27-03-2025
The Secret Garden
In LA, the casual and elevated often go hand in hand.
The best soup dumplings are found in a dilapidated mini mall. The most beautiful clothing is designed for lounging at home. And 1 Hotel West Hollywood's new Juniper Lounge & Garden—so comfy and relaxed that guests' dogs are often found asleep on the plush couches—serves up dishes with flavors so fresh and bright that they rival some of the best cuisine.
Thus was the concept of this restaurant and hangout from the outset, reflective of the hotel's overall biophilic design ethos—connecting guests with nature. The indoor-outdoor space meanders from the interior bar with neutral couches, raw wood coffee tables and abundant succulents through glass doors out onto a patio strung with fairy lights. Just beyond and below, the city glistens and sparkles.
It's this relaxed, dreamy vibe that draws in-the-know locals and visitors. 'Juniper Garden is like this little sanctuary tucked away off Sunset, totally unexpected when you step off that busy street,' describes Ginger Pierce, the property's director of food, beverage and culinary arts. 'When the DJs play in the evenings, the space comes alive…But somehow, it still feels like you're hanging out in someone's big, beautiful living room—a very, very nice living room!'
At first, Pierce had been reticent about moving from standalone restaurants to hotels, but the company's sustainable ethos spoke to her. She first joined the brand as executive chef at the 1 Hotel Central Park in 2015. And perhaps an eventual move to LA was always inevitable. After all, she grew up in Northern California and went to culinary school in San Francisco, which kickstarted a passion for fruits and vegetables. And, as Pierce says, LA always has something amazing in season. 'I developed a huge passion for produce—so much so that I even worked on a farm,' she recalls. 'My philosophy is simple: eat local and in season. You start to really look forward to certain ingredients, and you appreciate them more because they taste better—especially when they're picked ripe and haven't traveled too far.'
This ideology has shaped the offerings at Juniper Garden since its opening in August 2024. Pierce especially recommends their house-made breads and dips (including delicious Roasted Carrot Humus, Miso Baba Ghanouj, Pumpernickel Flatbread and Everything Crackers), as well as the farmers market-sourced crudités and house pickle plate. The local botanical spirits—combined with herbs grown in the onsite organic garden—are also a big draw. 'A Negroni with Botanist Gin and Lo-Fi Vermouth?' says Pierce. 'Sounds perfect to me.'
Ultimately, if the seasonal, fun cuisine is drawing diners in to this tucked away spot, it's the relaxed vibe that's also keeping them coming, again and again. As Pierce muses, 'Juniper Garden has become a community space where people can come together.'
And that's something we all need these days.
