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Hotel Bel-Air

Los Angeles

Part resort, part hotel, this incomparable Beverly Hills spot is designed to please everyone

What's the history: In a city where youth and staying on top of all that is new reign supreme, it's rare that anything dating back to 1946 might still be in vogue, but that is the anomaly and the accomplishment of the Hotel Bel-Air. The 103-room property has a long history of luring an array of well-heeled visitors from around the globe, from locals looking for a weekend staycation to low-key travellers from abroad who flock to the resort in the summer months for an unparalleled escape.

Hollywood escape: Although just three miles from the heart of Beverly Hills (and just eight minutes from its iconic sister property, The Beverly Hills Hotel) this 12-acre oasis feels a million miles from the hustle of Tinseltown and is nestled among some of the most stunning estates in Los Angeles. Whereas The Beverly Hills Hotel is where people go to see and be seen, Hotel Bel-Air is all about disappearing and unwinding.

A word on the rooms: There are no bad rooms here, only an array of options. All spread out among sprawling landscaped gardens (its Swan Lake at the entrance is impossible not to photograph for Instagram), the rooms vary from two-bedroom suites with private balconies to intimate Canyon View rooms nestled into the hills above the hotel, featuring their own outdoor fireplaces and hot tubs. If you’re staying a while, the Presidential Suite offers 210-sq.m of interior space, along with its own pool, courtyard, fireplace and grand piano, making it feel like its own private residence.

Eating and drinking: The hotel’s bar and lounge has long been a low-key local haunt, where retractable walls, an always-burning fireplace and live music make for a great evening. However, the newly placed chef Joe Garcia (formerly of The French Laundry and Bouchon) is bringing added attention to The Restaurant, along with a living room venue touting a caviar and champagne-focused menu. There’s also a new standalone patisserie set near the front of the property.

Bonus points: The oval-shaped saltwater pool has a genuine deep end (the 3-metre depth is now obsolete at most hotels), while the spa is the most beautiful in the city. 

Key Information

• Rooms: 103
• Starting Rate: $995
• Dining: The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air
• Drinking: Bar & Lounge
• At the Hotel: Swimming pool(s), Spa/wellness centre, Fitness centre, Pet friendly, Family friendlySwimming pool(s), Spa/wellness centre, Fitness centre, Pet friendly, Family friendly
• 701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077, United States
• +1 310-472-1211
• Visit Hotel Bel-Air's Website
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