It's easy to indulge your inner narcissist at SLS Hotel
— -- What's new:The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills
Claim to fame:The hotel, which technically is in Los Angeles, is the brainchild of L.A. nightclub impresario Sam Nazarian, creator of buzzy, velvet-rope establishments including Hyde Lounge and Area. (Stay at his hotel, and he'll put you on the list to get into his clubs and have you ferried over in a custom-made JetVan.) He gets an assist from French designer Philippe Starck, known for his edgy hotel interiors, and Spanish-born José Andrés, the Washington-based chef and host of PBS' Made in Spain.
Vital stats:The 297-room hotel opened in November with management by Starwood and includes 61 suites and 32 allergen-resistant rooms. The 5,000-square-foot Ciel Spa with six treatment rooms opens in January. There are two rooftop pools: one for swimming and a shallower one for lounging in. The sprawling 417-seat restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés, encompasses a tapas restaurant, bar area and patisserie, plus a retail shop by MOSS, displaying intriguing stuff you probably don't need like that $300 metal mesh oyster glove. Another restaurant, Tres, is in the guests-only hotel lobby.
The scene:Surreal meets sophisticated. The hotel aims to turn heads, and it certainly does. A giant mosaic glass teapot (think disco ball) makes a bizarre manifestation outside The Bazaar. The outdoor lounge fronting the hotel lobby sports antler lamps, a zebu and rams horn sofa inset with ostrich and alligator skins, and lots of other eclectica. The reception desk is just beyond the life-size plastic horse wearing a lampshade. Floor lamps are shaped like chrome assault rifles. In the guest lobby, comfy enclaves are defined by separate gas fireplaces, each with a clear resin crystalline deer head mounted above.
Bedding down:The quirky exuberance of the public areas is toned down in the guestrooms; calming shades of white, cognac and mink predominate. A stylish Barcelona-style daybed fronts a clean-lined desk. Beds sport the obligatory 300-count French linens, plus faux mink throws. The bathroom in the standard room is roomy and attractive; a mirrored wall dividing it from the bedroom slides open to create a view between the two. The soaking tub with rain shower is luxurious — once you figure out how it works.
Who'll like it:Narcissists. Mirrors are everywhere, including funhouse models just off the lobby. In the guestrooms, they're behind the bed, in front of the bed, to the side of the bed, in front of the toilet, behind the toilet, to the side of the toilet. Paparazzi-dodging celebs and witness-protection-program types will appreciate the guests-only lobby.
Who won't. The nearsighted. The Blanche Dubois lighting in the guestrooms is annoyingly dim. And all those smoke-glass mirrors do little to enhance the weak wattage. Also, those who get cranky when they're hit with an Internet-access charge ($13) after paying $400-plus for a room.
Wining and dining:Classic tapas (jamón Ibérico) and modern Spanish fare (terrine of foie gras dipped in corn nuts and wrapped with cotton candy) are on the bill in Rojo y Blanca, with small plates ranging from $6 to $40.The food is imaginative and delicious — and sometimes odd. It takes instruction from the waiter to figure out how to consume the mozzarella-tomato pipettes, for instance. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun, from the roving carts dispensing mini caviar cones with cauliflower crème fraîch, to a red armchair with a radioactive glow.
Indulgences:Lie back in the Ciel Spa for a signature $285 "spun-glass facial" billed as Botox sans needles. Ink a deal in a private poolside cabana ($500 a day). Or buy a $30,000 Ikepod watch for sale in MOSS.
The deal:Opening rates from $389, double, plus tax, through Jan. 31; includes a $50 credit for the restaurant or spa. Regular rates start at $419.
Information:800-325-3589; slshotels.com.