Hotel Review: Hotel June Is Setting a New Standard for Airport Hotels

Travel

Nov 4

When my friend DM’d me an image of Hotel June from its Instagram, I knew I had to visit. First allured by the breezy, Mid-century modern vibes, I was more impressed with its proximity to Los Angeles International Airport.

Airport hotels have always been known for being underwhelming in style, food, and having anything relatively exciting around it to explore. Hotel June is different.

The brainchild of Proper Hospitality co-founders Brian De Lowe and Brad Korzen, the hotel resides in Los Angeles’ Westside city called Westchester. If you haven’t heard of this city, don’t worry, neither had I. But you won’t forget it now.

When I checked into Hotel June, we were informed of two beach cruisers on property we could take for a ride at our leisure. Travis and I were so curious as to what was around the hotel, that we pedaled off to find that, while the airport is about 2 miles from the hotel, so is Playa Vista beach!

The approachable lifestyle hotel sought to create a stylish place for frequent travelers and locals alike, and it delivers on its intentions. Locals in the area have a hip hangout for working, dining or imbibing with friends. Travelers have a spot to check into 5 minutes from the airport with inviting amenities and a topnotch dining menu.

I spent the majority of my time at Hotel June basking in the sun at the onsite pool. What I found was a combination of locals on a day pass, eating tasty bites like the vegan cauliflower nachos between Zoom calls under the shade of wispy palm fronds, and vacationers wading in the water, hand-crafted cocktails in hand.

Mellow electronic sets the mood, and each song makes you feel cooler than the last. I actually searched Hotel June on Spotify to access its playlists. It’s a regular rotation for me now.

While there will be two onsite restaurants, due to COVID-19, the restaurant directly above the pool, Caravan Swim Club, serves as the mainstay for now. A salmon-colored bar with a backdrop of liquor and lush greenery on wooden shelves, along with a series of basket pendant lights offering a dimly lit setting for the al fresco space, make the restaurant feel like you could drop it in Tulum. The food and drink offerings are nothing to quaff at either.

The mezcal cocktails are made to perfection, combining ingredients I didn’t know I needed, like the “Midnight Zone” — acre cenizo mezcal, creme de banana, vermouth, chocolate bitters, sal de gusano.

The raw bar offerings make my mouth water just thinking about them. My favorites included the oysters with michelada mignonette, watermelon granita and lime, along with the crudo featuring line caught local bluefin tuna, ponzu and smoked mesquite sea salt.

The hotel’s design is at the forefront of its draw. The coastal 250-room debut property blends beach culture with classic Mid-Century architecture. Helmed by award-winning, Venice-based design agency Studio Collective (which my friend follows incessantly for design inspo), you’ll find a minimalist warmth throughout, from the natural woods and native fabrics to the handmade tiles and local art.

Surely, the price point doesn’t hurt either. All the luxury without the stuffy price point, bland food, stark pool setting, and dated decor, you can check in starting at around $128.