Los Angeles Is Once Again Ready For Its Close-Up From Visitors

Forbes

25-03-2025

The Fairmont Century Plaza shows off its Hollywood style. From hotels to restaurants to cultural ... More attractions, Los Angeles has bounced back from destructive fires and welcomes tourists and business travelers.
This January, the massive fires in Los Angeles County dominated news coverage. A pair of fires, one in the Eaton Canyon area of Altadena, the other in the Pacific Palisades, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. At least 29 people died.
It was a terrible pair of events, and the consequences of the fires are still being felt. Thousands of Angelenos are struggling to rebuild. Miles of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway remain closed to all but local residents and contractors.
But the city and its residents are resilient. From the beaches to Hollywood to the West Side to downtown to the mountains, Los Angeles is wide open to tourists and business travelers. The city's tourism commission and attractions, restaurants and hotels, such as Fairmont, are working to get this message out.
A common question asked on Google is, 'Is it safe to go to LA right now?' Google's AI Overview answered, 'Yes, it is safe to visit Los Angeles, as most of the city is undamaged and open to visitors, with the majority of attractions remaining operational…Over 98% of Los Angeles is undamaged, and the city is ready to welcome visitors…The majority of travel attractions remain open and are not impacted by the fires…Visiting Los Angeles can help support local businesses and the people who work there.'
Without minimizing the pain, Los Angeles remains a great destination, and hotels, restaurants and iconic locations are working hard to prove it.
Julia Roberts attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, ... More 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo byfor Critics Choice Association)
Having lived in Los Angeles for 35 years, I recently spent a few days as a tourist myself, and it was fascinating, confirming my love for LAL and our Hollywood culture. Living in the city during the fires, we too were glued to the television and internet, praying the fires would not engulf our home or our friends.
If residents were anxious, how would a tourist feel? I spent several jammed-packed days as a 'tourist.' It was fun and confirmed what many of us already knew--- that most of Los Angeles remains intact, unaffected by the fires. Recovery is real.
During my trip, I stayed in two hotels, the Fairmont Century Plaza and Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, to sample two faces of Los Angeles. Both hotels are on the fashionable West Side of Los Angeles, with the Miramar (which is 'sea view in Spanish) across Ocean Avenue from Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The Century Plaza in skyscraper-filled Century City opened on June 1, 1966, and was part of the huge real estate development on the former 20th Century Fox Backlot that created a 'city within a city.' The Fairmont Century Plaza is all steel and glass, an icon of the 1960's and 1970's recently remodeled to bring its classic outlines into the 21st century.
Part of the remodel expanded room and suite sizes, resulting in a total room count of 315 rooms and 85 suites, each with a private terrace. There are also 63 private residences.
One of the treatment rooms at the Fairmont Century Plaza Spa in Century City, CA.
The Century Plaza is also home to dozens of Hollywood celebrations and events. The hotel has 24,000 square feet of event space and also boasts the recently remodeled 14,000 square-foot Fairmont Spa Century Plaza. There is also a swimming pool and a large fitness center that seems even bigger because of its mirrors.
Lumière, the Century Plaza's brasserie helmed by Executive Chef Ramon Bojorquez, offers a taste of a traditional French-inspired fare with a distinct Southern Californian take. The restaurant has a classy bar made of zinc and imported from France.
The hotel's focus on wellness will be boosted next year by a life longevity, preventative medical/wellness experience center in an adjoining building. Tony Robbins is reportedly involved.
Rignt now, the Fairmont Spa Century Plaza is host to a variety of treatments like skincare, hair care, body treatments, massage, as well as activities like red light treatment and biohacking. I experienced biohacking, which involves making incremental changes to your body to improve your health and well-being.
The Biohacking Treatment at Fairmont Spa Century Plaza involves reclining on an anti-gravity bed. It has a Higher Dose Mat to support your body's healing process with Magnetic Field Therapy, heat, and healing crystals. I was also zipped into a pair of NormaTech Lymphatic Drain compression boots to help ease muscle tension and detoxification. Th soft blackout eye mask and headphones providing a Binaural Meditation Journey encourage relaxation and decrease anxiety, and for many, like me, result in a 'power nap.'
The bar at Lumiere at the Fairmount Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The actual bar is made of zinc and ... More was imported from France.
The spa also offers sessions with Mia Magik, an Intuitive Advisor and bestselling author. Known for her viral Sacred Rage Ritual, Mia helps clients reconnect with their inner selves and unlock their spiritual potential
While I was initially skeptical, Ms. Magic got me talking about my dreams and the obstacles I felt were keeping me from getting there. Her sessions fit well with the optimism of Los Angeles, for the last 120 years a symbol of dreams and storytelling, from cowboys and Native Americans to surfers and crazy car culture, from big and little screens to its iconic landmarks like the Hollywood sign and Randy's Donuts.
The Century Plaza is located a short Uber ride from Westwood (home of UCLA), Beverly Hills and the rest of West LA. It is also a five-minute walk to the Century City Mall, home of upscale shops from Tiffany's and Bloomingdales to UNIQGLO and Moleskine notebooks. There is a 14-plex AMC first run theater and many restaurants, including the only EATALY in Los Angeles.
The enormous EATLY, on two levels, has three restaurants including Capri, in addition to a Costco-sized warehouse of Italian cheeses, foods, implements and more. The restaurant has many delicious fish, pizza and pasta dishes, with spaghetti Nerano (with fried zucchini) particularly recommended. Another fun activity are the cooking classes, which are open to reservations and scheduled at least once a day.
Central Garden in Getty Center. Los Angeles, California, USA - May 28, 2023. The Getty Center is a ... More campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust.
The Century Plaza is a 15-minute ride from an important LA cultural redoubt, the J. Paul Getty Museum. Designed to look like a university campus rather than a stuffy museum, the Getty is atop a mountain (you take a tram from the parking lot to get there.) The museum was threatened by flames but escaped untouched.
J.P. Getty's bequest keeps the museum free, but you will need to reserve entry and pay for parking. The concierge can hook you up—our docent noted that only the best hotels have concierges these days. Other great museums are close by as well such as the Hammer in Westwood and Los Angeles County Museum, often called LACMA, on Los Angeles' Museum Row.
In short, even after the devastating fires there's always something fun and fulfilling about a visit to Los Angeles.
Yes, the city was hurt by the fires. But the energy and spirit of Los Angeles are still strong. There's a lot to see and do here, and we Angelenos want to share the best of our city with you.
A guest bathroom at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.