Chic in LA: Soho House West Hollywood
by habituallychic
03 . 24 . 10
The pièce de résistance of my day of design last Friday was dinner at Soho House West Hollywood. Membership definitely has its privileges and lucky for us, I know a member! I used to think that Soho House New York was fabulous until I walked up the stairs at the LA outpost and saw the view above! I think I might have heard angels singing or maybe it was just the ubiquitous LA helicopters. Whatever the case, it was jaw dropping!
There are only a few spots in LA with views and Soho House West Hollywood sits on the top two floors of 9200 Sunset Boulevard. For those of you who know LA, it’s in the same building as Boa. You enter through the garage and just as we got out of the car, we saw Jordana Brewster heading out.
On one side of the top floor is a walkway that connects the more casual club bar and sitting room with the roof garden.
Here you can get a little peek at the club bar at the end.
I joked about moving to LA after this trip but only on the condition that I would be accepted for membership in Soho House West Hollywood! I still cannot get over the view!
Waldo Fernandez designed the interiors and I was so happy that he chose to go more traditional and clubby instead of slick and modern which would have been an easy thing to do in such a modern building.
The club bar has herringbone wood floors while the walkway and roof garden is paved with large stone tiles, probably since it’s exposed to the outside.
I really love the juxtaposition of the wood garden furniture and plants next to the modern glass windows.
Waldo Fernandez had mature olive trees craned onto the roof to create an oasis in the sky! Now that is chic…and maybe a little crazy but in a good way! I hear that the Soho House New York roof terrace is having a little work done. Makes me wonder if they are getting trees too!
As it got darker, the lanterns lit up the terrace. It was beyond gorgeous! We got there early when it was empty but it soon filled up and producer J.J. Abrams ended up sitting at the next table! I also overheard someone taking about a pilot that had just gotten picked up. You know you’re in LA when the dinner talk is all about television and film and not finance or fashion like New York!
I have to also say that the food was just as good as the view and decor! The roof also retracts for open air dining and closes for the three days a year that it rains.
Not sure if you can see it in this photo but there is a little koi pond in the middle of the room. The waiter joked that you couldn’t swim in it like the pool on the roof of Soho House New York but you just know some drunk member will be falling in there at some point!
Just like gardens on the ground, the roof terrace has wood benches and comfy throw pillows made from fabric from LA designer Peter Dunham.
The dining area is raised in the center and surrounding it is a lower area with sofas. Again, look at that view!
It was really beautiful at sunset but they also serve breakfast and lunch. Unlike the Soho House in New York, this one doesn’t have rooms for overnight guests. Too bad!
I didn’t want to get yelled at for taking photos in the reception area so this one is from the website. On the right, you can get a little glimpse of the dark walls that are hung gallery style with art. 
In this sketch of the design from Waldo Fernandez, the walls are wood and not hung gallery style as the are now. There is also a pool table on the left instead of a sitting area.
This photo of founder Nick Jones at a pre-Oscar party gives you a little peek at the bar club side of Soho House West Hollywood. It definitely had an English clubby feel with lots of books. Below is a sketch of the original design. I am still dreaming of this wonderful space. We always like to think that everything is better in New York but in this case, Soho House West Hollywood blows away the competition. And definitely makes me want to move to LA!
10 Comments
love the main dining room-feels like you are eating al fresco high above the city!
when did you take all those fabulous photos? i must have been too busy sucking down cocktails to notice!
what a great end to a fab day- glad i was able to spend it with you (and andrea, kathryrn, madeline, suzanne, kelly & windsor).
oxoxo!
You’ve captured L.A. at its best in your write-up and photos. And of course you knew to take those shots when the light was at its best. Brilliant. Love the hilly surroundings visible in many of the shots.
All the best,
Michael
I can’t get over those view!!! What a spectacular trip you had Heather! Yes, I think you must move to LA : )
XO Katie
Love that dining area!
I love these pic of LA; makes the best viewing of the city possibly from a morning cup of joe.
Thanks for the view, I bet you & Christian had a ball! What fun.
L.
Amazing photos! WOW!
Dying. What a post; the photos are incredible and I’ll be daydreaming about a sidecar in that bar for the rest of the day. -Carey
Oooh, is that Indian Flower by Michael Smith I see? Beautiful space!
Heather, fabulous images and the views OMG!! Thank you for sharing life in the fast lane LA style!
Karena
Art by Karena