s chic details - a ham organ, moody lighting, low couches zigzagging from the DJ booth - assure you that you’ve arrived somewhere special. There is a symmetrical, geometric feel to all of the shapes you’ll find in the hotel, interspersed with pops of risque modernity, like the full-page wallpaper of legs and panties in the unisex bathroom.

A pool table in the lobby is a mere distraction for those coming to play ping-pong at SPIN Standard, a social club theoretically designed for experts and novices in the field of table tennis.

But the emphasis on competition here keeps most of the novices perched on the worn leather couches with their cocktails.

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Stars shine brighter on the rooftop

standard hotel: the highest standards in downtown los angeles | stars shine brighter on the rooftop

The Rooftop Bar, a comfortable 12 floors up, offers a killer mid-level 360-view of Financial District high rises. But it’s not just the views that keep the rooftop buzzing. Locals know The Standard as the scene for those who want to be seen, setting this apart from your average “hotel bar” vibe.

Here at The Standard Rooftop, red trash cans are shaped like open hippopotamus mouths and brightly colored pods containing round water beds are perfect for lounging while drinking. Careful, though: balancing on a water bed with a cocktail is not always easy! Cocktail waitresses wear go-go boots and, if you’re wasted enough, you just might think you were on one of those Pan Am flights. The Rooftop also features a biergarten and a pool open to hotel guests as well as friends, neighbors and strangers alike, making swimming a sport for the beautiful people.

Add to that a nouvelle vague diner with idyllic patio seating and you’ve got yourself a hip-factor of ten. The diner is pay-as-you-go, of course. But, in this very pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, it’s far from the only choice.

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Standard accommodations

standard hotel: the highest standards in downtown los angeles | standard accommodations

As it turns out, the rooms aren’t as lush as the rest of the hotel, but they’re certainly adequate. Rooms are compact and equipped with a comfy king-sized bed on a low platform, a flat screen TV and one chair. A white tabletop stretches the length of the wall-to-wall windows with a speaker for your music player. It’s simple, spare and stylish, leaving you with plenty of room to spread out, but not a lot of the “standard” hotel fixtures like clocks, radios, extra blankets, couches… you get the idea. Minimalist.

The tile shower and separate toilet-room are spare but spacious. Soaps and shampoo are provided in a dispenser and the towels are soft and large, perfect for getting warm and dry.

So, what are the amenities? Rooms do have zippy free Wi-Fi, and the gym on the third floor, quite adequately stocked with biking machines and weight benches, is good for a little exercise. For 40 USD, valet parking allows drivers in-and-out privileges.

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Location, location, location -- at a good price

standard hotel: the highest standards in downtown los angeles | location, location, location -- at a good price

So what is the Standard’s main draw?

It’s a place that shows people you’ve got style, if you’re trying to impress like that. It’s a great place to be if you’re not stretching dollars and aren’t worried about add-ons like parking and food. The 150 USD price tag (bigger rooms cost up to 350 USD) is very affordable for the fantastic location.

Speaking of location, it really is prime. The neighborhood is full of early 20th century architecture, live music and some of LA’s best museums. It’s walking distance from the Staples Center, LA Live, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Historic Core, one of the city’s hottest young districts.

And, unlike most places in LA, you don’t need a car to stay here. The hotel is a few blocks from the Red Line metro’s 7th/Fig/Metro Center exit and a very short cab ride from Union Station. A taxi from the airport costs around 47 USD.

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Hip amenities, hot location, cool price

The Standard is not the height of luxury, although you might be fooled by the flashy glamour of its facade. What it does have is an excellent bar and pool, comfy beds and a front door to one of LA’s best neighborhoods, all at a great price.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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