Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

"How did it strike you on arrival?The first thing I noticed upon walking into the lobby—aside from the triple-height ceilings, floors polished to a sheen, celadon wing-back chairs, and two show-stopping chandeliers—was the fresh scent, one more befitting of a spa. One deep breath, and you're in vacation mode. What’s the crowd like?The Art Deco-inspired lobby was bustling with a full range of well-heeled out-of-towners and locals—young couples in artfully ripped jeans and Common Projects sneakers, hot shot agents in suits talking on cell phones, and meticulously maintained ladies in head-to-toe Chanel on their way to lunch. Of course there is a Bijan boutique in the lobby, which tells you everything you need to know about this instant Beverly Hills hotspot. The good stuff: Tell us about the rooms.The smallest room is 630 square feet—spacious, to say the least. The interiors were designed by the firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, who also worked on the Four Seasons George V in Paris and the Savoy in London, among other hotel greats. Like much of the public spaces, they're done up in a muted celadon, taupe, and white palette. How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that worth a mention?Le Bon Garcon salted caramels, $16. They're made in L.A. by a Paris-trained chef. Coffee drinkers will appreciate the La Colombe cold-pressed coffee, as well as the in-room Nespresso machine. Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.This is the bathroom of your dreams: spacious, gleaming white/off-white marble and gold accents, and separate tubs and showers. The 51 suites come with Diptyque amenities, while the other 119 rooms have Ferragamo products. Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?Wi-Fi is included. Bluetooth audio connections allow guests to connect their music to built-in speakers throughout the room (and even the bathroom!). iPads control everything from the lighting and draperies to the remote control. 4K TVs are loaded with high-definition channels plus streaming on HBO Go, Showtime, and YouTube. Anything stand out about other services and features?Build in some rooftop pool time—if for nothing else than to snap some photos of the incredible view. On a clear day, you can see all the way to downtown. At Espelette Beverly Hills, Chef Steve Benjamin crafts a Mediterranean-inspired menu that focuses on farm-to-table and locally sourced fare, such as yellowtail carpaccio with a lemon vinaigrette, eggplant parmesan, and wood-grilled John Dory. Next to the pool, servers wearing sunglasses preside over Rooftop by JG, a go-to for an al fresco lunch. In the evening, it's quite a scene, though food is legit (on a recent visit, we sampled the Kabocha squash toast with ricotta, avocado lettuce cups, and crispy fish tacos); make a reservation if you want to get in. The La Prairie spa has six treatment rooms. There's also a Tracy Cunningham salon. What was most memorable about your stay?While definitely OTT-Beverly Hills, we appreciate the consistency of the design point of view. Elevator walls are lined in sumptuous white leather that seems like it will stand the test of time, and custom crystal chandeliers feel more like art installations than light fixtures. And the trees! So much greenery, and it really brings the outdoors inside. Bottom line: Why are we choosing the Waldorf?For the big rooms, pool with a view, and top-notch food." - Brooke Porter Katz