Oceanfront hotel in Hollywood that began as a condo project welcomes its first guests

A 307-key oceanfront hotel in Hollywood that began as a condo development has started welcoming its first guests.

Costa Hollywood Beach Resort opened Oct. 19 with introductory rates starting at $179 per night with no resort fees.

Marketed as an extended-stay destination, the hotel at 777 North Ocean Drive in Hollywood has 307 studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. San Clemente, California-based Evolution Hospitality is the manager of the property.

Each suite has floor-to-ceiling windows, handmade Italian cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances, including a full-size refrigerator and a microwave.

A 25,0000-square-foot infinity swimming pool and sun deck on the rooftop are among the common-area amenities at Costa Hollywood.

Costa Hollywood also has a rooftop bar and restaurant and a ground-floor café called The Coffee Store and operated by an Argentinean coffeehouse chain.

Piegari, an award-winning restaurant in Buenos Aires, Argentina, will open its first U.S. location at Costa Hollywood next spring.

The slower-than-expected construction of the oceanfront resort began in 2013, when the developer was marketing Costa Hollywood’s 307 units as condos to investors in South America and Argentina, in particular.

In 2014, the development temporarily was named Meliá Costa Hollywood Beach Resort after hotel operator Meliá Hotels International agreed to be the resort’s manager.– Mike Seemuth