Culver Hotel Bar Los Angeles

Image by Sheila Stone

Sheila Stone photo

Sheila from Los Angeles

History buff, unabashed Anglophile, local travel tour-operator. LA's a wonderful...

Read all articles

Because it’s located next to MGM Studios, The Culver Hotel has hosted the casts from such classic films as Gone With the Wind and famously housed the 140 little people playing the munchkins in Wizard of Oz. It’s known locally as the Munchkin Hotel.

The hotel had famous owners too. It belonged to Charlie Chaplin until he supposedly lost it in a poker game to John Wayne – for $1. (This is one of those legends that *should* be true if it isn’t!) John Wayne eventually donated it to the YMCA.

In the 1980s, the building was boarded up and headed for demolition but, luckily,  cooler heads prevailed. During restoration, the public spaces were completely redone with a nod to the Wizard of Oz while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity. 

The Culver Hotel certainly has plenty of great ambiance and an interesting history but it doesn’t fall down in the food and drinks department either. It’s a good Culver City choice to meet your friends for breakfast, brunch, lunch, high tea, happy hour or dinner. The cocktails are wonderful with clever names like Red Slipper and The Good Witch. The Culver Hotel often hosts live jazz and there is outdoor seating too.

Whatever you do, don’t forget to visit the powder room when you visit. I can’t speak about the men’s room (other than the photo of the Lollipop Gang on front door!) but the ladies has wonderful swan-shaped faucets – and a photo of Glinda the Good Witch at the entrance!

❤️ All Los Angeles hidden gems? 👉 Download our app for iPhone / Android

Sheila from Los Angeles

Sheila Stone photo

History buff, unabashed Anglophile, local travel tour-operator. LA's a wonderful...

Read all articles

Details about this spot

Categories

Address

Culver Boulevard 9400, Los Angeles

Telephone number

+13105589400

Opening Times

24 hours daily

Price

Brunch from: US$ 14

Website

Check on Facebook

Last Changed Date: 2016-05-19 11:45:13 +0200 (Thu, 19 May 2016)