She once hosted a procession of Hollywood royalty including Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, and though she’s undergone an extensive, top to toe nip/tuck, the grand belle of Los Angeles lodging is still looking mighty grand indeed.
The gorgeous grounds, gardens, swan lake and Spanish mission-style villas that first brought the Hotel Bel-Air fame remain, but every inch of her interiors have been rebuilt, with florals and frills sent to exile, replaced by clean lines, soft hues and decor that’s a mix of deco, modernism and modernity. Welcome back.
While plenty has changed, thankfully The Bar & Lounge retains its cosy, clubby atmos, with herringbone parquet flooring, fireplace and grand piano, and the addition of outdoor garden alcoves. Celeb chef Wolfgang Puck takes control of the menus and stamps his name on the venues, with signature restaurant Wolfgang Puck offering mod Cali fare with a Euro-Med twist, plus terrace for cooing and wooing lurvers. The original outdoor oval-shaped pool has been left as is, though guests can now indulge in serious pampering in the La Prairie spa and Joseph Martin hair and beauty salon.
Perhaps the most dramatic change is in the 103 rooms and suites, which have been transformed from country comfy to a neutral glam, with nods to 1930s-50s Southern Californian style. Think creamy limestone and marble floors and bathrooms, pale plaster walls and natural wood ceilings, plus mod cons like Bang & Olufsen HDTV, Fili D’Oro Egyptian cotton sheets and La Prairie bath prods. Some also have private patios, fireplaces and jacuzzis, but whichever room or suite you choose, and whatever you choose to do in them, the staff promise to remain as unflappable as ever.
Hotel Bel-Air, 701 Stone Canyon Road, Bel-Air, Los Angeles. +1 310 472 1211, hotelbelair.com
