Hotel Bel-Air Review: This LA Hotel Is Ranked One of the Best by Our Readers — and It Just Received 3 Michelin Keys
"Just a few miles from L.A.’s invariably traffic-clogged freeway, Sunset Boulevard winds its way to Stone Canyon Road and, ultimately, the Hotel Bel-Air, taking my husband and me to a world seemingly far away from the city’s hectic pace. Here, we gladly handed our car over to a waiting valet and were escorted along the foliage-canopied stone bridge over Swan Lake. As always, the hotel’s resident swans — Hercules, Athena, Odette, and Chloe — floated peacefully, their graceful silhouettes reflected in the ripples below. After a quick and efficient check-in, we were guided to our suite. We passed through The Living Room, an aptly named area with a massive fireplace in its center and comfortable furniture groupings tucked here and there throughout. We followed our bellman along landscaped pathways, past the swimming pool, spa, tropical gardens, and secluded bungalows that are a hallmark of the hotel. Double doors opened to our suite — more of an apartment where we could happily live out our days, as many of Hotel Bel-Air’s famous residents have chosen to do — with a living room, wood-burning fireplace (where a fire can be arranged with just a phone call), office, bedroom, and bathroom with a spacious shower that could accommodate at least four people, should the occasion call for it. (It didn’t while we were there.) We were most thrilled with our expansive outdoor terrace, hidden from view by a greenery-covered canyon wall and giant trees all around. A fireplace surrounded by cushioned seating, lounge chairs, a bistro table and chairs, and a heated spa pool completed the perfect “backyard.” Our first order of business was to devour the generous charcuterie board and Champagne that we carried outside on that sunny afternoon while we planned the rest of our day. Those plans included a stroll around the hotel’s grounds, a dip in our 102-degree private pool, cocktails at The Bar, dinner at The Restaurant, and a nightcap in the lounge listening to piano music. In the meantime, we relaxed, snacked, and thought about who might have stayed in our suite for nearly 80 years since the hotel opened in 1946. Perhaps Elizabeth Taylor or Marilyn Monroe. Or, in more recent times, maybe Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Beyonce, Jennifer Aniston, or Oprah Winfrey. (The hotel is highly discreet and protective of its guests, so these details most likely come from the guests or their publicists after their visits.) Indeed, our spacious, secluded suite would be suitable for celebrities or even royalty. Princess Diana is said to have stayed at the hotel during her visits to Los Angeles. King Charles reportedly commented on his excellent night’s sleep in the Presidential Suite when he visited in the 1970s. Vintage photographs line the walkways, including one of the wedding of Ronald Reagan’s daughter, Patti Davis. Photographer Bert Stern’s iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe were taken at the hotel in 1962, shortly before her death. Texas hotel entrepreneur Joseph Drown purchased the property in 1946 with plans to create an elegant hideaway. Nearly eight decades and several renovations later, the original ambiance remains. Modern conveniences and updated furnishings retain the hotel’s classic residential style, seamlessly combining opulence with understated luxury. Now managed by Dorchester Collection, the hotel’s most recent major refurbishment was completed by design firms Alexandra Champalimaud and Rockwell Group. In 2024, the Hotel Bel-Air was one of only 11 U.S. properties to be awarded the coveted three Michelin Key designation in the inaugural year of the awards." - Pat Doherty
