Surrounded by the stuffier upscale options of the Beverly Hills hotel scene, the new 107-room Thompson Beverly Hills is a breath of fresh, chic air.

The Thompson Beverly Hills is the latest sibling in the growing Thompson Hotels group, which includes properties in New York, Los Angeles and D.C.

Quieter than its sister property the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, the Thompson Beverly Hills has a hushed stylish quality that welcomes guests into the soothing lobby.

The hotel uses its original 1961 construction to advantage, embellishing the mid-century modern architecture with subdued colors, sleek lines, and glossy wood and leather surfaces. Everything in the hotel and its rooms is dark, shiny and very pretty — the quintessence of New York chic.

The standard rooms, while not exactly spacious, are well-arranged and uncluttered, with big, bright windows, flat-screen TV’s that feature on-demand movies, iPod docking-station-cum-alarm-clock, and beds dressed in sumptuous Italian Sferra linens.

There are also Dean and Delucca goodies in the mini-bar, harkening to the hotel group’s New York City roots.

The bathrooms are likewise cozy but not cramped, with modern fixtures keeping things tidy and creating a calm space to primp for an evening out on the town.

When you tire of your room, there are plenty of places in the hotel to hang out, including Jonathan Morr’s newest addition to the BondSt restaurants, the cozy second-floor lounge with alcove library, and the Above Beverly Hills (ABH) rooftop pool deck (with requisite cabanas) featuring stunning panoramas of the city.

The hotel’s central location is a boon for both shopaholics looking to cruise the tony Beverly Hills boutiques, as well as business travelers bustling around the office towers of nearby Century City.

Plus, with rates starting at $339 a night, it is one of the more affordable options in the neighborhood.

-- Eric Rosen