What’s old is new again. Harken back to my rock ‘n roll days in the 80’s and 90’s. Every band wanted to hang at the pool, eat in the restaurant or bed down at the Chateau Marmont, a hotel nestled away on a steep hill in West Hollywood.

The Chateau has never lost its’ luster , beckoning every artistic type to its’ door. In the ‘old days’, a young innocent from a small New England town could acquire practical lessons in sexual behavior and experimentation just by babysitting her musical brood at the pool.

Likewise, a meal on the terrace would have been orgasmic for the likes of the 21^st century TMZ,  Just Jared and Perez Hilton bottom feeders. To this day it still attracts a glam crowd.

 I recently enjoyed a very dignified lunch at the terrace restaurant on a glorious winter’s day in Los Angeles. The temperature was hovering in the low 70’s and the tenting providing a defense against harmful sun rays,  especially for the regulars who rarely see the light of day.

The lobby has maintained the same old world feel. The hotel was built in 1927 and converted from an exclusive apartment building into a hotel in 1930. It was originally modeled after a royal retreat in France’s Loire Valley. In 1990, Andre Balazs took it over and proceeded to update  the hotel, maintaining its’ character and integrity.

Balazs is the owner of the Standard Hotel in New York City, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles and Miami, The Mercer in NYC and The Sunset Beach in Shelter Island, NY.

The hotel restaurant terrace features market fresh California cuisine from Chef Carolynn Spence who honed her skills at the trendy Spotted Pig in NYC.

The patio is quite lovely and serene. The pricing is on par with many of the trendy West Hollywood establishments. The food was excellent.

We started with a lovely dry rose from Provence ($14), proceeded by a delectable Chateau hamburger on a brioche with fries and all the fixings ($19). We also ordered a wonderful chicken cobb with crispy apples, bacon, egg and avocado ($17). It was accompanied by a tasty, creamy  dressing…a little dab will do ya.

My husband had a cucumber, avocado and basil sandwich with radish salad ($15) along with a kale salad with cucumbers, feta and tomatoes ($16). The sandwich may sound pedestrian, but the combination of flavors and textures was refreshing and delicious.

The crowd was unpretentious, but there were enough designer bags and Cartier Love bracelets to open a free standing boutique on the premises.

For me, it was a treat to dine and not have to supervise a gaggle of rockers who were always headed for trouble. It is definitely a dining spot oozing with old world elegance, very good food and celebrity sightings, if that is what you are in to.

Bottom line, it is a worthy destination.

Chateau Marmont 8221 Sunset Blvd. Hollywood, California. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily from 6:30 am to Midnight. Late night dining available from midnight to 6:30am.

chateaumarmont.com