The first private members club in LA, this historic Downtown club houses five floors of athletic, social and hotel spaces. Founded in 1880, its members include Charlie Chaplin and Paramount Pictures founder Frank A. Garbutt.
Its legendary 138-year history is celebrated throughout the club through framed vintage photos and artifacts. Its Olympic medal tally includes 97, including 47 golds, by athletes like Johnny Weissmuller (aka Tarzan).
Fitness
This athletic club in Los Angeles that is a complimentary amenity for ROW office tenants and features a wide variety of state-of-the-art commercial grade equipment. Guests can also attend group fitness classes with an elite trainer on hand. The class schedule includes a range of options from high intensity workouts to yoga and stretching.
Founded in 1880, the Los Angeles Athletic Club was built to be more than just a gym. The founding members wanted to dispel stereotypes of Californians as lazy by demonstrating that a healthy lifestyle could improve health, strength and well-being. The club would later become the training home for multiple Olympians, boasting a total of 97 medals earned throughout its history.
Today, the LAAC Hotel is a modern, upscale hotel with a classic gentleman’s club vibe. It has 72 rooms and suites with a variety of amenities, including free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TVs. There are also a variety of restaurants and bars, as well as a co-working area and a spa.
Guests enjoy access to the entire LAAC property, which has over 88,000 square feet of facilities, as part of their stay. These include an indoor lap pool, squash, handball, and racquetball courts, a full gym, and more than 20 weekly fitness classes. However, some areas are reserved exclusively for dues-paying members, while others are available to hotel guests with limited membership privileges.
Social
Long before Soho House was a place for business networking or special interests, the LAAC was DTLA’s hub for health-giving amusements and community. Founded in 1880 as Los Angeles’ first private club, the Club set out to dispel Californians’ lazy reputation by encouraging rigorous physical culture. The founders weren’t kidding: Their members included newspaper tycoons Otis and Chandler, railroad magnates Eli Clark, Moses Sherman, and Henry Huntington, as well as oil men like Edward L. Doheny and Charles Canfield.
Today, the storied facility still fosters a sense of community among its members—and guests. Hotel guests are given a membership for the duration of their stay, giving them access to nine floors of opulent athletic facilities including a John Wooden namesake basketball court, an indoor track, squash courts, racquetball and handball courts, a stunning lap pool, studio space for over 20 weekly classes and spa-grade steam, sauna and quiet lounges.
But even if you’re not a hotel guest, it’s worth stopping by to check out the impressive facility. Its framed vintage photos and artifacts line hidden hallways and tucked-away staircases, creating a sense of historic legacy that’s hard to find in more contemporary clubhouses. The LAAC’s commitment to innovation is alive and well, too: The club recently opened its new state-of-the-art women’s locker rooms and Kahuna Room, a surf-inspired clubhouse and home of WAVE (Women’s Advanced Visionary Enterprise), a social network focused on empowering female entrepreneurs.
Neptune Spa
Unwind and nurture your vitality with signature spa experiences that support your wellness journey. The Neptune Spa offers a range of treatments in a serene setting that includes treatment rooms, a couple’s suite, separate lounges featuring eucalyptus steam and cold plunge pools, and a nail salon and hair salon.
The resort also features a range of diverse dining experiences, including a rooftop restaurant and bar. Invention Bar & Lounge serves a wide selection of drinks, while Duke’s Sports Bar and the Neptune pool terrace serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. There is also a health and fitness center that provides a variety of exercise equipment, including treadmills, stationary bicycles, rowing machines, and ellipticals.
The resort is also home to a state-of-the-art surge proof deep-water marina, offering 24 boat slips and access to power and water. It also has a number of amenities, including a salon and barber shop, gift shop, and boutique. Guests can also enjoy the spa, which features relaxation therapies and ancient bathing rituals. The hotel has 72 guest rooms and suites, all of which are equipped with a flat-screen TV. Many of them have stunning views of the downtown skyline. They also feature a seating area and a refrigerator. Some have a private balcony, while others come with a kitchenette. Guests can book their room through the hotel’s website.
Restaurants
The Los Angeles Athletic Club has always been more than a gym. It’s a community and home—a place to exercise, dine, drink, shake hands with a new acquaintance and hug an old friend. That ethos is evident throughout the historic Beaux Arts building on 7th and Olive in Downtown LA. It’s not quite as grandiose as a members-only club in Old Hollywood, but it’s still quite a sight to behold. The facility is brimming with history, with the likes of Olympian Johnny Weissmuller (aka Tarzan) and surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku having graced its hallowed walls.
Today, the LAAC is a private social club and hotel with 72 guest rooms and suites. The hotel offers limited membership privileges during your stay, including access to the LAAC’s renowned dining and beverage offerings. The Famous Players restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in a relaxed upscale bistro setting. Invention bar/restaurant has nightly dinner specials and a full menu of pre-prohibition cocktails.
In addition to the restaurants and bars, the property has a pool and a spa/wellness center. The fitness facilities are top notch, with the racquetball courts a particular highlight. You can also hit up the salon and barber shop, which offer a wide range of services. The hotel also has a co-working and event space that can be booked for meetings or parties.
