A welcome one-night romantic escape for mom and dad from our children. A dream. The food in the restaurant is fantastic. We felt like we were in another country, not in our backyard of LA. We will be back and will highly recommend to our friends. We love this place!

Some might think Hollywood, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood might be easy places to find a pleasing hotel, but in fact, getting the right spot can be tricky. Yes, a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel would be nice (if someone else were paying), and, yes, national chain hotels are everywhere (but why would you want them in LA?), and trendy hotels flourish and die with the regularity of weeds in spring.

The Petit Ermitage is a great find. It has a fabulous combination of attributes: Perfect location, perfect size at only four stories, a perfect top-shelf roof lounge-bar-restaurant combo, and perfect staff. There are no nits to pick. Yes, it's trendy-- but not foppish. Yes, it has great food, but not a theatrical presentation of bit-sized cuisine. Yes, it is quiet in the room areas, but it's animated and urbane in the lounges. For the price and for the experience, it's perfect.

We asked for the valet parking for both nights of our stay, bur ended up seeing our car left outside on the street one night instead of in the garage. The valet told us he got a request from the front desk saying that the guests (us) would need the car so just go ahead and pull the car out. THAT WAS A LIE, the only time we would call for services is when we need food! They pulled our car out so they could park the Bentley's in since it appeared to me there was a private party held at the rooftop that night. We requested an explanation, the front desk guy (a short Caucasian dude, should have jotted his name down and let it go public here) at first denied it and, of course, did not apologize. He even said "But your car is okay, no?". Eventually, he took off the parking fees. But HEY DUDE, IT IS FREE FOR STREET PARKING if that's where our car was at, what's the point paying you $32 a night for your garage parking? Seriously, first time in my life that I did not tip the valet.

Alas, after many years of devoted patronage, I'm finally writing the love letter this gem deserves.

I have stayed here well over 50 times, and I've been loathe to write this review, just because I didn't want to arrive at my "secret" LA solace one day without a room due to sudden uncontrolled popularity.

I love this hotel. Everything about it. The small size. The personable and considerate valets. The incredibly sexy/cozy rooftop bar. The location, tucked away off the beaten path, but moments from the best restaurants in the city.

The beds are divinely comfortable. (No, this is true. Not just one of those "Oh my God, I was so tired, and the bed was comfy" reviews. I mean it.) In my terrific bed at home, I often wish I were sleeping on those sheets at Le Petit.

The shower is simple, yet unfathomable. Such water pressure (again, this sounds dumb, but MAN, there is no better way to enter the day). Balconies off most rooms, and really tasteful couches, and fireplaces, and friendly faces at the desk, and great food in the restaurant without EVER being stuffy. (Really, is there a better breakfast anywhere? No. Nope. Nada.)

And the VERY best part of this special nook (other than it being MY SECRET for so many years), is that it has a way of making you feel like you belong there among the beautiful. Even me. And in a city that seems to work hard at wearing you down, there is nothing I appreciate more than the way they lift me up.

Merci mon petit ermitage. Je t'aime.