This was my second stay at the Chateau and I absolutely love the place. It's certainly not for everyone: rooms vary widely, service is friendly but casual, and the vibe is laid-back rather than crisp and efficient - it's definitely not the Four Seasons, and all the better for it. What you get when you stay here is access to a fun world of musicians and movie producers hanging out, a historic and beautiful setting, and some of the nicest hotel rooms I've ever stayed in. I'd recommend the junior suites: about twice the size of standard rooms for only about $100 extra, they are very large and have kitchens and dining rooms as well. Bathrooms are small but pretty, and are rammed full of Frette towels and Kiehl's goodies. It's all a little shabby but in a way that's fully in keeping with the 1940s film-noire atmosphere.
Not so good was breakfast - not fresh enough pastries, only one small cup of coffee, and less than fresh fruit. But the Standard is over the road (you can even walk which is a pretty revolutionary thing to consider in LA) and they do awesome, cheap food 24/7.

I think fundamentally, you'll either like this place or loathe it. If you want conventional luxury, fawning service, and spotless predictable rooms (and there's nothing wrong with all that) then stay away - there are plenty of very nice hotels in LA that will give all this. If you want somewhere low-key, stylish, a bit chaotic, very fun, and extremely beautiful, you should give it a try.

I was really excited to stay here for a few days of luxury while away on business. I'm visiblly pregnant and traveling is oh-so much easier when I stay in fabulous places with great service. That being said - the Chateau has been my biggest hotel let down ever~!
When I went to check in, the incredibly pretentious little boy, gave me bad directions to my room. It was almost 100 degrees out and I had brought my carry-on up to check in on my own. I lugged it up and down the hallway and finally came back to him to ask again. He then led my up and down the hallway looking for it, me still carrying my own bag up and down the stairs. He finally realizes that it's the ONLY room in the lobby just to his left. He giggles and points to the men's room. My room was seriously next door to the men's room. I could hear them PEEING from my bathroom. While the interior of the room was nice, it smelled like smoke soooo bad and overlooked the parking garage entrance. I have NO idea why they wouldn't turn that room into a ladies room!
I came back out to him and asked if there was a room that didn't smell like smoke and wasn't dripping with cheap ash trays and sound like PEEING (actually I was really nice because pretentious little creeps make me nervous). He giggled again and told me that they're all smoking rooms. Evidently all their rooms smell and sound like pee.
I went to dinner with friends and when we got back to my restroom-room the hostess screamed from across the lobby - 'that's not a women's restroom!". I know, it's my room.
So this carried on all night. Women trying to get into my room to use the restroom, men peeing in the night, hollaring, piano playing and singing. I got two hours of sleep before my meetings.
I went to reception at 8am to ask for a room change. The little girl working said she didn't know if she could help but that they didn't usually put people in that room because it's really loud. Thanks, makes me feel like you are completely ripping me off in a 'fake' room. I would also like to point out that when I booked online with them (over a month prior), I clicked a box that specifically said 'quiet room'. They are such pretentious scam artists there! So full of themselves and so not caring of their clients! It's disgusting, the place is so beautiful and their little Hollywood attitudes so gross.
I told her that I would have to change hotels so could she please let me know if they could find it in their hearts to move me because being pregnant and travelling and not sleeping really doesn't feel all that great. After the third pretentious little piggy that I spoke to, I finally found an adult that seemed ashamed that they would put anyone in the 'restroom-room' let alone a somewhat ill pregnant woman travelling on her own. "No problem, we'll have you moved right away'. At least one person has a soul here!
The room I moved to was unimpressive and dirty, you can hear your neighbors peeing, the dining service slow and disorganized, the valet lost my car EVERY morning and always blamed me, but I SLEPT LIKE A BABY up on the 4th floor the second and third night.
If you MUST stay here to because you have a penchant for abusive 17 year old snobs who make $9 an hour and live with 4 roommates and treat people like garbage, by all means, stay here and stay in room #16 to get the full experience. If you're looking for a hotel that doesn't sound like urine and smell like smoke you should try one of the other many luxury boutique hotels in LA.

Let me start by saying this: the Chateau Marmont is not for everyone. They charge 5-star prices for accommodations that are probably 3-4 stars at best, but combined with the allure of Hollywood, their prime location, and access to their oh-so-exclusive (in their opinion) bar and pool area, it's worth it if you're in the mindset to party Hollywood-style.

I stayed there for two nights this past Februrary, in one of their one bedroom cottages. I was there with a friend, and we had a really good time.The Chateau oozes with Old Hollywood glamour. The staff are attentive, and the details are impeccable (Kiehl's toiletries, candles lit at turndown), but my only complaint would probably be some of the more dated aspects of the place. The bathrooms are definitely *way* overdue for a refurb, and the cottage walls are pretty thin. (I think our windows started rattling when a bus drove past on Sunset.)

Other than that, the property is really cute in terms of making you feel like you are at some secret hideaway resort (and the direct access off Sunset Blvd is much appreciated). It was too cold for the pool but we hung out at the adjacent Bar Marmont and had instant access as hotel guests even though there was a line on a busy Saturday night.

All in all, I think it's probably worth the hype, and I do consider returning.

Finally got to stay in the famous Chateau Marmont. First off, let me say that you can definitely get a far more luxurious hotel experience for the same - or less - price at a number of other LA hotels. If you want the perfect room and the huge marble bathroom with gold fixtures and a tv over the tub, I highly recommend the Four Seasons. It's glorious, and you will feel so pampered you never want to leave. Chateau Marmont is a completely different experience, and what you're paying for is truly the legend and the "privilege" of being part of it. If that's worth 5-star prices to you, it's a fabulous place to spend a weekend. We just got back from three nights in a two-bedroom suite, we were overlooking the driveway on one side and the garden on the other. Checking in here is like stepping back in time. The keys are actual keys, not key cards, and it's all so discreet they don't even tell you your room number, lest some unauthorized ear should overhear it. You have to look at the key to see what room you're in. The elevators are tiny and creaky and delightful. I had heard complaints that some of the employees here had a major attitude, or were unhelpful, but we found everyone to be great. The only time we had any problem, when a lunch order was lost and we waited for a really long time, they comped us the lunch and I hadn't even complained.
Now, I must warn you, you will spend a lot. A lot. Breakfast for 4? $125. Lunch? $175. Is it worth it? As I said, that depends what your expectation is. We happened to be there the week before the Oscars, and the place was full of celebs, and there was an Oscar party one night that all guests were graciously invited to. It was an experience you can't buy, being part of that scene. Well, I guess you can buy it, by staying at the hotel, but it probably wouldn't be a tradeoff for a lot of folks.
The rooms themselves are like little old apartments. The kitchens are funky and old and the bathrooms, well, funky and old too. And small. Pretty much one person at a time in there, so if there are three or four of you getting ready to go out at the same time, well, you have to take turns in he bathroom. It's all very clean, and the bath products are luxury, but it's more akin to some faded old grand-dame hotel in Seattle than it is to a 5-star hotel in LA.
I think that if you are someone who knows what the Chateau is all about and who wants to experience it from the inside, you 'll never get another chance to feel quite so much like a rock star, right down to having your picture taken by the dozen or so paparazzi who haunt the end of the driveway. It's like a private club to the stars, and being a guest there gives you a temporary pass to live like one. It's great fun, and worth doing at least once in your life. At the Four Seasons, you'll *see* a lot of stars. At the Chateau, you'll feel like you are one. If that's worth the trade-off for the funky room and the tiny tiled bathroom, go for it. At least once.