COOL FOR THE SUMMER: SILVER LAKE POOL & INN EMERGES AS LA’S NEWEST URBAN OASIS

By Quentin Smith

Located on a leafy residential block Silver Lake, just a stone’s throw from the intersection of LA’s famed Santa Monica and Sunset Boulevards, Palisociety’s newest addition, the Silver Lake Pool & Inn is a bastion of relaxed luxury in the energetic Eastside enclave. Known for its buzzing restaurants, trendy boutiques and eclectic architecture, Silver Lake is a neighborhood that, until now, was long overdue for a hotel that lived up to the area’s elevated tastes and creative energy.

“The vision for this was to create the best neighborhood inn that we could,” says Palisociety co-founder Avi Brosh “A place that represents people in the community, and one that they can recommend and champion." This vision comes to life vividly courtesy of Venice Beach-based design and architectural studio Electric Bowery. What was once a 1980s motel is now a 54-room boutique hotel that perfectly embodies the perennially chic Mediterranean design diaspora, with a quintessentially LA swagger. The dreamy Southern California aesthetic comes together with a mix of handmade and vintage materials, alongside natural touches such as live plants in the rooms and suites. Moroccan and Italian tiles shimmer throughout the day in the sunlit rooms and custom terrazzo surfaces by Concrete Collaborative add a touch of the avant garde. Works by local artists — like photographer Laure Joliet — adorn the walls and lend a unique sense of place that make every room and suite feel like a perfectly appointed guest room at the glamorous LA abode of your most chic friend.

The main attraction is of course the hotel’s namesake, the pool. The rooftop pool and deck paved in natural flagstone is shielded by a golden-walled cactus garden and softened by terra cotta urns filled with lush cacti and statuesque succulents. Downstairs is where you will find the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Marco Polo Trattoria and Bar — which has recently reopened for outdoor dining and cocktails — offering all-day poolside service and serving up coastal Italian-inspired dishes on a tree-shaded patio, amidst hanging gardens and whimsical striped umbrellas.

The impossibly hip hotel, which opened in late 2019, is the newest addition to Palisociety’s roster of laidback-luxe properties, and is arguably one of its most welcoming gathering spots. In a town not exactly known for its walkability, the Silver Lake Pool & Inn is ideally located in the heart of one of the LA’s most pedestrian friendly and picturesque neighborhoods. With local restaurants, bars, boutiques closed due to Covid-19 related restrictions, one of the hotel’s best attributes is it’s residential location and proximity to some of LA’s “if you know you know” destinations, such as Silver Lake’s numerous hidden staircase paths, leafy hill-hugging lanes and iconic boulevards. Perfect for a social distanced morning or sunset stroll.

While newly implemented safety restrictions have certainly impacted guest experience, the hotel has gracefully succeeded at minimizing regulatory inconveniences. Management has seamlessly adapted the hotel to the new era of travel by leaning into a unique brand ethos of un-buttoned luxury. That being said, travelers considering a stay at the Silver Lake Pool and Inn can take comfort in knowing that the Palisociety group has implemented a number of safety protocols in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization’s statements regarding COVID-19 precautions. As occupancy permits, guest rooms are to remain unoccupied for a minimum of 24–72 hours prior to your arrival, allowing the EPA-approved disinfectants to sit for the required time. This protocol includes extra time during the housekeeping process to focus on all touch points, including light switches, fans, shade pulls, faucet handles, and your in-room tablet. While you should not expect to see the usual soft goods such as throw pillows and blankets in your room, the room will be disinfected and sanitized using touch-less Protexus electrostatic spraying system prior to your arrival. The system uses PURTABS that are EPA List approved products effective against COVID-19 in one minute — additional treatments are available throughout your stay upon request. One safety implementation that stood out to us during our visit is the required guest temperature check and UV technology at the front desk which allows for a heightened level of sanitization for guest and employee handled items. All hotel employees are required to practice proper and frequent hand-washing which is a simple act that goes a long way in ensuring a safe environment.

At the Silver Lake Pool and Inn, visible protocols are just the beginning. In the spaces where employees work behind the scenes, increased frequency of cleaning and focus on high-touch areas like employee entrances, locker rooms, laundry rooms and storage spaces are part of the program. Guests and employees of Silver Lake Pool and Inn are advised to practice physical distancing at all times by standing at least six feet away from other guests and employees. This extends to elevator occupancy and required face-coverings in all public areas of the hotel.

Of course the Silver Lake Pool and Inn is a luxury hotel and not a hospital, so guests will still be able to enjoy amenities such as a one-time use mini-bar menu in-room with artisanal mezcals, West Coast wines and an array of snacks. Mini-bar items are currently available to order at the Front Desk and will be delivered to guest rooms where they can be enjoyed there or poolside at one of the hotel’s many socially distanced lounge chairs and patio tables. While travel has changed, much of what we love about an overnight stay at luxe hotel has been preserved — and in some ways improved upon — by the team at the Silver Lake Pool and Inn, one of our new favorite places to unwind and experience the laid-back charms of summer in Los Angeles.

For more information and reservations at the Silver Lake Pool & Inn, visit palisociety.com. For the latest safety updates, and a daily inspiration follow @silverlakepoolandinn on Instagram.

Photos courtesy of @palisociety