Silver Lake's Most Anticipated Hotel Has Officially Opened - Hotel Lucile

A historic church in Silver Lake has officially entered a new chapter.

Hotel Lucile opened in September inside the former Bethany Presbyterian Church, a 1931 Romanesque Revival building at the corner of Griffith Park Boulevard and Lucile Avenue. The new boutique hotel keeps many of the building's original architectural details while adding guest rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop, a pool, and new gathering spaces.

Here's a look at what's new at Hotel Lucile.

A 1931 Church Turned Boutique Hotel

The building was originally constructed as Bethany Presbyterian Church in 1931 and spent much of its history as a place of worship.

Over the years, it was also used for other purposes, including an antique market and filming location. Casetta Hotels eventually took over the project and transformed the property into a 25-room boutique hotel while preserving many of its defining features.

Original Details Are Still Part of the Design

One of the most interesting parts of Hotel Lucile is how much of the original building remains.

The property still features stained-glass windows, vaulted ceilings, arches, woodwork, masonry details, and the original bell tower. The stained glass is especially prominent inside the restaurant, where windows depicting the 12 apostles look over the dining room.

The guest rooms also incorporate original details, including the building's iron-framed windows.

25 Guest Rooms with Local Artwork

Hotel Lucile has 25 rooms spread across three floors.

The rooms have a simple, colorful design with vintage-inspired details and artwork from local and regional artists. The property also features a rotating collection of more than 100 contemporary artworks throughout the hotel, with many pieces available for purchase.

The hotel includes one suite with a private courtyard, along with rooms ranging from standard accommodations to larger premium rooms with additional sitting and workspace areas.

A Rooftop with Views of the City

Hotel guests can also head upstairs to the rooftop, which includes an herb garden, native plants, seating, and views toward the surrounding neighborhood and Downtown LA.

The rooftop currently serves hotel guests, with plans for additional public access as the property moves into a later phase of its opening.

Sous Sous Brings a New Restaurant to Silver Lake

The former church sanctuary is now home to Sous Sous, a new French-American restaurant from the team behind De La Nonna.

The menu takes inspiration from the South of France and the American South, drawing connections between places like Marseille and Nice and Charleston and New Orleans. Seafood, seasonal vegetables, herbs, citrus, spice, and a changing raw bar are central to the menu.

Some of the opening dishes include Espelette-spiced oysters, bluefin tuna crudo, prawns, roasted trout, bouillabaisse for two, and hush puppies with honey butter and serrano chile. The bar also puts its own spin on classic cocktails, including a Sazerac made with toasted-coconut-infused rye.

Art Is a Big Part of the Restaurant

The restaurant isn't just about the food.

Local artwork is incorporated throughout the dining room, including two murals by LA artist Erin Lynn Welsh. One depicts Eaton Canyon while the other takes inspiration from Elysian Park. The space combines the artwork with the church's original stained glass, arches, antique pieces, and custom banquettes.

There's a Pool Downstairs, Too

The property also has a small pool tucked into the lower level of the hotel.

At roughly 15 feet square, it's more of a private retreat than a traditional hotel pool, adding another outdoor space to the property.

A New Chapter for a Silver Lake Landmark

Hotel Lucile is an interesting example of how an older Los Angeles building can take on a completely different purpose without losing its original character.

The former church now combines historic architecture with a boutique hotel, a new restaurant, contemporary art, outdoor spaces, and gathering areas. For Silver Lake, it's another new addition to an already active neighborhood around Sunset Junction.

Hotel Lucile is located at 1629 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026.