Welcome To Vintage Hollywood. Credit: The Beverly Hills Hotel
L.A.’s “Pink Palace” is a veteran on the Beverly Hills hotel block — so much so that it became the city’s first official Designated Historic Landmark in 2012. More than 100 years after its grand opening, The Beverly Hills Hotel remains the place to see and be seen, with a glamorous past that’s evident as soon as you walk up the red carpet and step inside, taking in the nuggets of fascinating memorabilia that line its walls and display cabinets.
Whether you’re one of the Hollywood stars who frequent it or just a casual visitor, you’ll be greeted and treated in the same stellar way. “Bien Venidos Amigos [sic]” is what it says on one of the pillars at the entrance, and a warm welcome is exactly what you will receive, my friend.
Here are but three reasons why we love this iconic Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel.
The Look
You could dedicate a Pinterest board to the #interiorinspiration you’ll pick up at The Beverly Hills Hotel. From the pretty pink façade offset with luscious palm trees, fuchsia-colored bougainvillea and snow-white roses to the perennially cool banana palm print that decks the halls, stationery, pool-side parasols, bathroom amenities and yoga pants for sale in the gift shop, this standout spot goes bright and bold with its décor.
Everywhere you turn, you’ll find Instagrammable moments: the open fireplaces in the suites and bungalows, lit year-round to add a touch of manor house-chic; the 11 dollhouse-like cabanas that line the pool, each named after an L.A. street, and decked out in the hotel’s iconic color scheme; the huge floral display that takes center stage in the lobby; and the emerald-green velvet walls in the elevator. The list of photogenic qualities goes on and on.
The Garden Suite. Credit: The Beverly Hills Hotel
The Service
Having catered to celebrities and socialites for more than a century, The Beverly Hills Hotel has more than earned its elite reputation. But what keeps the high-end clientele coming back is the property’s exceptional level of service.
Consider your needs already met before you even ask. Write a note on one of the postcards from the drawer in your room, bring it to the concierge desk and someone will mail it off for you. Need a dish on the menu adapted to meet a dietary requirement? Not a problem. Fancy a trip to Rodeo Drive? The house car will take you there — and anywhere else within a three-mile radius, for that matter — complimentary. It’s all part of the service.
At turndown, you’ll find bottled water, housemade cookies and This Works Deep Sleep pillow spray next to the bed, so you can calm your mind. Schedule in-room dining for 7:15 a.m. and your doorbell will ring on the dot and an attendant will wheel in a white-clothed table set so meticulously that you’ll think he borrowed it from one of the downstairs eateries.
Cabana Café. Credit: The Beverly Hills Hotel
The Food
You’re spoiled with excellent places to eat in Beverly Hills, but you could equally spend your entire stay at the hotel, with its range of delicious onsite dining. If you’re in the mood for wood-fired pizza, grilled fish or net-fresh ahi tuna poke, head to the poolside Cabana Café.
Thick milkshakes, grilled cheese sandwiches and breakfast all day are among the laid-back offerings at the vintage diner-style Fountain Coffee Shop.
Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Polo Lounge is best for steaks and seafood. The famed establishment is a place you’ll want to dress up for, in case you bump into one of the famous faces who frequent it. But best of all is the Sunday brunch, held on the lovely Polo patio with live jazz for entertainment. It’s a multi-course feast that kicks off with a cocktail or glass of wine and ends with a dessert — warm cinnamon bread pudding with snickerdoodle crumb topping, perhaps? — you’ll want to find room for.
