Hotel de Ville is the legendary curator of contemporary and vintage eyewear, located in Los Angeles, CA. With the ambiance of a sumptuous boutique and staff who know literally everything there is to know about the history of eyewear and design, this is a must-visit establishment for anyone who wears glasses -or would like to start doing so! It’s also regularly voted one of the best places in the region for repairs and alterations, so if you’ve recently snapped the arm of a much-loved pair of retro designer shades and have resigned yourself to never wearing them again, there’s still hope.
Eccentric and Stylish
Whatever you’re looking for, be it a pair of vintage 1970s frames from a lesser-known and now-extinct eyewear brand or this season’s Chanel must-have shades, there’s a good chance that Hotel de Ville will have what you’re looking for – or can get hold of it! As well as all the contemporary styles, they specialize in the rare, unusual, and eccentric.
The decor here is fabulous, too – you can easily lose yourself in this emporium and come out with a new set of fabulous frames that you never even knew you needed in your life.
Lens Wizardry
And it’s not a case of style over substance at Hotel de Ville, either. There’s a fully-licensed optometrist on hand for eye examinations who can ensure you get the perfect prescription lenses to fit into your frames, whether you need corrective lenses for short-sightedness, astigmatism, or even progressive lenses. The lenses are fitted in-house, too, and frames are adjusted to fit your face perfectly for maximum comfort. Plus, you can choose to have a wide variety of lens tints applied for additional style and customization.
You’ll receive advice, if needed, on the frames that work best for you, taking into account things like your face shape and skin tone as well as your personal style preference. Meaning you’ll walk out with a new pair of vintage or contemporary glasses that are your eyewear match made in heaven.
Hotel de Ville Eyewear
Hotel de Ville doesn’t just sell other eyewear brands – it designs its own frames, too! The Hotel’s quirky, stunning collections, which are manufactured in France, feature models such as the Drop Temple, with its chunky square tortoiseshell frames and distinctive double bridge, and the fun and funky Mondragon, which incorporates eye-catching rectangular bright orange frames.
If you’re looking for a new pair of sunglasses, Hotel de Ville’s new Bettie Page range could be perfect – featuring fifties-inspired cat eye designs and colors such as light blue and bubblegum pink; they’re perfect for carefree summer days.
What Will You Pay for a Pair of Glasses from Hotel de Ville?
Now to the nitty gritty. The cost of your specs is likely to vary fairly widely based on the type of prescription or lenses you require. However, in general, you can expect to pay around $200 to $300 for a pair of vintage frames here, to which you’ll need to add the cost of the lenses and any tints or treatments you choose to have applied to them. A new pair of frames from Hotel de Ville’s own range will set you back from around $100 to $400.
While Hotel de Ville doesn’t accept insurance, staff are more than happy to provide customers with a form that they can complete and submit to their insurance providers.
Keep your eye on the Hotel de Ville website, as sales are held on a fairly regular basis, both online and in-store – sometimes with reductions of as much as 50% on included items.
Superior Repairs
Voted top for eyeglass repair in LA, there really is just about nothing that the Hotel de Ville can’t mend. From basic screw replacements to titanium laser welding, this is the place to head if a much-loved frame has suffered damage. Even if it appears that all is lost, the staff at the Hotel de Ville just may be able to work their magic.
Hotel de Ville: The Ultimate Eyeglasses Emporium
If you’re in LA and wear glasses or are in the market for a new pair of frames, Hotel de Ville is an absolute must-visit. It’s an eyewear emporium like no other: but be aware you may go in for a quick browse and come out with five new pairs of vintage frames from the 1950s and 60s, as well as a killer pair of shades from Gucci’s newest collection. You have been warned.
