Visiting Downtown LA? You Can Stay at the Luxe 100-Year-Old Hotel That Made History With the First Female Hotel Manager.
Archival image of the Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
The year is 1926. Women are prohibited from checking into most hotels without a male chaperone. The YWCA opens the Hotel Figueroa in Los Angeles as a safe haven for solo female travelers. Maude N. Bouldin moves to Los Angeles from the East Coast to make history as the first female hotel manager in the country.
Archival 1926 Ad for the Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa.
By 1930, the hotel fully opens to guests of all sexes.
The Hotel Figueroa Today
The Lobby at the Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
Today, 100 years later, the Hotel Figueroa continues to honor its legacy as a hub of creativity in Downtown Los Angeles past, present, and future.
Here’s what to know to get the most out of a stay at the Hotel Figueroa:
Why you’ll love it:
This historic 14-floor hotel offers a luxe oasis in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles for a relaxing escape from the surrounding hustle and bustle. The hotel’s 2018 $55-million-plus redesign mixes Spanish contemporary design with Old World charm.
Accommodations:
Mirador Suite at The Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
268 reimagined rooms and suites. Book the “Rest and Recovery Suite” for a sleep-optimized experience stocked with cutting-edge sleep, fitness, and wellness brands, including your own customized Pluto Pillow and in-room fitness with FORME.
Double room at the Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
Dining:
Dining room at Florence by the Water. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
Cafe Fig offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner with continental influences and plenty of healthy options.
Florence by the Water serves Italian cuisine inspired by the elegance of Tuscany with a view of the hotel’s pool.
Menu spread from Florence on the Water. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
Bar Magnolia, the Hotel Figueroa's grand lobby bar, offers Happy Hour Monday through Friday (3pm to 6pm) and a bar menu until 10pm nightly.
Unwind poolside:
Swimming pool at Hotel Figueroa. Image courtesy of The Hotel Figueroa
The hotel’s famous coffin-shaped pool, located in a lushly landscaped courtyard, is the only ground-level hotel pool in DTLA. Enjoy drinks and bites from La Casita, the hotel’s poolside lounge and bar.
Celebrate the Hotel Figueroa’s centennial:
Write down a memory to share in the Hotel Figueroa’s time capsule, and you’ll be entered into the hotel’s giveaway to win a luxury package at the hotel. The time capsule will be open for entries through the end of the year. (A $10 suggested donation to enter goes directly to support the YWCA.)
The hotel is partnering with the Los Angeles Central Library, also commemorating its own centennial, to curate a rotating collection of works. The program includes titles commemorating their own centennials, and stories inspired by the Los Angeles landscape.
Lizzy Sherman, Co-Founder of Spa & Beauty Today
A University of Michigan graduate, Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning writer and editor. You can also find her work in publications including Healthline, Sports Illustrated, Yahoo!, MindBodyGreen, Men’s Journal, Bezzy, and more.
She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA, and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals.
When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter: @zillizy.