HotelChatter

The rooms, like the rest of the hotel, stick to basic colors like white, black and grey which gives the hotel that "cool boutiquey" look so many hotels nowadays strive for. But since Andaz is all about personal expression, it just seems odd to have such a muted color scheme. One sexy detail however, are the mirrored headboards.

Amenities in the rooms include complimentary wireless, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks, an iPod docking station, bathrobes and Red Flower toiletries in the baths. In case the views of the strip get to be a bit too much, the guestrooms do sport serious blackout-shades. Very necessary.

Upstairs, the hotel has renovated the rooftop pool to include Sunset Strip-facing cabanas where you can work on your tan and your screenplay deal. Downstairs, the main hub is not the lobby but rather, RH, the hotel's signature restaurant and bar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served here and the restaurant also takes care of room service. Everything is out in the open with the open kitchen where guests can literally watch the chefs step by step as they retrieve the fresh produce from their walk-in, see-through freezers and cook up the meal.

The restaurant is helmed by Chef Sebastien Archambaul and the fare philosophy is "market to table" with most of the food coming from the Santa Monica Farmers markets. There's also a Pata Negra from Spain and a crazy extensive wine selection featuring local wines by boutique vintners.

While we think the hotel needs some time to gel, the Andaz is a much-needed hotel on the Strip. The others are either too old, too elitist or too scene-y. Andaz is aiming to avoid falling into any of those categories. "We don't want to be the hippest hotel, we want to be known for our service," said Tristan Dowell, Andaz's corporate director of sales and marketing. How they will deliver on that service goes back to the root name of Andaz, which derives from the Hindu term for personal style.

At Andaz, you should be able determine how your experience will go and it's the staff job to see that your wish is fulfilled. It's a hefty load to bear but Andaz seems confident they can do it. Afterall, the hotel has a history of accommodating difficult guests. Yeah, drugged-out rockers from the 70s, we're talking to you.

For more photos of Andaz West Hollywood, check out our Flickr Set.