Sunset Tower Hotel Review: History, Famous Guests & Real Feedback

The Sunset Tower Hotel on West Hollywood’s Sunset Strip blends a 1929 Art Deco pedigree with a carefully curated modern boutique experience. Operated by hotelier Jeff Klein since its 2005 rebirth, this 81-room property has drawn Hollywood insiders and curious travelers alike for its storied past and intimate scale. Below, we sort verified history and recent guest feedback into a clear, actionable profile.

Last checked: 2026-05-20

Hotel Name: Sunset Tower Hotel · Location: West Hollywood, California · Established: 1929 · Number of Rooms: 84 · Known For: Historic Hollywood Hotel, film location · Previous Names: The St. James’s Club, The Argyle

Sunset Tower Hotel: Detailed Specifications

Why is the Sunset Tower Hotel famous?

The building originally opened in 1929 as Sunset Towers, a luxury apartment residence designed by architect Leland A. Bryant (Los Angeles Conservancy). In its early decades, it housed a rotating cast of Hollywood royalty: Howard Hughes, Errol Flynn, Billie Burke, John Wayne, and later Joan Crawford and Marilyn Monroe are often named among its residents. Mob figure Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel also kept an apartment there — a fact the hotel now leans into, as the Tower Bar occupies Siegel’s former unit.

Beyond celebrity tenancy, the building’s Art Deco silhouette and narrow, setback profile are widely considered to have made it a frequent filming location. While a definitive list of movies shot at the hotel is not centrally published, the hotel’s cinematic presence is said to range from classic Hollywood productions to contemporary series and films that use the tower as a visual shorthand for old‑Los Angeles glamour. The hotel’s official description calls it an “iconic West Hollywood landmark” offering “Old Hollywood glamour” and sweeping city views (Sunset Tower Hotel official site).

In 1980, the tower was designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 135 (City of LA Office of Historic Resources), which subjects exterior changes to review by the Cultural Heritage Commission. This protection has kept the building’s character intact through its 2005 conversion into a boutique hotel under Jeff Klein’s ownership.

Is Sunset Tower Hotel nice?

Guest reviews across multiple platforms paint a consistent picture: the hotel is highly regarded for service, atmosphere, and design, but it comes with expectations about trade‑offs. On Agoda, verified group travelers give an average rating of 8.8/10 (Agoda). TripAdvisor reviews frequently mention the property’s historic character and attentive staff, while some describe it as a “splurge” worth doing at least once (TripAdvisor user review). Expedia listings note strong service alongside occasional comments about the need to refresh carpets in some rooms (Expedia).

The MICHELIN Guide characterizes the property as “pleasantly upscale” rather than ultra‑luxury, citing Egyptian linens and premium bath products as highlights (MICHELIN Guide). Tablet Hotels emphasizes the careful restoration of the Art Deco tower and high service standards (Tablet Hotels). Vanity Fair has documented the Tower Bar as a social hub for Hollywood industry figures during awards season (Vanity Fair).

The hotel’s independent, non‑corporate ownership under Jeff Klein is often cited as a strength: reviewers appreciate that it is not a chain property. The “Special Weekend Perks Offer” on the hotel’s site includes a room upgrade and free breakfast, which aligns with the boutique positioning.

What movies were filmed at the Sunset Tower Hotel?

No definitive list of film productions shot at the hotel is published in a single authoritative source. However, the building’s iconic Art Deco profile and its location on the Sunset Strip make it a natural backdrop for Hollywood productions. Travel articles and entertainment media occasionally reference the hotel as a filming location for movies and TV shows, though specific titles are rarely disclosed. The hotel’s own marketing leans on its “Old Hollywood glamour” and cinematic associations rather than providing a shot‑by‑shot filmography.

What is documented is the building’s use as a setting for industry events and the Tower Bar’s role as a real‑life backdrop for celebrity encounters. The GATE’s 2023 review notes that the hotel’s history includes residents like Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes, and that the property’s aesthetic naturally lends itself to film appearances (The GATE). Architectural Digest includes the hotel in a roundup of Los Angeles historic hotels, underscoring its significance in the city’s built‑environment story (Architectural Digest).

How many rooms does the Sunset Tower have?

The hotel contains 81 rooms in total. The MICHELIN Guide lists 81 rooms (MICHELIN Guide), while a detailed breakdown from a third‑party review specifies 51 guestrooms and 30 suites (Hustler Money Blog). A smaller number of 84 appears occasionally in older promotional copy, but the 81‑room figure is consistent with current authoritative listings.

The room types range from standard guestrooms to one‑bedroom suites, many with floor‑to‑ceiling windows that were a signature of the original apartment layout. Because the building is a protected historic monument, room sizes are generally smaller than those in modern‑build luxury hotels — a trade‑off noted in guest reviews on TripAdvisor and Expedia. The boutique scale means that only 81 groups of guests occupy the property at a time, which contributes to the intimate feel.

The hotel also offers a handful of specialty suites, though exact categories and square footage are not consistently published across platforms. The official website and Tablet Hotels provide the most reliable descriptions of available room configurations.

Location and Getting There

The Sunset Tower Hotel stands at 8358 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, USA (Sunset Tower Hotel official site). The Strip is the famous stretch of Sunset Boulevard that runs through West Hollywood, lined with music venues, restaurants, and boutiques. The hotel sits within walking distance of the Whisky a Go Go and the Comedy Store, and is a short drive from Beverly Hills and Hollywood.

Driving from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) typically takes 30 minutes on average, but can extend to an hour during peak traffic. The hotel offers valet parking; there is no self‑parking garage on site. Rideshare services are widely available.

Alternatives Worth Considering

While the Sunset Tower Hotel is unique in its marriage of Art Deco history and boutique intimacy, travelers on the Sunset Strip may also consider other properties that offer different trade‑offs. Boutique hotels nearby typically fall into two camps: those that prioritize modern resort amenities (larger pools, full‑service spas) and those that lean into historical character. Sunset Tower falls squarely into the latter. For another take on historic luxury, see our Baccarat Hotel New York Review.

No specific competitor names are provided in our research, but we note that several boutique hotels in West Hollywood offer similar price points without the protected‑building constraints — meaning rooms are often larger and more customizable. However, none share Sunset Tower’s particular mix of 1929 architecture, celebrity‑filled past, and landmark designation.