Many travelers look at California as a hub to get to Hawaii or Asia , not a destination itself. Both are valid, but  if you do LA the right way then it’ll quickly become a favorite destination. Luxury hotels, world class shopping, trendy restaurants, and amazing museums are just some of what make LA a top location for luxury travelers.

I’ve always fallen into the former category – seeing California as a hub – until last year when I visited Los Angeles for the first time, and stayed at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel by the Dorchester Collection. After sending so many clients there I was excited to see what the hype was about!

Location

The hotel, opened in 1912, is well-known around the world as the epitome of American culture, and has managed to maintain its glamor, charm, and reputation as a Hollywood hotspot. You’ll get your first glimpse of the hotel as you drive up the palm tree lined boulevards off of the infamous Sunset Boulevard. You can’t miss it with its iconic green sign and pastel pink backdrop.

This prime location is a few streets over from Rodeo Drive, world renowned for their luxury shopping and excellent restaurants. The hotel is also not far from the two best museums in LA, The Getty and the LA County Museum of Art. If you want to venture into downtown LA to see The Broad, you’d be looking at a 45-minute traffic filled drive into the city. A visit to the Santa Monica Pier is also highly recommended, and that would be around 30 minutes from the hotel to get there.

First Impressions

As soon as you pull up to the entrance to the Beverly Hills Hotel, you’re met with the signature royal red carpet. There are several porters greeting and escorting guests to the lobby making you feel like a celebrity on arrival. As the hotel is a hot spot for both locals and travelers, I found there to be a non-stop line of luxury cars picking up and dropping off people during my stay. I’ve never seen so many Rolls-Royce cars in one place before!

The lobby is a round, spacious, open concept round room with plenty of guest-occupied sofas and chairs. The check-in desk is thoughtfully located off to the side where it can function without obstructing the aesthetic of the room. I observed families, businessmen, travelers, and locals here relaxing and enjoying the ambiance. My impression was that the hotel catered to a wide variety of guests while still maintaining a luxury caliber.

Style

Travelers nostalgic for old Hollywood will rejoice at the style at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The architecture offers a nod to the Mediterranean Revival style popular in the early and mid-1900’s. You cannot miss the legendary banana leaf wallpaper dotting the hallways of the hotel, a staple design aspect of this property. The furniture in the common areas and hotels are colorful and tasteful in keeping with the intended era.

Rooms

The hotel is split into two sections: the main building and the bungalows. Within the main building there are 210 rooms and suites over 4 floors. In addition, there are 24 unique bungalows within the secluded garden area of the property. The main building houses room categories ranging from Superior and Deluxe Rooms all to Specialty Suites. The bungalows offer room, suite, and specialty suite options which are great for families.

The main building was last renovated in 2016-17 with annual touch ups, and the bungalows were last renovated in 2020.

During my visit, I stayed in a Junior Suite on the third floor. The room was a whopping 615 sq ft. which is large for a junior suite! The layout of the room was unique in that it was L-shaped but still spacious. I particularly loved the walk-in closet and the sunny nook with a thoughtfully placed bench to soak up the LA sunshine. The color palette of the room consisted of neutral beiges and taupes paired with vibrant yellow and magenta accents. I thought the room was classy, comfortable, but a bit tired.

I had the opportunity to inspect a few suites and bungalows with a colleague from the Dorchester Collection during my stay and I was wowed. The Paul R. Williams specialty suite was a beautiful ode to its namesake, the master architect and designer of the hotel. The suite felt straight out of the 50’s with mid-century modern furniture, a fireplace, and a grand piano. I highly recommend the specialty suites for anyone who appreciates design and wants to truly feel immersed in old Hollywood vibes.

Stepping into the garden area among the bungalows, the atmosphere transformed completely into a serene oasis. The garden paths are lined with lush greenery and the pastel pink bungalows are dotted among the area. The bungalows start at a generous 475 sq ft. and some can be connected to create two bedroom suites. I recommend the bungalows for larger families or couples who want a more quiet Beverly Hills experience. I do not recommend the bungalows for anyone with mobility limitations as guests would need to walk a bit to get to the restaurants and pool.

Amenities

There is no shortage of amenities offered at the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the good news is that you can actually take advantage of them! For example, you can rent complimentary bikes decked out with the signature banana leaf pattern and ride them around the quiet residential streets behind the hotel. The hotel also offers a complimentary town car on a first-come first-serve basis. While there is no kid’s club on property, there are holiday events at the property that cater to children (like a cookie decorating class).

The pool is probably the most well-known amenity at the hotel as many movies have been filmed there. Note that there are strict rules about not taking pictures in the pool area to maintain a sense of privacy. Pool cabanas are available for rent and it’s a great way to spend the day on property. You can also get a spa treatment at their cozy 5 room spa reserved for hotel guests only.

As a travel advisor, I love working with this hotel’s concierge team because they go above and beyond when setting up in-room amenities. They are one of the few hotels who ask about the clients’ likes and dislikes in order to customize the amenities.  When I sent a family to this hotel last year, it was their first time in LA and I worked with the concierge to create LA themed treats including printed chocolates.

Restaurants

There are three restaurants – The Polo Lounge, Cabana Cafe, and The Fountain Room – and a bar with bites at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  Guests and non-guests alike have access to these, and at least two of these are popular enough to be frequented by non-guests often. For example, The Polo Lounge is one of the more well-known restaurants in LA. The restaurant serves elevated classics such as branzino, steak, dover sole, caviar, and more. There is indoor seating with the vibe reminiscent of a social club, and then outdoor seating in an enclosed courtyard with many nooks – perfect for those private conversations. Throughout dinner I would see guests from separate tables get up and mingle with other diners as if they knew each other. That’s LA for you!

Cabana Cafe is the go-to lunch spot by the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel pool. The restaurant offers outdoor seating on their pool patio and a refreshing lunch menu. I also dined here on my arrival day while waiting for my room to be ready and enjoyed a fruit smoothie and the infamous McCarthy Salad.

The Fountain Room is the other remaining sit down restaurant open during the day only. The restaurant is  a historic diner that’s been operating since 1949. Expect counter service and elevated diner classics, usually a hit with kids. Finally, Bar Nineteen12 is the hotel’s newest dining concept offering views of downtown LA. You can order small bites here, but the star of the show is the cocktail menu. This chic bar is a great place to enjoy a quiet drink and wind down for the night.

Activities

Whether you’re traveling solo, with a partner, or with family, there are a ton of things to do in LA that fit any type of traveler. Love art? You’ll find plenty of museums in LA. Fashion? Book a professional stylist to take you to the trendiest boutique stores. There is no better city that encompasses the phrase: “the world is your oyster” than Los Angeles. Here are a few activities I recommend booking through Viator, one of the most popular activity hosting websites:

Disclaimer: The following are affiliate links which, when clicked and booked, generate a small revenue to support the blog at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Who Would I Send Here?

The Beverly Hills Hotel is iconic in its own right. It has history, charm, character, a great location, and a wealth of activities nearby. Most of my clients LOVE this hotel, but it’s not for everyone. I would not send clients who don’t care about Hollywood, or cinema history to this hotel. The signature charm of the hotel can also be construed as traditional and dated for some clients who are used to more modern properties. Because the hotel is so popular, I felt that the service quality was a bit lacking and the foot traffic within the hotel was significant. With that said, here are the Pros and Cons based on my experience:

I’m glad I got to experience a stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel so I can understand what my clients love about it. I can definitely see the appeal of the hotel for luxury travelers, and for those who want to see and be seen. That said, I couldn’t say this hotel was my style. When I expressed this to a colleague whose favorite hotel is the BHH I realized, for this person, that the nostalgia and charm of the hotel is so appealing that it overtakes any cons there may be.

Another example of this – I had a client visit the BHH with her teenage kids a couple of years ago and she had called me to express how unhappy she was with her stay. I urgently addressed her concerns with my contact at the hotel and they jumped on the issue right away. The hotel went above and beyond to make things right for her to the point where she will not stay anywhere else in LA anymore except this hotel. Despite some shortcomings in the form of service levels and dated decor, most guests still love the Beverly Hills Hotel and I would still recommend it for that reason.

Have you ever been to the Beverly Hills Hotel? What is your favorite property in LA?