These 2-in-1 DTLA Hotels Share 8 Epic Dining, Drinking, and Dancing Venues

Accommodations at the Moxy and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

You’ll find the lobby of the Moxy behind an unassuming door by valet parking. The lobby is bold, modern, and sultry, a style reflected throughout the rest of the hotel. When I entered my room, I was surprised to find the shower, toilet, and sink separate from each other. While initially jarring, I’ll admit this separation comes in handy when you’re sharing rooms. Complete with trendy details like a functional wall system to hang clothes from and a retro telephone, my King guest room presented a sprawling cityscape view. This is a draw of both hotels as the building exterior is mainly glass, which means the guest rooms all feature floor-to-ceiling views.

The elevator system of the two hotels is a bit disorienting at first. While the lobby of the Moxy is located on the ground floor, you take another express elevator up to the top floor where you’ll find the AC Hotel lobby. Stepping off the elevator, I was greeted with unobstructed, breathtaking views of the city from the 34th floor. Where Moxy is chic, dark, and moody, the AC Hotel’s atmosphere is sophisticated, airy, and serene. Yet another set of elevators grants guests access to the rooms on the floors below.

For my second night, I moved to the AC Hotel, where I also stayed in a King guest room. The style of the rooms is refined and decorated with neutral hues. The deconstructed bathroom is present in the AC Hotel rooms, as well. The Moxy has 380 guest rooms and the AC Hotel has 347 guest rooms. Both hotels offer King and Double Queen room types.

Amenities at the Moxy and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Shared amenities between the two hotels include a pool, gym, and business center. On the seventh floor is 10,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces. A co-working area in the form of a minimalistic library is beside the AC Bar & Lounge. The amenities are fairly standard because the main attraction is Level 8, the multi-venue experience for both hotels that’s just as popular with the locals as well as out-of-towners.

Dining and drinking at Moxy and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

Whether you stay at the Moxy or the AC Hotel, there’s no shortage of places to dine, imbibe, and enjoy entertainment. Located on the eighth floor, Level 8 boasts culinary concepts from the likes of Michelin-starred Chef Joshua Gil (Maison Kasai and Mother of Pearl), Esquire Chef of the Year Ray Garcia (Que Barbaro and The Brown Sheep), and Chef Hisae Stuck (Lucky Mizu). Level 8 opened last April and was imagined by Houston Hospitality, helmed by brothers Mark and Jonnie Houston. The brothers’ years of travel served as inspiration for the 30,000-square-foot space that comprises three restaurants, three bars, a nightclub, and a food truck.

My night started at Mother of Pearl, the small outdoor oyster and ceviche bar and final addition to Level 8 that opened earlier this year. Surrounded by marigolds and wrought-iron furniture, it was easy to forget I was on a terrace in LA and not in an elegant Spanish garden. I sipped on a refreshing gin and elderflower cocktail while dining on spicy tuna atop crispy rice and enjoying stunning sunset views.

The next stop was across the floor to Mr. Wanderlust, a speakeasy piano and jazz lounge. An aerialist twirled above my head in the front part of the lounge, which was designed to resemble the library of the lounge’s globe-trotting namesake, Mr. Wanderlust. Plush seating, charming bookshelves, and art obtained from worldly travels adorns the space. Then I walked through a hidden bookshelf entrance and stepped into another opulent lounge. My timing was just right as the hourly show was starting as I sat down.

The stage above the bar rotated to reveal a pianist who gave a short but lively performance. There’s entertainment to be found in every corner of the lounge. Two displays on either side of the piano stage showcase shadowy silhouettes of burlesque dancers. On the other side of the room is where the jazz band takes center stage. The menu features globally inspired concoctions and decadent bites like caviar chips and dip for guests to snack on. I opted for some oysters that whetted my appetite for the next stop, which was dinner.

Mr. Wanderlust connects to Maison Kasai (“House of Fire”), the French-Japanese teppanyaki restaurant that’s popular for private events, and Lucky Mizu, elevated Japanese cuisine. My dinner was at Lucky Mizu, so off I went through another hidden doorway, this time through a waterfall into a short corridor. Behind a curtain, the first thing that greeted me were the 700 lucky cats embellishing the wall from floor to ceiling. There are a few booths, but the majority of the seating is around a U-shaped bar, with individual pots at each seat.

My timing was not as fortunate for dinner as I’m told musicians usually perform at the 40-foot harp stretching diagonally from one end of the ceiling to the other, a design choice meant for patrons to feel like they’re dining in a music box. This is a recurring theme throughout Level 8 – you don’t just enjoy creative cuisine and cocktails, you also indulge in impressive performances.

At Lucky Mizu, you have the choice between seiro mushi (steamed) or shabu shabu (boiled). I opted for the latter. I have shabu shabu regularly, so I had high expectations, and Lucky Mizu did not disappoint. I chose bone and dashi broths, both of which were very flavorful without being overwhelming and provided the perfect base for my choice of meat, Japanese A5 miyazaki beef, and accompanying vegetables. In classic shabu shabu fashion, my meal came with rice and dipping sauces, as well as noodles to mix into the broth after.

As the night wore on, the atmosphere of Level 8 shifted to a night scene. You can grab a drink at Golden Hour, described as a “Miami-meets-Copacabana” bar that works double duty as a hotel pool during the day. The outdoor bar features private cabanas and live performances in the smaller pool. The piece de resistance is the carousel bar with a rotating top adorned with chandeliers, twinkling against the night sky.

Or for a change of pace, you can check out Sinners y Santos, the 19th-century-cathedral-inspired nightclub complete with stained glass windows and a confessional at the entrance. The standout is the wrestling ring above the bar where masked acrobats put on Lucha Libre performances twice nightly. The contrast of the theatrical wrestling amid a traditional space exudes a hedonist atmosphere conducive to letting go of inhibitions.

After dancing the night away, you might end the night at The Brown Sheep, located right outside Sinners y Santos. The food truck facade hides a full kitchen doling out gourmet tacos. Rounding out Level 8 is Que Barbaro (Spanish for “how uncouth”), which serves South American cuisine cooked over a live wood fire. The restaurant is decked out in vibrant colors, tropical prints, and colorful details like brass sconces and lush greenery.

Despite the many options that Level 8 offers, the spaces were intimate instead of overwhelming. As I wandered through the floor, it felt like a maze, but one that you’d happily lose yourself in. Each of the venues is distinct on its own but also works cohesively as a whole. That’s the allure of Level 8. It offers a bit of everything so you can choose your own adventure – opt for one or try them all, the night is yours to curate.

Beyond Level 8, guests of the Moxy can also enjoy Bar Moxy and the Australian-inspired Bluestone Lane Coffee Shop. For AC Hotel guests, there’s La Lo La Rooftop and AC Bar & Lounge, both located on the 34th floor.

How to get to the Moxy and AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

The Moxy and AC Hotel are centrally located in downtown Los Angeles, about 20 to 40 minutes (depending on traffic) from LAX airport by car. The hotels are conveniently located across the street from the Crypto.com Arena and Los Angeles Convention Center, which means it’s an ideal place to stay for those visiting the city for events. In fact, the proximity to the arena makes Level 8 an excellent choice for dinner and pre-drinks before catching a show.