"Why book? A historic and glitzy landmark, this hotel—featured in movies like Pretty Woman and Clueless—epitomizes Beverly Hills and oozes elegance. Set the scene From the moment you enter the marble lobby, with its massive chandelier dripping with Swarovski crystals, you can’t help but feel a little bit iconic. You even get that feeling when you’re still outside, eyeing the grand Renaissance Revival-style building and its striped bubble awnings, pulling up to the wrought iron gates of the porte-cochére for valet—where a Lamborghini or Ferrari might be parked. You’ll likely see older couples in Dior, Ralph Lauren, and Armani, who might just be in for dinner at Cut; families with well-groomed children checking in; plus tourists snapping photos in the lobby or on the red benches in the original gold elevators (replicating a classic scene from Pretty Woman). The backstory Opened in 1928, when Beverly Hills had less than 1,000 residents, the hotel launched with a massive New Year’s Eve party and hasn’t slowed down since. The hotel helped launch the now-iconic neighborhood, observing the transformation of Rodeo Drive into a shopping mecca in the 1970s and countless Hollywood films being shot here. It became a Four Seasons in 1992, and has housed countless celebrities and dignitaries, from Al Pacino to Barack Obama to the Dalai Lama, and Elvis Presley and Warren Beatty even lived here for several years. In 1971, the 14-story Beverly Wing was built and connected to the original Wilshire Wing via a cobblestoned entryway that's lined with gaslight lanterns—all imported from Edinburgh. The hallway behind the elevators serves as a mini museum, complete with a historical timeline and glass vitrine with photographs, documents, and other objects from the hotel’s storied history. The rooms The hotel recently completed a renovation of all 395 of its rooms, giving them a more balanced vibe of fresh California style with Old Hollywood glamour courtesy of David Collins Studio. Think light gray walls and furnishings, marble side tables, curved Art Deco-inspired lighting, botanical artwork, and marble bathrooms. You won’t be surprised by any of the design choices, which mostly feel safe, but also elegant and luxe. Between the two wings, there are plenty of room options, with various sizes and layouts to satisfy almost any traveler, from couples to families. And if you’re splurging, you’ll find one of the largest penthouses in all of Los Angeles and the largest in Beverly Hills, plus a presidential suite in each wing—Kara Smith of KES Studio redesigned the six specialty suites, which are a bit more whimsical. Food and drink The food here is upscale with a side of California classic. The hotel is home to the flagship location of Wolfgang Puck’s steakhouse Cut, and the man himself is often in the kitchen or visiting tables—but either way you can’t miss the massive Martin Schoeller photograph of him hanging over the hostess desk. Across the hall is the more casual Cut Lounge, which is a cocktail bar with small bites. On the opposite end of the lobby is the street-facing The Blvd, which is open all day and always has a buzzing patio in nice weather. Diners munch on California-fresh dishes like whole-roasted branzino with chermoula, Wagyu beef yakitori, and lobster pappardelle, along with a caviar menu. The spa The Forbes Five Star spa is deceptively large, with 13 plush treatment rooms, a relaxation room, and a wet room with a eucalyptus steam room, sauna, ice fountain, and experience shower. It’s the kind of that’s-so-Hollywood place where there’s state-of-the-art, technologically inclined facials and body treatments like a LightStim LED session and cryotherapy, alongside more analog treatments like the Holistic Detox Body Treatment, which includes a dry brushing, body oil and scrub application, full body massage, and mini facial using all-natural Seed to Skin products from Tuscany. Whichever you choose, relaxation and rejuvenation is not far away. The neighborhood/area Beverly Hills is its own 5.71-square-mile city, and the reputation you’ve seen on TV or heard about is pretty accurate—star-studded, glamorous, flashy, luxe, and expensive. For high-end, bend-over-backwards service, designer shopping, perfectly manicured parks, and plenty of classic photo opps, Beverly Hills can’t be beat. And, it’s easy to get to both the east and west sides of Los Angeles, making it an ideal location to rest your head if you enjoy timeless elegance instead of the trend du jour. The service Service here is top notch, with the front desk and concierge bending over backwards to make guests happy. Valet is at your beck and call and switching dinner reservations or nabbing hard-to-get ones are a non-issue. However, it is an extremely busy hotel so sometimes the phone rings more than a few times before the front desk answers. When we stayed, we asked to switch from a suite with two doubles to one with a king bed and pullout couch, which was accomplished swiftly and seamlessly thanks to a team of attentive bellmen and housekeeping, who made up the couch quickly and neatly for our already-sleepy son. For families Like all Four Seasons, families are well cared for here, with kids enjoying special welcome gifts and extra attention. While there is no kids club, all the amenities and gear you can think of (cribs, diaper genies, baby shampoo and soap, etc.) come standard. There are also plenty of large rooms and suites of various layouts to easily accommodate most families, and the Blvd restaurant has a kids menu and coloring supplies. Accessibility This is an older hotel but there have been efforts to upgrade accessibility. For example, at the end of 2022 they were in the process of adding ramps on the porte-cochére entrance, which has a few steps. However, it’s a large hotel with two separate buildings to navigate. To note: the hallways in the original Wilshire Wing are extremely wide (originally to accommodate travelers’ large trunks) and might be more accommodating to those with mobility issues. Anything left to mention? Don’t miss the chic Mediterranean-style outdoor pool, which is modeled after the one at Sofia Loren’s private villa in Italy. Tucked away on a secluded terrace, it has the requisite Beverly Hills palm trees, plus Italian lemon trees, glittering turquoise tiles, cabanas, and a poolside cafe." - Devorah Lev-Tov
