Ion Rooftop Pool Bar

Oooh, so fun! Not because of any kind of rollicking vibe, but because my friend and I just had some really nice quality time. Our bartender was also really awesome, and added to our good times.

There was no food menu available, but you could order room service to the pool. We opted for an all-day Vitamin D and liquid diet.

Also just as an FYI, this rooftop is not on the highest floor of the building.

Ion Rooftop Pool Lounge at the RITZ CARLTON LA
is probably nicer than most of the rooftop pool hotels based on amenities, services and people.
This pool is only for hotel guests and/or residents, and it's pricier. Try to catch some sunshine and sip something special ...

4th floor of the Marriot Hotel at LA Live. Our bartender was awesome but I didn't like the view and for the lack of view, I thought the price of the beer ($8 for Stella) was way too much.

We came on a random weekday afternoon around 3pm so it was completely empty. Maybe it's better on the weekend or I read some of the other reviewers mention taco tuesdays during the summer. But for me, I'm not in any hurry to head back.

I got to admit, I do love this place! On the 4th floor of JW Marriott downtown LA. Another great find in the hidden LA. In my humble opinion, it's better then the Standard. For me, The Standard gave me a kind of pretentious feel, but here at ION, the feel is more settled, and they play better music. It's great to bring business chats up here or just hang out with your friends! Cheers! !

It's cozy and I love those sofa loveseats kind of .. em, sofas. I can just fall asleep in them. :-P . The beautiful view over the lighting, I was invited here to check out there hotel here for an event planning venue location. Also included was free drinks and food! Can't get better then that! They also comp our parking. Usually it's $10 much cheaper then parking in the LA Live parking structures.
This is a great place for happy hour too if you are in the area. Lots of eye candy in suits... ahem!

Add another place on your list for downtown people watching and socializing. The Ritz Carlton has a special little spot unknown to many for it's rooftop bar and lounge. It's called ION and it's on the 4th floor where you can see "the stars" and be in close proximity to all the other attractions Nokia Live has to offer.

Just be aware of the closing time as it has been known to shut down early or have private events. Just give them a call and ask before going.

Parking is $10 all night. Just leave by 4:30am

Great place. Can't wait for the summer when they will be fully functional. Nonetheless, the heated pool is still tempting and welcoming at sunset ;) I was able to bring my drinks and relax pool side a few time during my stay at the J.W. Although, it was empty most of the time, I got to experience what I went there for: Serenity and peace of mind.

Though a nice atmosphere and and chic location, I would steer clear of Ion for one thing alone: service.

I'm all about LA Posh, but all establishments, be they trendy or not, should follow the same rules:

- Getting a drink should not take an hour.

- Getting food should not take 2 hours.

I will give Ion a few thumbs up: the Manager was on her game, the servers were nice and when the drinks/food finally came, they were great but I honestly do not appreciate paying for something first and getting it 2+ hours later and having my credit card held hostage during that time.
Long story short; the hotel itself was awesome but Ion was for the birds.

Yelped this place out on the 4th of July for some cool refreshments to enjoy. Maybe it was because it was a holiday that the place wasn't how I had anticipated it to be. $5 underground parking for the first 2 hours. Enter the JW Marriott/Ritz don't get confused as to which elevators to take to the 4th floor (okay, you might get confused - we did; there were so many... not to mention the Anime Expo was going on at the Convention Center so you can say we were kind of distracted as well). There is a sign in the main lobby where it says, "Ion" haha.

The Ion Rooftop Pool Bar is RIGHT next to the pool (which made me want to go swimming, but I didn't have a swimsuit on me). The bar was pretty empty which was disappointing for me, but it was relaxing I suppose since my friends and I were one of the only ones there. We lounged on the outdoor furniture while sipping on some ice cold drinks. I ordered the Watermelon Margarita... or was it a Mojito? Either way, it was pink and delicious.

It was fairly windy up there, so wearing a flowy skirt like I did was not the best choice... also, there are outlets for you to charge your phone :] (yes, I carried my charger with me - you never know when you might need to re-charge!). Though there wasn't any people-watching going on, it was like we were in our own large private rooftop deck. I wouldn't mind coming back on a different day/night when there's more of a crowd.

This is a gorgeous hidden gem in the new DTLA that no one knows about. I love it.

It's beautiful, right on the roof of the new Marriott at Staples Center. You get there by going into the Marriott lobby, to a back elevator, floor 4, and past the guest pool to an awesome rooftop bar.

It makes the dtla standard look... old. and sad. and not swank. and I love the standard rooftop.

Ion's bar is lit up orange, and has these awesome cones that light up at night, giving the entire roof a very hip feel. Cuz no one knows about it yet, and cuz it closes at 10pm, it doesn't draw the crazy crowds that other equally-stacked places do. AND therefore, even with the sleek decor, outdoor couches and lounge furniture, and lights galore, it does not feel pretentious ever. Everyone I take here LOVES it.

We sit for hrs sipping on very well-made cocktails and just chatting. No one rushes us out for space for others. It's the perfect way to spend all those perfect LA evenings. Great for pre-game drinks and chilling, sunday late afternoon cocktails, or just a nice view over the new LA Live plaza.

First of all the hotel was beautiful. But if you're coming here expecting a real rooftop bar, then you'd be wasting your time. Instead expect a normal small hotel bar for only their guests. I don't think they should be marking this place with their own name "Ion" as if it's a legit bar. They should've just called it Marriott Hotel Bar....

We came here on the weekends during the day and it was empty with barely any bar service. I don't think I would have enjoyed this location even if it was full. Anyways, I'd pass on this spot as this isn't open to the public and doesn't even function as a full bar.