Hotel Bel-Air

Hotel Bel-Air Review

Set on 12 acres of lush gardens, this legendary Spanish Mission-style icon—a discreet hillside retreat for celebrities and society types since 1946—recently reopened its pink doors to unveil an updated look courtesy of star designers Alexandra Champalimaud and David Rockwell. The rooms and suites, many of which feature fireplaces and private patios, are decidedly more modern, while still paying homage to Old Hollywood glamour and French Deco style. Floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood ceilings, and limestone floors help to bring the outdoors in; meanwhile, Bang & Olfusen TVs and iPads for ordering room service (and controlling everything else in the room) are the requisite gadgetry. Twelve canyon-facing rooms and a La Prairie spa were added as part of the extensive two-year renovation; the beloved oval-shaped pool and famous Swan Lake remain untouched. The hotel's Wolfgang Puck restaurant serves California cuisine with Mediterranean and French influences, and offers ample al fresco dining under bougainvillea-covered trellises; and the bar retains its original club-like feel, with colorful artwork lending a youthful and fresh touch.