The Sun Rose West Hollywood
by the TopOfHotel team
The Sun Rose West Hollywood is a design hotel in the heart of the Sunset Strip where you wake up inside LA's nightlife, with a Wolfgang Puck dinner at Merois and a rooftop pool that becomes a concert stage after dark — it leads on location, design, and energy rather than quiet privacy.
The Sun Rose West Hollywood is a design hotel in the heart of the Sunset Strip where you wake up inside LA's nightlife, with a Wolfgang Puck dinner at Merois and a rooftop pool that becomes a concert stage after dark — it leads on location, design, and energy rather than quiet privacy.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture a contemporary design hotel standing in the heart of the Sunset Strip on Sunset Boulevard — the block that has been the engine of LA nightlife for decades. That is The Sun Rose West Hollywood, which opened as Pendry West Hollywood before taking the name The Sun Rose. What gives the building a story from the first step is that it was built on the legendary site of House of Blues, the storied music club. The interiors are all the work of Martin Brudnizki, who blends sharp modern lines with a classic Hollywood charge. All 149 rooms and suites are done in warm, understated tones, with artwork and clever details tucked into the corners. Large windows in many rooms open onto the Sunset Strip and the city skyline, the beds are soft, and the bathrooms read modern. Plenty of reviews agree the rooms look good and have real style — this feels like a genuine design hotel, not a standard chain. If you like a cool, contemporary mood with a backstory, you will likely take to it the moment you open the door.
Food and amenities
The heart of a stay here is the rooftop, where the city-view pool and the headline restaurant Merois from world-famous chef Wolfgang Puck sit side by side. Merois serves contemporary Asian-French food in an open-air room facing the Sunset Strip — a destination for hotel guests and Angelenos who come to eat and hang out. The pool is a chill spot to soak up California sun by day, but many nights it flips into a stage for concerts and music events, a full party scene that has become the hotel's signature and a stylish nod to the House of Blues years. Downstairs there is a sharp-design bar and lounge for a cocktail before you head out, and for downtime there is Spa Pendry, with relaxing treatments and a full fitness center. Service runs at an attentive 5-star level — staff help with restaurant bookings, tables, and local tips, so it feels like someone is keeping your LA trip running smoothly.
Location and getting there
Location is the real trump card here. The hotel sits squarely on the Sunset Strip on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, the center of LA nightlife and entertainment since Hollywood's golden age. Step out of the lobby and you are in a block packed with live-music clubs, bars, and big-name restaurants to explore all night — an energy you will not get from a quiet residential area. From here, the city's marquee neighborhoods are an easy drive: Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive are about 10 minutes away, with Hollywood, Downtown LA, and even the beach reachable in not much time. The thing to understand is that West Hollywood has no metro nearby, so getting elsewhere means leaning on taxis, rideshare, or a rental car. LAX runs about 30-40 minutes depending on traffic. The short version: if your trip is about waking up in the middle of the action, wandering the entertainment district all night, and driving out now and then, this central-Strip spot is a perfect fit.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. The first thing to weigh is the lively atmosphere, because the hotel sits right on the Sunset Strip, the most alive nightlife block in the city. Some nights — weekends especially, or nights with a rooftop music event — bring music and bustle drifting in. If you are a light sleeper or after a quiet stay, ask for a room that does not face Sunset Boulevard and is not on the pool side. The second is price, which starts high by the standard of LA design hotels, and the add-ons — meals at Merois, drinks at the bar, and valet — all sit at premium levels. On a tight budget, the final total can come in higher than you expect, so plan for the extras in advance. The last point is getting around: West Hollywood has no metro nearby, so you lean on taxis, rideshare, or a rental car. If you like hopping on public transit to explore on your own, this is less convenient than a hotel with a metro at the door. And given its social-venue character, it suits people who come for the atmosphere more than families with small children who need quiet.
Our take
After our team sat down and read through a lot of real reviews, The Sun Rose West Hollywood is a hotel that sells "heart-of-the-Strip location plus contemporary design with a story plus a lively atmosphere" with real character. What everyone keeps mentioning is the location that puts you in the middle of LA's entertainment district the moment you step out, the good-looking, stylish rooms by Martin Brudnizki, the Wolfgang Puck dinner at Merois, and the rooftop pool that turns into a music stage at night. Reviews give it 9 on Agoda and 8.8 on Booking. If your trip is about waking up in the middle of the city, soaking in the rooftop pool in the afternoon, and heading out into the Sunset Strip all night, this is about as good a fit as it gets. But if you are after a quiet, private retreat or want to save money, the busy atmosphere and fairly high price may not be the answer. Overall we give it 9.0/10, best for couples, party people, and anyone who wants to be in the middle of LA's nightlife and entertainment culture.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The location sits right in the heart of the Sunset Strip on Sunset Boulevard — the engine of LA nightlife and big-name restaurants. Step out of the lobby and you are in the most alive stretch of the city.
- It is a 149-room contemporary design hotel built on the legendary site of House of Blues, the storied music club. The interiors are sharp and modern, the work of Martin Brudnizki, and reviews single out the good-looking, stylish rooms.
- The rooftop restaurant Merois from chef Wolfgang Puck serves contemporary Asian-French food with a city view — a destination for hotel guests and locals alike who come to eat and hang out.
- The wide rooftop pool has a city view, and at night it often turns into a concert and music-event stage — a full-on party scene you will not find at an ordinary hotel.
- There is Spa Pendry, a full fitness center, and attentive 5-star service, plus a location that gets you to Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Downtown in not much time.
- This is a hotel in the heart of the Sunset Strip, a busy nightlife block, so some nights — weekends especially — bring music and bustle from the area and from the rooftop events. Light sleepers should ask for a room that does not face the street or the pool side.
- Starting rates run high by the standard of LA design hotels, and the add-ons — meals at Merois, drinks, and valet — sit at premium levels too. The final total at the end of the trip can come in higher than you expect.
- West Hollywood has no metro nearby, so you lean on taxis, rental cars, or rideshare. Some reviewers also feel the hotel leans toward being a social venue, so it is not the best fit for travelers after a quiet, private retreat.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- Head up to Merois and the rooftop pool around sunset to catch the Sunset Strip stretching out — it is the best-feeling, best-looking spot in the hotel. Book a table ahead, because seats fill fast.
- Check the rooftop music-event schedule before you book. If you want the party atmosphere, pick a night with an event; if you want to sleep quietly, ask for a room that is not on the pool side and does not face Sunset Boulevard.
- From here you can wander the Sunset Strip all night, but reaching other neighborhoods means a car — budget for rideshare or a rental, and use the hotel's valet for the easiest run of it.