Category Archives: Hotel

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

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For serious consideration, are you aware that studies indicate that modifying your routine to include mental breaks will increase productivity, replenish attention, solidify memories and encourage creativity? Consider an escape to relieve you of cerebral congestion!  Recent getaway for a few days of client meetings in Beverly Hills landed me at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on Doheny Drive.

Quick access from LAX, I promised a poolside lunch to longtime friends who insisted on picking me up at the airport, treading those traffic lanes truly deserves a special lunch!

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Lobby Floral Power

We arrived to a busy Sunday afternoon crowd, this property seems to be very popular with locals for lunch. Early check in was offered, well done Four Seasons! My lovely light filled suite had a wrap around balcony and French doors to let in the sunshine! All good…we moseyed down to the pool distracted by the spectacular floral display in the lobby.

Internationally celebrated floral designer Jeff Leatham has returned to his original roots in Los Angeles, from Four Seasons George V in Paris, where he spent 16 years dazzling Parisian guests. His style and artistic sensibilities are incomparable, his floral displays are instantly recognizable and breathtaking! In 2014, the French government bestowed Leatham with one of their most distinguished titles: Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters, for his outstanding contribution to the culture of Paris.

I digress, back to our lunch adventure – arriving at the pool, I was surprised to find the ‘pool restaurant’ wasn’t really at the pool, it was near the pool, however the table-side reservation would be in a garden alcove near the pool…I was confused as I had called the restaurant to specify poolside. The very affable hostess, inquired: Ms. Books would you like us to set a table in a pool cabana? Hmm, why yes, that would be perfect, how long will that be? Five minutes, Ms. Books. We trailed behind the hostess, servers and our table to the cabana. The restaurant staff literally carried a table and chairs to our own private cabana! My friends gave me the look – the look that says we follow you on social media, we see how you travel…my immediate response: we are at a Four Seasons property, they unravel dilemmas! When we discovered there wasn’t a table at the pool, the extremely well trained Four Seasons staff solved a problem and made this guest very happy…they did not know I was on a site inspection trip, this is typical Four Seasons service! Champagne all around! It’s the little touches that make a property special.

There is a row of cabanas at the pool for snoozing and dining. The Four Seasons doesn’t let a city space, define its décor, they’ve created a tranquil rooftop oasis.

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Of course, everyone who traipsed by our cabana peeked in looking for celebrities, sadly for them, it was merely high school girlfriends catching up and utterly delighted with our decadent Cabana lunch!

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills a Tranquil Oasis

There are two Four Seasons in the Beverly Hills area, the other property is literally downtown near Rodeo Drive. More on that property soon. The gardens here are spectacular, a little sanctuary in the midst of Los Angeles, water features add a sense of tranquility to the spacious lawns and lush shrubbery. From sun-filled guest rooms featuring private step out balconies to award winning see-and-be-seen dining, Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is a city icon, buzzing with energy and excitement.

The property is well known for celebrity sightings, press junkets and has a history as a power lunch location. Located in a quiet residential area which is great for morning walks, it’s only a five-minute drive to the chic Rodeo Drive shopping. There are 285 rooms including 98 suites, I liked the rooms on the back side of the property with balconies. L.A. rooms should always have a balcony or French doors, it’s rarely cold here, we want to soak up that So Cal sunshine!  High-tech features (temperature control and in-room dining via iPad) and on-demand movies. Entry-level rooms are big for LA standards.  Open-air 24-hour fitness facility with cardio machines, weights, pulley. Full-service spa and nail salon on the premises. Breakfast and muffins provided in the lobby every morning

Huge bathrooms with sunken tubs, as you know if I can drown in a tub, I’m happy; these tubs definitely provide the perfect soak!

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Suite

Relaxed luxury – my beautiful suite was decorated in soothing tones of glossy black doors, pale gray walls, with an emphasis of whites and metallic accents, very restful in the frenetic LA atmosphere.

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Gym outside access!

One unique feature in development is the Wellness Rooms near the spa. The rooms are designed in partnership with Delos, with the creation of five wellness-themed guest rooms and two suites that aim to optimize guests’ physical and emotional well-being while travelling. Located on the fourth floor Spa level, the Wellness accommodations combine the latest technologies from Delos with a stylish new room design and eco chic features. Upon arrival, guests will have access to Wellness by Delos room features and programs, including sleep, stress and nutrition programs from the Cleveland Clinic, GoWell! nutritious menu options endorsed and approved by Cleveland Clinic, and guided mediations by Deepak Chopra, MD.Separate post coming on this innovative health conscious aspect of the hotel.

Dining – Who doesn’t want to be my guest when I come to town! Late dinner at hotel restaurant Culina which has been recognized as one of the “Best New Restaurants” by Esquire magazine, one of the “100 Best Wine Restaurants”  by Wine Enthusiast magazine, one of the top restaurants in Los Angeles by Zagat, and one of the “Hollywood’s 25 Top Power Lunch Restaurants” by The Hollywood Reporter.

Milanese chef Luca Moriconi Culina Restaurant Four Seasons Los Angeles

The Roman kitchen led by Milanese chef Luca Moriconi is channeling his Italian childhood with old school recipes with a sense of a family kitchen. He frequently visits the tables to share stories behind the dishes. I was tired and seeing artichoke Risotto on the menu, I knew it was the comfort food I craved. The artichoke Risotto is part of Moriconi’s new Tuscan-inspired spring menu at Culina, and apparently, he is taking this yummy recipe to Milan for a cooking competition. One distinctive aspect of the dish is the crown-cut wheel of Piave Vecchio cheese which the risotto is spooned from – rather than using Parmesan, he uses this distinctive cheese. A server follows him to a table and drops a smidgen of balsamic vinegar on each plate. While talking to the guests, Moriconi finishes his table-side Risotto preparation by stirring the warm rice in a crater at the center of the cheese wheel and spooning out the creamy result onto each plate.

My friend who ordered salmon, nibbled from my plate in obvious delight. Delizioso!

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills – come for the sunshine, come for the Cabanas, come for the people watching and don’t miss the spa or the Artichoke Risotto!

Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Loved my all to brief visit where the professional staff proved again that it’s the little things that matter and make for a special visit. Four Seasons never disappoints!

Hotel Bel-Air Brief Break

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Slaves to the Ordinary. From Cecil Beaton: Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary. Take a look at our Client Compliments and you won’t find an ordinary soul on the list. We’ve been introduced to a few stars who really tried to make us like their box office draw, but  I have to say working with our brilliant roster of clients suits us just fine! Similar to a sojourn at the Hotel Bel-Air, which is an exceptional experience and far from ordinary.

Consider a dash away to the extraordinary, far from typical, Hotel Bel-Air. A quick bay area/LAX flight, the perfect mini escape, disappear and catch your breath for a few days, paparazzi free zone!

Hotel Bel-Air Plunge Beverly Hills

The West Coast sisters in the Dorchester Collection of lovely hotels reside in a small pocket of Beverly Hills – like interesting sisters, they each exude unique personalities. I’ve stayed at both The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air and love each for innumerable reasons.

Hotel Bel-Air Wolfgang Puck Restaurant Beverly Hills

Hotel Bel-Air, despite the close proximity to downtown Beverly Hills shopping and culture, is surrounded by twelve acres of lush gardens and tucked into a pocket-sized canyon. Amid towering palm and silver leafed eucalyptus trees, the Spanish Colonial design is subtle and elegant. A hidden sanctuary amongst the wooded hills, untouched by the clamor of life beyond the gates of Bel-Air. The most quintessentially private and exclusive hotel, delivering low-key elegance since 1946. Suites with garden patios, private plunge pools are enchanting. Move up to the canyon rooms and relish the sweeping views of the canyon from your secluded plunge pool and deck. A bit of spring mist kept the fireplace in my suite crackling most of the day, a cozy enclave where I cocooned and worked in between meals with my clients.

Hotel Bel-Air Suite Beverly Hills

An extended list of swells have been long term hotel residents, among them Howard Hughes at The Beverly Hills Hotel, Coco Chanel at The Ritz in Paris, Playwright Tennessee Williams lived in Manhattan’s Hotel Elysée for 15 years. One story circulates that guests would complain to the front desk about the constant tap tap tapping of a typewriter. According to Wikipedia: “They knew right away who the culprit was, but they couldn’t very well ask Mr. Williams to stop playwriting, so we simply moved the guest to another room.”

After a few days dining, languishing and working at Hotel Bel-Air, I can easily imagine moving into a hotel. A simple elegant lifestyle might be envisioned by my days here…amble down the hill to Wolfgang Puck restaurant; dine and catch up with friends, idly observe the fascinating locals, picking up on idiosyncrasies and imagine their story. One evening I used the hotel car to make my way to The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel for dinner wth friends and clients. Leisurely life here in the hills, both properties diminish travel stress. Plan your meetings or entertainment  between both hotels and I guarantee you will wonder why didn’t I do this before! Need a staycation, ultimate luxury, rooms comfy and cozy, don’t even venture farther than the spa!

Hotel Bel-Air Suite with Pool Beverly Hills

Mosey to the gym followed by a massage, return to your perfectly made up room…what’s not to like, Eloise?

Wolfgang Puck restaurant resides in a Spanish inspired courtyard, hide away in a corner booth while enjoying the delicious contemporary Mediterranean cuisine. The celebrated hotel bar feels like a glamorous private club, afternoon tea or chic cocktails by the roaring fire is where you will find me entertaining my clients and friends. One of my dearest local clients came for dinner, we curled up in our half moon shaped banquette and traded ‘table confidential’ stories for over three hours – we just didn’t want the evening of giggles and delectable dining to end! Gracious waiters never even hinted we should depart after three hours!

La Prairie Spa and fitness center. Lounge at the oval shaped heated pool surrounded by drooping palms and flowering blossoms.

Combined with the typical casual Southern California sensibilities, the luxe eras of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s are a mainstay of this classic property.

When was the last time you escaped for weekend therapy in a chic five star property? The Dorchester properties spoil our guests!

Hotel Bel-Air Hillside Suite Beverly Hills

Cheers to living a life a lot less ordinary, never settle!  Let us know when you need pampering and an escape from the frenzy of life!  Hotel Bel-Air and The Beverly Hills Hotel two scrumptious properties, Five Star Luxury!