The Vibe
The atmosphere at The Shay epitomizes a trendy, edgy and hip environment. When you step into the lobby, you feel as though you have walked into the city’s most vibrant happy hour spot. The interior design features a marble lobby bar, a firepit, cozy couches and a pool table, setting the stage for both guests and locals to mingle and unwind. This is an ideal venue for business travelers, young couples and friend groups in their 30s and 40s.
How I Felt
Chic. The design of the common spaces and rooms showcases mixed patterns, bold color accents and a variety of geometric shapes. The lobby has an industrial feel, with brown leather couches, black metal light fixtures and light wood trimmings. The heated pool gives off Palm Springs vibes, adorned with pink and white striped umbrellas and pink loungers.
The Digs
The rooms are simple but have a flair to them. Whether it’s a colorful set of pillows, a standout piece of wall art, a unique coffee table or a hard-to-miss light fixture, the rooms are decorated in a minimalistic style and infused with creative elements. Some rooms come with balconies, which offer views of the Hollywood Hills.
The Agenda
The Shay is located within Ivy Station in Culver City. This mixed-use development features retail stores, office spaces and residential apartments, in addition to a light rail and bus transit station. The hotel’s name pays homage to the engineer who developed the Shay steam locomotive. Because of the hotel’s ideal location, it’s easy to walk to several places, including other districts like the Culver City Arts District, Helms Bakery District and Downtown Culver City. My time spent at The Shay consisted of shopping at The Platform and exploring the cafes and restaurants in the area. Nearby attractions include Sony Pictures Studios, the Museum of Jurassic Technology and the Wende Museum of the Cold War.
The Eats
The Shay offers excellent dining options, including Zaytinya, which serves flavors from Greece, Turkey and Lebanon. For open-air dining, Butterfly, located on the rooftop, serves Mexican food by the José Andrés Group. The restaurant complements the pool’s Palm Springs vibes by sporting pink and green palm tree wallpaper. Other exceptional options nearby are Pasta Sisters, for, as you can guess, pasta; Hatchet Hall for wood-fired cooking; Roberta’s for pizza; and Father’s Office for a burger. If you are in need of a breakfast option, Bianca has delicious baked goods.
Why I Would Go Back
The scene. I felt very “in-the-know” and in the middle of a vibrant art and culture scene while at The Shay.
Latifah Al-Hazzà
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