We've stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt several years with groups. We've noticed that the hotel, due to the changing economic climate has changed its' focus to special events and large events which pay the bills! Don't go near the place on New Year's! You'll feel like an unwelcomed guest, not sleep all night and have no hot water to shower in the morning! Still in renovation the lobby remains stark with little or few relaxing amenities. The hotel restaurant's service and food remains excellent. The restaurant staff is very pleasant and efficient!
Check the airport hotels which offer a more modern setting and much better prices!!!

I stayed at the Hollywood Roosevelt for business. There are some problems, but I think many of these are attributable to the fact that the hotel is old, and in an area that is only now receiving some attention for revival. It takes a little imagination to see the Golden Era of the though the hotel has been recently refurbished. For whatever reason, they don't use the front entrance as the main entrance anymore, which is a shame because your first impression is of a cramped den-like area, rather than the rather grand lobby where you can picture the way the hotel was "back in the day."

Details--like not being forewarned that the pool was closed for renovation, the overpowering smell of the deodorizers in the hallway and room, a worn school folder for the stapled menu and ratty photocopies of other information, and the lack of a top sheet on my bed--leave a sour taste for a $199 room. It could be that the nicer more expensive rooms are, well, nicer. The management company really should get its act together fast because it is almost there. I found all the staff really eager and helpful except, interestingly a front desk manager-type who was obviously sick of the service industry, waiting for that big break.

On the flip side, the rooms are very recently redecorated, (this is not your grandmother's hotel) have CD players, down comforters, room service was outstanding (the food and the service) and the vibe is retro/funky/cool. The include a hip jazz/house music CD in the room to give you some of the background music that you hear in the lobby as you check in. The restaurant and bar look nice, although I did the room service option. The lobby is really grand.

I hate L.A., so most of my negative feelings stemmed from feeling like I needed a bath the minute I got into the hotel just from riding there from the airport. The neighborhood is not nice but it IS Hollywood...the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre, the tacky souvenir shops, and newer nicer stores at Hollywood and Highland's new mall. If your expectations are sufficiently lowered from "luxury" to "nice" and you aren't too sensitive or detail-driven, the Roosevelt is alright.

We had a suite and adjoing room for the night of New Year's Eve, did not know that there would be a huge party which would shut down all public spaces for hotel guests-no access to bar, restaurant, lobby or pool. Our rooms were at the end of the building with the fire escape right outside. Party goers clattered up and down all night keeping everyone awake. The best part came at 6AM when we were getting ready for the Rose Bowl Parade and found that we had no hot water in any bathroom. Later we discovered there was no hot water in the hotel at all. The hotel is interesting, but only a fool would go back.

I had the misfortune to have stayed at this hotel for 4 nights from 25 - 29 November, 2004. I had researched this site previously and the reviews seemed to come up Ok with exception of a warning about the mini bar. I kept a small containter of milk in the bar for use in our coffee (they only have powdered stuff - YUK!) and when vacating the room I removed the container and attempted to relock the bar with the key provided, only to have a shelf collapse and a bottle of beer break. I informed reception/housekeeping. I also told the desk clerk upon checking out that I was not prepared to pay for this. Guess what! I was charged over $AUD8.00 for a small bottle. Nonetheless I am disputing this. We also very distressed by our treatment by the staff. There was a Christmas Parade involving all the major streets in the area and most were closed off. We were made to feel like gatecrashers at own hotel and most certainly not put first. The rooms are old and tacky and as for the bathroom I don't even want to go down that road. We have visited this hotel briefly previously prior to their renovation and thought it was just delightful, but unfortunately the new style is just cold and boring and not worth the tariff.