Start Your LA Story at Short Stories Hotel

Fathom contributing couple Anna Petrow and Patrick Mulvihill are on the road again, reporting on a cute hotel and a few classic L.A. pit stops in between photo shoots.

The resurgence of motels, bolstered by designers and artists who resurrect often crumbling spaces with unique, memorable details, has been one of our favorite travel trends to cover for Fathom. The everything you need and nothing you don’t hospitality approach is our ideal mindset as travelers looking to get the best out of exploring Los Angeles without skimping on comfort. In a town known for glitz and glamor, it’s a real treat to find true value without sacrificing ambiance.

In West Hollywood, Short Stories Hotel is a boutique experience that marries modern luxury with classic Southern California charm. Located on Fairfax Avenue across from The Grove shopping area and The Original Farmer’s Market, this gem is a great base for exploring Museum Row, the West 3rd Street Shopping District, and beyond.

Step onto the checkerboard marble floor of the lobby and immediately feel old and new come together. Set in a 1960s motel, the recently renovated 66-room hotel has a variety of thoughtfully designed spaces that blend the contemporary and the homey.

In the rooms, you’ll find the mark of a truly excellent motel: lots and lots of storage. With a raised bed (luggage fits under there!), closet, drawers, bedside tables, and large sink space, it's a layout that invites guests to settle in. Hardwood floors, unique light fixtures, a blue cheetah upholstered couch, and some truly gorgeous carpentry totally shatter any motel stereotypes on the mind: This is a new era of accommodation.

Arguably the highlight of the mid-century modern motel is its beautifully landscaped courtyard, which is as perfect for a quiet morning coffee as it is a late evening with friends. The hotel’s heated outdoor pool provides a tranquil oasis for slowing down and catching a few rays.

We enjoyed happy hour at The Bar, the hotel’s lounge and watering hole with craft cocktails and crowd-pleasing apps (don’t sleep on the calamari or shishito peppers). A strawberry gin martini is just one of many reasons to linger on the patio or sit at the bar and take in its glorious salmon-colored walls.

Conveniently, Sugarfish is a short walk from the hotel and a quintessential sushi spot known for its hand rolls (choose your favorites or opt for the Trust Me menu). Hyped organic market Erewhon is located just blocks away — maybe now’s your chance to try the viral Hailey Bieber Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie, which is, admittedly, pretty delicious.

For a taste of LA history that’ll give your skin a different kind of glow, try Pink's Hot Dogs, a nostalgic spot serving classic American hot dogs since 1939. Their chili dog, topped with Pink's famous chili, mustard, onions, and a generous helping of cheddar cheese, is a culinary experience.

Of course, you’re not just in LA to eat, you’re there to take in the sights and sounds of the city, even if you’re content sticking to your surrounding neighborhoods. Head north on foot to West Hollywood, with plenty of window shopping on Melrose Ave and celebrity sightings at the famed Chateau Marmont.

Eager to play tourist? Beverly Hills is just a short drive east of the hotel, while L.A.’s most concentrated collection of museums is just half a mile south. There, one can knock out the LA County Museum of Art, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, La Brea Tar Pits, and Petersen Automotive Museum in a single city block.

Consider a more relaxing endeavor shared by both tourists and locals alike: sitting on a beach and doing absolutely nothing. Playa del Rey is a quieter, more laid-back alternative to the bustling shores of Santa Monica or Venice Beach. Don’t forget to pop by Erewhon for picnic supplies — it’s irresponsible to enjoy the beach on an empty stomach.