The greater Los Angeles area has become a hot bed for escape rooms the last few years, with many popping up very recently. However, one of the newest also happens to be one of the most impressive.

Situated at 6633 Hollywood Boulevard (which, when you add the last two numbers together, becomes a sinister address), not too far from the TCL Chinese Theater, is Escape Hotel, an impressive venue with 10 rooms to try your luck in. For months, Escape Hotel was talked about amongst the community, with its eye-catching photos and creepy trailers. We all waited in anticipation for it to arrive, and when it did, it did not disappoint.

Walking into Escape Hotel is exactly that; an escape from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Boulevard. The posh hotel setting is wonderful, reminding me of Disney’s Tower of Terror lobby in many ways. It is here that you can not only begin your experience at the check-in desk, but also grab a bite at their café, or just sit and relax in their atmosphere.

The multitude of eerie bellhops are happy to answer any questions you may have, and also creep you out while staring at you from afar. It is a perfect way to begin your experience there, and set the tone. While checking in, if this is your first visit, each member of the party is provided a “passport”; a keepsake that will keep track of the rooms you have tried, and whether or not you made it out in time. It’s an interesting concept, and definitely a cool memento to take home with you. Of course, there is more than meets the eye, as the passport does contain its own secrets…

Each of their rooms is themed to a different concept, with their room numbers pertaining to the year it is meant to take place. When we went, we were invited to try out Daycare, room 1919. The story behind it is not necessarily to escape from the room itself, but to help the missing girls who once resided there break the curse. Of course, anything involving little girls is inherently creepy, and this was no different.

When we first got into the room, I was impressed with the level of detail that went into it. Once the door closed, it looked like we were transported to an abandoned day care in 1919. The amount of props and theming was mind-blowing, and it definitely helped you get into the story. My only concern here is that, being as how this is technically a tourist destination, I fear some of the more fragile props will break sooner rather than later. In fact, later on in the room, we did see that some smaller items (not necessary to the game, thankfully) had already been broken a bit. Some of the dolls were actually porcelain, and it only takes one person to drop it to ruin it for the rest. However, the fact that the Escape Hotel team DID use authentic props was a testament to their commitment to quality.

Overall, the quality of the room’s puzzles was also top notch. There were some old favorites with new twists, along with a few new things I haven’t seen before. You could tell that the team really put their heads together in order to plan out this room, and the linear storyline was played out perfectly. While rated as an average difficulty on their scale, it still provided a bit of a challenge. However, we did manage to accomplish our task with 6 minutes and 45 seconds to spare. We were surprised to learn that we were one of the only teams to finish the room so far…but we did go right at their opening, so I expect that to change.

Overall, I was very impressed with what they had to offer. I was surprised to learn that the three creators of Escape Hotel, Ivan Leon, Kitti Herczeg, and Ion Beroiz, have no background in themed entertainment. Instead, they are a group of storytellers; people who worked in filmmaking and advertising beforehand, and used those skills to help create this immersive experience. Their expertise clearly shows.

“The idea for the Escape Hotel started 2 years ago, when we experienced an escape room for the first time ever. We were absolutely amazed by the concept of entertainment that involves you as the main character of the story. The real-life experience and interactivity with props and puzzles fascinated us,” the team said. However, they realized that no one was focused on developing a brand, or created an experience that transcended an individual room, so they decided to try their hand at it.

The result is a fantastic venue, and the biggest escape room facility in the world. Even with just 5 of their 10 rooms open, they have so much to offer. I very much look forward to trying their other rooms (Mafia, Witchcraft, Zombie, and Agent), along with the others that are coming soon (Pirate, Circus, Slaughter, Heist, and Kidnapping).

To the people considering visiting the Escape Hotel, the team says this: “We would like to tell them to not be afraid to give us a try. We are a team of people passionate about entertaining and providing the best possible guest experience, and we encourage people to come experience the Escape Hotel for themselves. “

I whole-heartedly concur. If you’re looking for a unique new escape room experience, I highly recommend Escape Hotel. They have created something special, and I am impressed with how far they have taken this concept. They ran with it, and raised the bar a bit for themed escape rooms. It is by far one of the best in the Los Angeles area, and quite possibly, the world.

For more information, and to book your own stay, visit them online at: www.escapehotelhollywood.com