This laid-back Hollywood hideout isn’t one for grand gestures, but for simple lodging with a cheerful retro theme rippling throughout the 70 rooms and on-site diner, it infuses an otherwise dreary strip motel with life.
A full-on time warp back into 1950s-era Hollywood, the Dixie doesn’t claim to be the trendiest or the most luxurious landing spot on Hollywood Boulevard, but as a throwback motor inn, it fills an appealing niche for travelers on a budget who like a little schmaltz with their sleeping quarters. A mural around the hotel’s perimeter shows Marilyn Monroe and James Dean in familiar poses, and inside there’s a low-key diner, 54Twenty, with a long counter and red swivel seats. Rooms are connected via an external walkway, and the (free) parking is organized so that you can pull up right in front of your individual room. While there are no major amenities to speak of, the rooms themselves are colorful and straightforward: all include AC units, minifridges, and wall graphics which depict the Hollywood Sign. Beyond that, there’s an outdoor pool encircled by a small garden-like patio, with abundant greenery, some lounge chairs and a soda machine.
Location: The Dixie Hollywood faces Hollywood Boulevard and sits less than a block from the Hollywood/Western metro station, offering easy access to Union Station and other parts of LA. Technically part of Thai Town, there’s a decent selection of Thai restaurants within walking distance; meanwhile, the main tourist attractions of Hollywood sit close by, on the other side of the 101.
Nearby:
Ruen Pair: Walk two 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.”
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre Franklin: Less than a mile from the hotel, UCB offers three or four shows per night across a variety of disciplines: there’s stand up, improv, sketch and off-kilter comedy—not to mention the consistently star-studded Comedy Bang Bang (Tuesdays, 8:30pm), where you might find Sarah Silverman, Aziz Ansari and Patton Oswalt on the same bill.
Vintage Los Feliz 3: Just over a mile from the hotel, the auditoriums at this three-screen, old-school movie theater are tiny, in some cases not more than a couple of seats wide, but the starry ceiling, neon sign and Art Deco touches make this a unique place to catch a mix of wide releases and indies.
Good for: Actors, screenwriters, and anyone in the movie biz looking for a cheap, upbeat place to crash in Hollywood will appreciate how well situated the Dixie is. The outdoor pool and on-site restaurant also make it convenient for families traveling with kids. Yogis, too, will love the yoga bolsters available on request.
Amenities: pool, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, laundry facilities, concierge
Time Out tip: Budget accommodations aren’t always the most environmentally conscious, but the Dixie has a good-doer bent: billing itself as a motor inn “with a conscience,” it delivers all unused or partially used toiletries, as well as gently worn linens, to nearby homeless shelters.