Inside Hotel Lucile & Sous Sous: The 1931 Silver Lake Church Reborn as a Boutique Sanctuary

At the intersection of Griffith Park Boulevard and Lucile Avenue in Silver Lake, the heavy wooden doors of a 1931 Romanesque Revival church have reopened. Originally erected as the Bethany Presbyterian Church, the landmark structure has undergone a meticulous multi-year restoration by Casetta Group to emerge as Hotel Lucile—a 25-room boutique sanctuary anchored by Sous Sous, an intimate coastal French-American restaurant and bar occupying the historic vaulted nave.

The 1931 Bethany Church Reimagined

Designed in 1931 with solid masonry, soaring exposed-beam ceilings, and round-arched Romanesque windows, the original sanctuary served neighborhood congregations for decades before falling quiet. Rather than erasing the structure’s ecclesiastical roots, interior designers and preservation architects preserved the building’s dramatic proportions while layering warm lime plaster, custom millwork, terracotta tilework, and muted sage-and-ochre textiles.

Sous Sous: French-American Dining in the Sanctuary Nave

At the center of Hotel Lucile’s communal life is Sous Sous, an all-day restaurant and cocktail lounge set directly beneath the church’s soaring arches. Taking cues from the South of France and the American South—two culinary traditions linked by coastal abundance, port traditions, and fresh seafood—the kitchen crafts seasonal dishes from local waters and farmers’ markets. The bar program highlights natural Mediterranean wines, aperitifs, and vermouth-forward cocktails crafted for unhurried evenings.

Coastal Seafood & Evening Libations

The culinary program moves fluidly from morning espresso and flaky pastries to sunlit courtyard lunches and candlelit dinners. The raw bar changes with the daily catch—from chilled oysters with shallot mignonette and poached prawns to salt spring mussels steamed with white wine and wild herbs.

Architectural Details & Spaces

Throughout the property, restored architectural details from the original 1931 church structure blend seamlessly with custom banquettes, curated artwork by Los Angeles artists, and intimate corners designed for quiet conversation.

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