A New Kind of Luxury Hotel Opens on Sunset Strip

The brand‑new PUBLIC West Hollywood hotel, created by famed entrepreneur Ian Schrager, will welcome guests on July 15. The property sits where the old Standard Hotel once stood at 8300 Sunset Boulevard, a location that was once the center of late‑90s Hollywood glamour. Instead of echoing past excess, Schrager has redesigned the site into a relaxed, upscale retreat. A large rooftop garden covers three‑quarters of an acre and features Adirondack chairs, a campfire pit, wellness sessions, and an outdoor movie screen. The hotel houses 137 rooms but removes many of the trappings that usually accompany luxury lodging. There is no celebrity chef or elaborate tasting menu; Schrager says a “fancy menu” feels out of touch. The main dining spot, Louis, will act more like a bakery‑café, offering pastries, simple sandwiches, and grain bowls. A Pool Bar will serve burgers and sundaes, while the Pool Deck offers meze, salads, and sandwiches.Food concepts were developed with former Gjelina Group CEO Shelley Armistead and ex‑Gjusta Bakery head Nicky Pickup, giving the menu a local, approachable vibe. The lobby will not have a traditional front desk. Instead, guests can walk directly to their rooms as if moving into an apartment. The lobby is intended to be a social hub, not just a place to check in. No spa will be offered, and the design will avoid “design on steroids. ” Schrager has also removed conventional TVs from rooms. In partnership with British minimalist architect John Pawson, each room will feature a large floor‑to‑ceiling projection screen powered by 4K laser projectors, turning the space into a private cinema. Soundproofing has been improved to address the thin walls that once caused noise complaints. A nightclub remains on site, but it will eschew the previous era’s blinding lasers. Schrager describes it as glamorous, sophisticated, and a “sealed‑off sound stage” with immersive audio that can be felt as well as heard. Room rates are expected to range from $500 to $600 per night.