3 Reasons I'm In Love With The Revamped Hotel Normandie

There's been a trend of reviving historic 1920s L.A. buildings, turning them into hotels, bars, and restaurants that nod to the past but have a decidedly modern feel. To me, that never gets old. The Hotel Normandie, developed in 1926 by famed Los Angeles architects Albert R. Walker and Percy A. Eisen, is no exception. They've been rolling out their renovation— which includes the addition of Le Comptior,  Cassell's, and a lovely bar called The Normandie Club — throughout the past year, and I've been covering it along the way for various outlets. Here are three reasons why I'm excited about what's shakin' over at this Koreatown property.

1. The ridiculously good tuna melts and burgers at Cassell's.  Chef Christian Page poaches the tuna belly to perfection, and the burgers are up to snuff with any of the other "bests" in L.A. And did I mention the pies? You can read more about it and see my full photo gallery of all the great pie-n-burg porn in my piece for LAist here.

2. The stunning art-deco era lobby and simple but cozy rooms.  In the lobby a crystal chandelier casts a soft glow on the checkerboard floor, Persian rugs, double-height fireplace and baby grand piano. This is definitely a place you can hang out for a while. You can read my full hotel review for Jetsetter here. 

3. The fantastic bar program and mellow vibes at The Normandie Club. This new, bare bones hotel bar has a great neighborhood feel, and features exotic spirits, like my new personal fave, a Bolivian brandy produced by Steven Soderbergh. (Trust me, this stuff is great. You can read about how the bartenders use it to make the most outrageous daiquiri here.)