The Mondrian

In the continued spirit of hotel nightlife (and daytime pool life), the Mondrian is an old Hollywood gem, originally built as an apartment building in the 1950s, turned hotel in 1996, and later redesigned by the renound Morgans Hotel Group. It has stood the test of time, continuing to rock the world of jaded and fickle scenesters in LA and world-wide.

Asia De Cuba

We came in search of good food. And that’s exactly what we got. The Mondrian’s Asian/Spanish fusion restaurant, Asia De Cuba, was pioneered by chef Daniel Roberts, and designed by renowned decorator Phillipe Starck (see SLS Hotel below) We parked off Sunset and hiked in blazing heat to avoid the valet (who carries cash these days, anyway?). After a somewhat hectic journey, we sat ourselved in the lush overgrown garden for a poolside Sunday Lunch. The spectating commenced, our city is heavily voyeuristic. Gorgeous sprawling views of Los Angeles and gaggles of see-be-seen people nearly overload the senses. The friendly staff made us feel at home instantly. We shared the Calamari Salad and a decadent Lobster Club with Mojito Fries. It was a perfect way to end the weekend and we still had plenty of leftovers (nuevo cuisine portions are N/A).

: $24 lobster club, mojito fries

: $16 calamari salad

: $14 classic mojito

The Mojitos come highly recommended. There are a few options to choose from:

$14 Flavored mojitos: mango, raspberry, pineapple, coconut
$18 Sparkling Mojito
$18 10 Year Mojito (made with 10 year old Cane Rum)

For menus, see the official Asia De Cuba LA website.

Skybar/Pool

The Mondrian pool is perfect for a lounging on a warm Hollywood day. The view is devastating, and the underwater classical music provides a tranquil environment for sun worshipers. If you can manage to reserve a weekend brunch at Skybar, do it. It might be the only way you can get in on a Sunday afternoon. Sprawling city views are nothing to scoff at but the scene inside is slightly questionable. It’s the quintessential young Hollywood crowd; plastic surgery, dayglo tans, and fashion experiments gone awry. Having said that, if you are simply looking to enjoy some well-crafted cocktails on a warm day with your close friends, hanging poolside and @skybar is the place to be.