Shed the clutter and enjoy the simply elegant decor of this jewel tucked away in Long Beach. The feel is wonderfully European, with an eye for design and simplicity. From the moment you walk through the sliding glass doors, you fell the warmth of the hotel staff. This is a place for people who enjoy people. The rooms are small and cozy. (What more do you need?) And, the beds are incredible. I have not had such a peaceful rest while on travel in many years. There is plenty to do in Long Beach, so if you want to be a hermit and hide in your room, this may not be for you. But, if you enjoy great conversations about food and city life, the hotel staff is engaging and eager to share their local knowledge with you. I loved this place. I wouldn't stay in any other hotel in the LA area, footsteps away from great food on Pine Street, and a great coffee shop on W. 4th (The Birdcage).

One last thing... You know a place is truly remarkable when the hotel staff enjoy their job. Kudos to the owner.

-Ken

I'm a Hilton diamond member but if you look at my reviews of their properties, I certainly don't give them all glowing reviews and only reserve 5 starts for the best of the best in their respective categories. I do, however, like to try out independent hotels from time to time. I have also stayed at many boutique hotels prior to actively writing on TripAdvisor, some with cutting edge designs. I have been on the road 100% for the last 12 years and the movie Up in the Air sums up my life, not very glamorous.

You will either love this hotel, or otherwise. I'm strictly evaluating from a practical business point of view and there are very specific things I look for. If I was a college student travelling solo I would have likely given a very different score, but most certainly not a 5 star.

The good:

1. Check-in. Simple, fast and friendly. Everything was explained well.
2. Staff. Friendly and down to earth. I like the added touch of taking the guest to the room. Don't get that too often on our shores and the last time it happened to me was in Tokyo a few weeks earlier.
3. Clean design. Almost Ikea-like and modern. Obviously the room fittings are custom and very slick.
4. Free internet. Good feature for an independent hotel.
5. Security. Nice that the front doors only allow for key access after hours.
6. It was built in the 1920's so a historical site.

The bad:

1. Desk. Too compact and no power outlets. Would prefer a more traditional chair ... there are some very cool modern designs available, this one just didn't do it for me.
2. Phone. For business purposes, should be on desk for long conference calls with speaker option. Yes, we all have cell phones and use them for conference calls but a solid land line is at times desirable.
3. Internet. Although free, the highest speed I clocked was 1 mbps download and 0.5 mbps upload. That's approximately 1/4 the speed of the best hotels, 1/2 the speed of an average hotel and although adequate for most of my tasks as I use Citrix/VPN to connect to multiple servers, not enough for anything requiring high bandwidth transmissions.
4. Bed. I'm 6'1'' and it was too small for me. The mattress one will either like or dislike. For me, it was too soft. Quality of sheets is very good though.
5. Bathroom. Way too compact. The toilet in my room was too close to the sink. Very uncomfortable. No issues with the shower though although I don't like curtains. All the boutique hotels I stayed at in the past had glass.
6. Smell. There is some type of stale smell that lingers in the room and throughout the property. If you have severe allergies, may want to keep this in mind.
7. Parking. At $10/night, not worth it for an unprotected lot. Would be better if it was averaged into the rate.
8. Lack of privacy. You hear your neighbors and they hear you. Not a good thing if you are having confidential business conversations ... especially in my field, medicine.
9. Room. As mentioned over and over, too small ... too sterile ... feels a bit too much like a hospital room and/or a student residence room.

I'm sure the service levels are high in terms of everything from booking a restaurant, to tours to getting help with anything else. The truth is, this is 2013 and sophisticated business travelers are self-dependent with apps and mobile services so there is very little need to depend on somebody else. Even boarding passes are digital now. Of course, we also pack light so I would never consider using luggage service ... the same goes for valet, although doesn't apply to this property.

Having said all of the above, this place has a unique niche of the hotel market and appears to have an edge on service over the larger properties. However, although important, this is not everything.

We would stay here again in a heartbeat. This hotel is quiet, quaint, well maintained, and has excellent service. It was relaxing and peaceful. We walked to bars, restaurants, and shops within 10 minutes and had a great time every night. Aside from average hotel noise (doors, vacuums, etc.), we slept peacefully on the comfortable beds and pillows. Don't be shocked - the rooms are SMALL but they make efficient use of space. To compare, if you have been in a cruise ship cabin, this is about the same size. But if you are just needing a place for two people to sleep, shower, and unwind, this is perfect. The staff is extremely cordial and went out of their way to offer us anything we needed. Wine at night and a light breakfast in the morning was perfect. We were a little surprised by the parking lot which charges about $10/night, however that is not bad given the going rate in LB. If you are wanting a big, spacious room then don't book here. If you can function in a small, compact space then you will LOVE this hotel. We were SO glad we chose this property over a chain hotel - it was a fun experience and we enjoyed the serenity.

This is a wonderful hotel. I stayed at the Varden during the BIL Conference, and many of my cohorts were guests as well. The easy accolades first: the staff is outstanding, the location is convenient, the price is right. The rooms are perfectly appointed and just the right size. Indeed the description "boutique hotel" is fitting and puts the Varden in the good company of many small European hotels, both in style and substance. Two of us shared a bright, sunny room and there was no problem with moving about. (Even so, we weren't in Long Beach to stay in our room.) The free WiFi was a bonus as well as the morning coffee and breakfast. Cinco de Mayo restaurant next door was cheap and tasty, as well. If you're looking for a place to feel comfortable and taken care of at the end of your day, the Varden is for you.