The Aster

The Aster

At 1717 Vine Street, where Hollywood Boulevard meets the intersection that gave the neighborhood its name, The Aster opens into something closer to a private club than a conventional hotel, and the two roles rarely get in each other's way. The 35 suites, spread across five floors, range from a 350-square-foot studio to a two-bedroom retreat overlooking the Hollywood sign and Capitol Records, most fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows and several with private balconies. Guests share the run of the property with members: an outdoor pool open from seven in the morning until eight at night, an eight-bed reformer Pilates studio, a dedicated weight room, and a rooftop restaurant, Lemon Grove, built around Californian market-to-table cooking and weekend brunches that draw a crowd from well beyond the hotel. The Aster has been awarded a Michelin Key, a first-of-its-kind distinction from the Michelin Guide that sets it apart from every other address in the neighborhood. This suits a woman who wants Hollywood at close range without staying somewhere that feels like a hotel, who doesn't mind sharing a pool deck with members on a weekday afternoon, and who travels with a dog rather than children, since the property is adults only and charges 150 dollars for pets, dogs only. It does not suit anyone hoping for anonymity or a quiet corner away from a packed social calendar; this is a place built around being seen as much as seeing. Checkout runs to noon, check-in starts at three, and the hotel does not accept cash, worth knowing before you arrive. The Michelin Key remains the one detail no other hotel on this stretch of Vine can match. A 35-suite members club dressed as a hotel on Hollywood and Vine, adults-only, holding a Michelin Key no neighboring property has. Expect a rooftop restaurant, an all-day pool scene, and a lobby that doubles as a lounge for members. Bring a dog, not children, and skip the cash.