A Hotel Parties on the Roof

There’s much to be said for the whimsical new Downtown LA Standard hotel, but we recommend heading straight for the roof. Like an oasis in a sea of concrete, the hotel’s colorful rooftop setting is a Pop art gem. Maybe it’s the Space Age waterbeds with the vibrating cushions that really put it over the top, but the roof scene is so cheeky, you feel as if you’re in a Peter Sellers cocktail comedy and everyone’s in on the joke.

Capitalizing on the beauty of downtown from its rooftop vantage point, the 10-week-old hotel--which is located in the 1950s-era Superior Oil building--offers a groovy setting for guests to gather at sunset and dance. Those familiar with the Standard on Sunset Boulevard will find the primary colors and true-blue Astroturf familiar. But this downtown version includes a rooftop patio with a ridiculously warm pool--perfect for an evening dip--and a multitude of cozy lounges and beds. The nightly happy hours have been packed since the hotel made its debut with a splashy slumber party and owner Andre Balazs’ christening bash, which included such guests as Spike Jonze, Sofia Coppola and actress Gina Gershon.

The hotel’s spacious rooms and inexpensive prices ($125 and up) have already made it a popular hang for Angelenos looking to get away without the hassle of a drive. It also offers a nice respite from the Hollywood shuffle. Because it’s downtown in the evening, it’s oh so quiet. Except on that roof, where people are getting down nightly. Throughout the week, anyone can pay 20 bucks to get up there and be treated to DJs spinning smooth international sounds and R&B.;

The real capper is the Sunday Service, an all-day party hosted by Gary Richards, a music exec who’s been throwing downtown parties for years. The Sunday Service begins at 1 in the afternoon and continues until 9 p.m.--and for many, it continues indefinitely as guests decide to check in rather than check out.

For some reason, everyone looks remarkably good during the day, as the fresh-faced crowd dresses in rainbow shades, a nice match with the roof’s burgundy carpet, yellow chairs and smashing orange benches. And the backdrop is truly stunning. The surrounding 20th century monoliths such as the California Bank and Trust, MCI, Citigroup and First Business Bank buildings feel close enough to reach out and touch. As it gets later, things get splashy and the pool party begins.

Those interested in checking out any of its rooftop party scenes may want to note that you don’t have to wait for the single elevator on the roof. You can walk down a flight of stair, and do a horseshoe around to a set of four elevators on the floor below. Trust me, you’ll be glad you took the advice. But on your way out, do yourself a favor and take a leisurely route.

There’s much to see at the new hotel. The building, which was also a Bank of California in the ‘70s, is a historic landmark, so designer Shawn Hausman couldn’t touch certain features; the original elevator interiors and marble floors stayed as-is. But the combination of new and old minimalism adds up to a warm experience. Although brand-spanking new, it feels old and already broken in.

The front desk clerks wear ‘60s-style stewardess outfits, which look smashing with the fuchsia-colored couches in the lobby. The men’s and women’s restrooms are connected, too, so you really never know who’ll be washing their hands next to you. Again, it’s cheeky, yet appropriate.

Other notable spots include the fire-pit pond in the outside first-floor patio and its lemonade-colored, 24-hour diner, which shows Hausman’s work at its finest. It’s so sunshine sweet it looks like a ‘70s cafeteria on acid.

With the Downtown LA Standard, Balazs has made a remarkable contribution to an area that clearly desired it. There goes the neighborhood.

Downtown LA Standard, 550 S. Flower St., downtown L.A., (213) 892-8080. Rooftop happy hours, 21 and older; $10-$20 cover. Sunday Service, 1-9 p.m. Sundays.