Last Updated on January 30, 2025
Hotels in most American cities often aren’t sufficiently unique to warrant an appearance in movies and television shows. Even if they are the pinnacle of luxury inside, most are generic and undistinguishable, lacking in architectural merit.
The Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles is the opposite. It is likely one of the most recognizable buildings in the city because many have seen it on screen.
Since opening in 1977, productions have incorporated its postmodernist atmosphere into their location settings. The iconic five-tower structure, which resembles a shiny reflective window four-leaf clover, is arguably as recognizable as L.A.’s City Hall or the U.S. Bank Tower, the city’s tallest skyscraper.
At its opening, developers ambitiously imagined creating a “city within a city,” with multiple levels of retail stores, restaurants and bars between the hotel lobby and the rooms. While most of these spaces have closed, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some remain in business and provide a convenient means for guests to dine and shop.
I recently stayed at the Bonaventure for the second time, during the January wildfires that mostly plagued the region’s Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. I met with locals who had evacuated their homes. Most of them didn’t appear worried, but they did appreciate their stay at this famous hotel and the staff’s friendliness to their predicament. I don’t think most knew or cared about its place in the entertainment industry, but it’s hard to miss walking around the grounds.
The Bonaventure’s Role in Hollywood
With its futuristic exterior and industrial interior, the Bonaventure presents a dramatic backdrop for entertainment productions. One of the first movies to feature the hotel was the 1976 science fiction drama “Logan’s Run,” released before the hotel’s official opening.
The hotel starred in its most recent film from last year, “MaXXXine.”
Producers have chosen it not only for its convenience to the nearby studios, but also for its unique appearance, one that’s unlike any other in L.A. Truthfully, its high, primarily concrete atrium lends an impersonal and even cold atmosphere, but there is sufficient lighting and extensive water features for elegance and to offset the urban feel.
Guests will immediately notice the property’s cinematic legacy the moment after they’ve parked. Walking through the hallway between the underground garage and the escalators leading to the atrium and lobby, they will see about a dozen movie posters with the hotel as a location. In three of the four towers, small plaques indicate where three movies – “Forget Paris,” “In the Line of Fire,” and “True Lies” – were filmed there for select scenes.
Rooms and Suites
Guests heading up to these towers on high-speed elevators will view the Bonaventure’s vast atrium and five levels before seeing stunning views of the downtown L.A. skyline. The four buildings, each labeled in a color and shape (for example, I stayed in the red circle tower), house the hotel’s rooms and suites on 33 floors.
Interestingly, there isn’t a seventh or thirteenth floor because the developers believed it would bring misfortune. None of the sets of four glass elevators have “7” or “13” on their button panels.
Most standard rooms have two queen beds or one king. All have spacious bathrooms and dramatic city vistas. The décor could probably use a contemporary update, but the bed is more comfortable than most hotel mattresses, thanks to Westin’s patented Heavenly Bed.
A superfood sleep-enhancing menu and a lavender essential oil balm in a small glass vial are available. Most of the suites on the top floors of the towers consist of one or two bedrooms, with the larger units boasting two levels and separate dining areas. They are also pet-friendly, which was helpful for evacuees with dogs.
Amenities at the Bonaventure hotel
In a hotel of this size and scope, guests expect services to enhance their stay, and the Bonaventure delivers. The circular atrium has plenty of seating areas to gather and relax on several levels, with a bar and coffee stand encircling the center space. When guests check-in, they will find resource printouts for nearby dining, shopping and activities on the desk in their rooms.
Of course, there are standard luxury amenities at the Bonaventure. The swimming pool on the fourth level was closed when I visited because of the wildfires and ash falling onto the water. I did use the fitness center, equipped with multiple cardio machines, four Peloton bikes, weight machines, and free weights.
The hotel’s Desuar Spa offers treatments like massage, facials, body scrubs and waxing, all in an elegant, Moroccan-themed setting.
Bonaventure Hotel Eateries
Since my stay at the Bonaventure was relatively short, I only tried food at the coffee bar, Café, to get my daily caffeine and a light breakfast. Again, because of the wildfires and the accompanying high winds, its most exclusive restaurant on the top 35th floor, L.A. Prime, was closed.
The same was true for the Bonavista Lounge, one floor below, which serves craft cocktails in a revolving setting. Those who do experience them will find an elevated dining experience with steak and seafood and one of the city’s best views.
Another hotel restaurant, Lakeview Terrace, serves breakfast and lunch and is on the opposite side of the circle from the bar and coffee place. For those who want to maintain a healthy regimen, the Westin Eat Well program emphasizes superfoods and cold-pressed juices with portion-controlled servings. The bar also has an all-day menu for those who need something outside traditional dining times.
Whether it’s for a movie or TV show setting or to aid locals in a time of need, the Westin Bonaventure is a hotel that is an indelible part of Los Angeles’s history and legacy.
