
I remember when the The Sofitel hotel might as well been non-existent. That’s back when rappers, on their records, told you about the hottest clubs you’d never been to but had to make a point to crash.
“…The peanuts in LA, Bubblin’ in Dublin’s” (I Just Wanna Love You, Jay-Z).
I don’t know about the Peanuts gang, but I remember getting into Dublin’s on Sunset with someone else’s ID because I just had to be there. Only to be disappointed that there were no Jigga sightings for all the hoopla surrounding the place.
Yes, The Sofitel existed then. I remember having a singing gig there - some benefit. And… I remember thinking, “Who ever knew this place was behind the Beverly Center?”
Well, in the past five years, the Los Angeles nightlife has been renovated. Sure, you still have the SBE hotspots made popular by The Hills but now there are far more low-key yet sexy nooks all around the city and The Sofitel’s Stone Rose Lounge happens to be one of them.
The hotel lounge is the new destination of the Los Angeles Urban elite and their posses. The Stone Rose is sleek with an alluring ambience dictated by the colors of its decor. The main room is lush and warm with reds and oranges and is offset by a bluish almost cavelike adjacent. I don’t know who the DJ was that night (nor did I even see a booth), but the music was on point as well, playing early 90s hip-hop mixed with grooves from all decades to keep the body moving and the conversations light and lively.
If you want to get dressed up and kick back, Stone Rose is a great option. And unlike the club scene, there is never a cover charge or table service required to get seat.
Unfortunately, valet parking might as well be considered a surcharge for living in LA because it’s mandatory everywhere you go. And the Stone Rose was no exception at $15 per car. But if you’re LA savvy, you’ll also know where to find free street parking just a short walk from the entrance.
The Stone Rose Lounge is soulful and sexy with a mixed crowd - my kind of LA.





























