Hotel Bel-Air
This Spanish Mission–style icon has been a discreet hillside retreat for celebrities and society types since 1946 and was given a face-lift by star designers Alexandra Champalimaud and David Rockwell. Guests appreciate Bang and Olufsen TVs and iPads for ordering room service (and controlling everything else in the room). While still paying homage to Old Hollywood glamour, the country-club-like hotel also has Asian and French art deco influences, floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood ceilings, and limestone floors. The posh spa lures high-society types, as do the beloved oval pool and famously scenic Swan Lake outside. The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air serves California cuisine with Mediterranean and French touches (including the famous tortilla soup it's served continuously since 1980) and offers ample alfresco dining under bougainvillea-covered trellises. The bar retains its original clublike feel, with large celebrity photographs lending a modern touch.
