Last week, my bestie of almost two decades flew in for a much-needed girls’ catch-up. And no, FaceTime doesn’t count—we’re talking real-life, messy-laughing, side-eyeing, day-drinking kinda girls trip. Since she doesn’t live in SoCal anymore, we had to do it her way: post up at Universal Studios, crack open our first Truly in the Hilton Universal parking lot (yes, at 8am), and strut through the park with White Claws and beers in hand like the legends we are. What started as a casual girls’ day out quickly turned into a full-on Hilton Universal Studios review—because yes, the stay absolutely served.
Sidenote: Universal Studios Hollywood now enforces a 1-drink limit before boarding the tram (ugh). It used to be 2 per person for over two decades, but apparently someone got sloppy during Horror Nights and ruined it for the rest of us. Lightweight behavior. BOO!
Anyway, we’re grown now (according to our gov’t issued ID’s), so instead of battling LA traffic post-booze-fest, I booked us a room at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City for the full VIP slaycation.
The Hilton Hookup — Room Service (!!!)
The Hilton Universal is chef’s kiss for any Universal Studios Hollywood-adjacent stay—and yes, they’ve got a legit hotel bar (because why would I ever book a hotel that doesn’t?). Once we got settled, I scanned the room service QR like it owed me money, and what showed up? The charcuterie board to END ALL BOARDS. LA County has officially been served. Think: lush cheeses, gooey golden honey (!!!), and the VIPs of the fruit tray—plump apricots. Grapes made their standard cameo, but the strawberries? Cute for the photo, but hard pass for me. #AllergicAF.
We never made it to the pool. After being in the LA sun, pounding hard seltzers since 8am, we hit crash mode fast. We logged into her Netflix on the room TV and went full gremlin: stand-up specials, bites on bites, magnesium tablets, and alkaline water on deck. Because Staying #DayclubReady isn’t just about slaying—it’s about zero hangovers.
My bestie and I? We’re professional drinkers, TYVM. Hydrate, snack, rally. Always.
Sip, Stroll, Stay: Why Hilton’s Location Wins
Location-wise? You literally can’t beat it. The Hilton Universal is steps from the Universal Studios gate—you can actually walk there in wedges. True story. The only other hotel option nearby is the Sheraton down the hill, and that’s giving sweating at the bottom while we’re sipping at the top. Hilton Universal is the go-to if you’re planning to play hard, drink harder, and crash in comfort.
Bonus tip? If you’re staying over the weekend, Hilton Universal’s main restaurant, Café Sierra, does a luxe all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. We’re talking top-shelf quality, not that sketchy crab leg chaos. I indulged during a previous stay and let’s just say—it’s 100% worth the splurge.
TL;DR:
- Book the Hilton
- Order the charcuterie
- Stay for the buffet (weekend’s only)
Because Staying #DayclubReady doesn’t mean sacrificing taste or a good night’s rest. Now go slay your stay.
