InterContinental, part of IHG’s selection of “Lifestyle & Luxury” hotels, caters to travelers seeking refined experiences. Alongside brands like Kimpton and Regent, it’s among IHG’s upscale offerings. Today, let’s delve into the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with IHG. I did not receive any monetary or other incentives for providing this review. My opinions are solely based on my personal experience.

Location

The InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It is only a 5-minute drive from the world-famous Walt Disney Concert Hall and a 10-minute drive from Little Tokyo. LA is a car-reliant city. Don’t expect to see many sites if you only take public transit. Even with a rental car, expect long stretches of traffic. For example, it takes 30 minutes to go from downtown LA to the Hollywood Walk of Fame and another 20 minutes to go from the Walk of Fame to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Plan accordingly.

One of the unique things about the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown is the lobby (aka the Sky Lobby) which is located on the 70th floor. Stepping off the elevator, guests are greeted with panoramic vistas that showcase the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles in all its glory.

Room

During our stay, we opted for the King Classic City View room. While the view was a nice touch, the proximity to Interstate 110 did lead to some noise disturbance, impacting our overall comfort. Despite being situated on a high floor, the room’s soundproofing left room for improvement, as the hum of traffic persisted throughout the day and night.

The bathroom amenities included both a soaking tub and shower, a thoughtful addition for guests seeking relaxation. However, we encountered an issue with the hot water during our first night, which thankfully resolved itself by the next day.

The room also has a minibar fridge, albeit at additional costs. While convenient, the steep prices and lack of usable fridge space detracted from the overall experience.

Food

While we did not dine at the hotel, Los Angeles offers a plethora of culinary delights. Korean (e.g. kbbq) and Mexican food (e.g. street tacos) are two I would recommend checking out in the city.

For guests preferring the convenience of onsite dining, the InterContinental boasts several restaurants, including Dekkadance, La Boucherie, Spire 73, and the Lobby Lounge. Most of these have a spectacular view of the city. If that is the vibe you are looking for, you can check these out.

Service

The service at the InterContinental was quite poor. Our request for a water kettle took an exorbitant 1.5 hours to fulfill, and upon arrival, the kettle appeared unclean and burnt.

This hotel also does not provide bottled water or water refill stations. I ended up having to get some free bottled water that was coincidently provided by the Attitude Fitness gym.

Facilities

Parking at the hotel is exclusively valet-based and comes with a steep price tag of $62 per night. Additionally, guests are subject to a daily facilities fee of $35, significantly augmenting the overall cost of accommodation.

The onsite gym, operated by Attitude Fitness on the 7th floor, caters to both hotel guests and members alike. Since it is a full-fledged standalone gym, it is well-equipped and runs 24 hours.

Overall Impression

Priced at approximately $180 per night, the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown initially appears to offer reasonable value. However, factoring in parking fees, facilities charges, and assorted taxes, the actual cost escalates to around $312 per night, diminishing its affordability. Considering this, coupled with our less-than-satisfactory experience with service and amenities, alternative accommodations may be worth exploring, particularly in neighboring areas like West Hollywood.