Free parking and an outdoor pool are about the only frills to speak of at this budget option, which nevertheless has recently refreshed rooms, and offers good value for any traveler doing Hollywood on the cheap.
It’s telling that visitors to Hollywood tend to focus exclusively on the dense, lit-up stretch between Vine and La Brea, when in reality there are outer layers to the iconic hood also worth exploring. Case in point: the Hollywood City Inn, an unassuming 2-story motel that sits just across the 101 in an area known as Thai Town. While the family-owned budget spot can’t really compete with the glitzy 300-room hotel blocks west of here, it has a low-key, reliable appeal of its own. The external corridors all face out to a small kidney-shaped pool with a few picnic tables and sunloungers—a humble haven for the warmer months. Meanwhile, the rooms themselves have all been recently updated, and the former carpets and musty curtains have been switched out for smooth hardwood floors and plantation shutters. There are flat-screen TVs, AC, microwaves, and a desk (no coffeemakers, but the lobby keeps a pot brewing 24 hours a day). Though amenities are on the slight side (a basic continental breakfast and laundry facilities), the motel serves its purpose as a cheap entry point for exploring the rest of Hollywood.
Location: Set just east of the 101, the Hollywood City Inn has easy-in easy-out access from Hollywood Boulevard (with free parking), and adjoins a host of Thai restaurants in the small enclave of Thai Town.
Nearby:
Ruen Pair: Walk 7 minutes from the hotel to reach this round-the-clock, cash-only Thai Town favorite. The enticing menu is full of beer-friendly, shareable plates like fish cake pad ka prow and sauteed morning glory with crispy pork belly.
Museum of Death: Intense and macabre, this Hollywood museum, which is a 17-minute walk from the hotel, doesn’t flinch at life’s inevitable end. There are grisly Charles Manson and Black Dahlia crime photos and actual death videos. Visitors pass out so regularly that owners have taken to calling it a “falling down ovation.”
Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles: This Hollywood branch, just under a mile from the hotel, is the fanciest of the LA-based chain, which does the best chicken (and waffles) in town.
TCL Grauman’s Chinese Theater: A 13-minute drive from the hotel, no other Hollywood hotel can bring you this close to the famous movie theater, which reopened after extensive renovations in 2013, and offers one of the largest IMAX theaters in the world.
Good for: The well-maintained pool and spacious, functional rooms make this a good choice for families, especially those who plan on spending most of the day out exploring. Solo travelers and couples will also find a reliable home base here.
Amenities: pool, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities
Time Out tip: Nearby Hollywood Boulevard is loaded with convenience stores, liquor stores and a few budget grocery markets. If the plan is to save money on food and lodging while you’re in town, stock up on supplies around the corner and bring them back to your room for a lo-fi meal.