Fresh off his SevenRooms Icon Award at The World’s 50 Best Hotels, nightlife and hospitality legend Ian Schrager has announced the West Coast debut of his cult-favorite brand PUBLIC, set to open in West Hollywood in spring 2026. For Schrager, the co-founder of Studio 54 and the man who redefined the boutique hotel experience in the '90s, this marks both a return to Los Angeles and a fresh statement of intent: luxury doesn’t have to be exclusive. Or quiet. Or boring.
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There's also something delicious about the site chosen for PUBLIC West Hollywood: the former Standard Hotel, itself an emblem of a certain era from another icon in the field, Andre Balazs. Now, PUBLIC will boast 137 rooms and interiors shaped by Schrager in partnership with minimalist British architect John Pawson.
The result is expected to be a blend of simplicity and seduction: clean lines, warm materials, soft light and spaces that are designed as much for vibes as for comfort. The brand’s approach emphasizes Schrager's “luxury for all” call to arms, meaning high design, high-touch service and high energy, without the intimidating price tags or velvet rope mentality that once defined West Hollywood nightlife.
One of the new hotel’s marquee features will be its 16,000-square-foot rooftop, which will be lushly landscaped and open to sweeping 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Schrager has long maintained that rooftops are gathering places, not VIP boxes, and PUBLIC West Hollywood’s terrace is expected to operate as an urban oasis, sunset lounge and after-dark playground all at once. Downstairs, the lobby will function as a social hub, continuing the PUBLIC tradition of emphasizing shared spaces.
Food and drink will be a major part of the experience, with three standalone destination restaurants, bars and nightlife concepts planned for the property. Schrager is known for bringing in collaborators who both understand and shape the cultural moment, so expect programming that leans stylish rather than sceney and fun rather than fussy. The hotel will also feature a pool, of course, and we can already imagine the people watching.
PUBLIC’s first location opened on the Lower East Side in New York, where it quickly became a magnet for a crowd that wanted to be social without being crowded and stylish without being self-conscious. The West Hollywood version aims to echo that energy while reflecting the light, expansiveness and indoor-outdoor lifestyle of Los Angeles.
Reservations for PUBLIC West Hollywood are expected to open in early January 2026. Until then, the Sunset Strip waits for its next chapter.