Step Back in Time at the Ritzy yet Relaxed Hotel Bel-Air
By Julie Sagoskin
Blend effortlessly into the star-studded lifestyle at the Dorchester Collection’s California crown jewel, Hotel Bel-Air. Both ritzy and relaxed, you will rub elbows with the famous and fabulous at this opulent oasis featuring 12-acres of lush landscapes which are home to their resident swans, plus koi pond and secret hideaways. Blending iconic Hollywood history – wherever you go you are most likely standing where Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe once had an epic night out – with modern luxury, Hotel Bel-Air is a portal back in time.
Tucked away behind the gates of Bel-Air, this is luxury on another level. Their carefully manicured grounds, which are reminiscent of a private wildlife garden, offer plenty of picture-perfect moments. With various room and suite layouts spread out throughout the property, guest can choose from more traditional spaces or updated villas, most of which open to their own private gardens. Wherever you reside, you are sure to enjoy touches of sumptuous Hollywood glam. Some of their suites also offer outdoor fireplaces and plunge pools, while larger accommodations are ideal for longer term stays. My suite, which had its own gate right outside of the pool area, was a convenient surprise, especially as LA weather calls for a dip any time of the day – or night. Ordering specialty cocktails and light bites while you lounge are a definite must.
The romantic indoor-outdoor property is also home to dining options which are inspired by the LA sunshine and Mediterranean freshness. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus are a playful mix of flavors – and just like the hotel itself, no matter how much they innovate, they can’t help but stay true to their roots. They still serve the same tortilla soup that first debuted there in 1980. For a decadent night out, you can just stay within the hotel compound as the bar, which features daily live music, is a sexy mix of wooden floors, dark interiors, a fireplace and black and white photos of the stars who no doubt spent many a night there – you might even be standing next to one.
You can also enjoy quiet spaces in the hotel’s living room which is furnished with cozy nooks and board games, or can grab a coffee or pastry at The Patisserie which resembles a French boulangerie, and desserts that look more like art than edible bites.
Wellness lovers can take in a fitness session at the on-property gym or indulge in a facial or other relaxing spa treatment at the Spa which features products from Valmont, the Swiss-based beauty brand with a cult-like following.
So immersed in capturing the beauty all around, their team of art curators brings various exhibits to lie throughout the property. The first exhibition in the current series, Monumental: Conversations with Space, features Anthony James’ immersive sculptures. Using stainless steel, glass and light to both reflect and refract surroundings, each structure appears to extend into an infinite dimension, offering a sensory and meditative experience.
When you do decide to explore the area outside of your enchanting surroundings, it’s almost a rite of passage to book a lunch at the restaurant with the most celebrity sightings, even for LA, The Polo Lounge, which is currently celebrating their 85th year, at their sister property, The Hotel Beverly Hills. After literally entering the hotel on a red carpet, you can enjoy their famous Sunday brunch on their tucked away patio, or grab dinner and drinks within the walls where many a movie deal has been signed.
dorchestercollection.com
