The Standard Hotel tries to be everything but standard. It’s a modern hip boutique hotel with minimalist furniture.

Some logistics, the Standard hotel has 2 locations one on the Sunset strip, and the other in downtown LA on Flower Street. I think I can speak for others when I say the hipper and trendier of the 2 is the downtown spot. The downtown hotel is known for the rooftop bar.

The rooftop bar entrance and entrance to the hotel is through the back end near valet. If I remember correctly valet was about $15, and self park was $7. You line up and it is very typical red rope. Dress to impress and sweet talk your way in past the door, and pay a $20 cover to get you to the bar. As with most nightclubs and bars in LA if you are bunch of ladies, your chances of getting in are much greater than even if you had one solitary male in your group. If you don’t make the selection, they usually offer you entrance to the bar downstairs in the lobby. When I say sweet talk I mean act as if you are on the "list." From personal experience this has worked even if you aren’t really on the "list." One way to bypass this door dance is to stay at the hotel, which guarantees an entrance for 2 with no wait.

You would think that the rooftop is jammed pack with people due to the strict door procedures, but that is quite the contrary. You never are bumping into people or feel cramped; instead you find yourself thinking, why don’t they let more people up here?

After you make it past the door take the elevator up to the top floor where as you come out, you’ll be greeted by an open deck with white couches all over the place. Another bonus with a rooftop bar is that smoking is allowed, so you don’t need to step outside to get your fix. There is a full bar, a small area that is made into a dance floor and lots of places to lounge, including individual pods that contain a mattress and probably room for about 5 intimately and 2 comfortably. You are looking at about $8 for well drinks like gin and tonic, and $15 for vodka redbull types. Like I said, it’s a lounging type of place; although there is a dance floor it usually isn’t packed with grinding bodies.

There is also a rooftop pool that I have never seen used. And the view of the city at night is incredible. The hotel is next to a loft/apartment unit. Sometimes you’ll catch some exhibitionists doing a show from their room.

I haven’t been back to the Standard for a while but the crowd is always mellow every time I have ventured out. A couple years ago we saw a bunch of Lakers there.

www.standardhotel.com