insideKENT Magazine Issue 83 - February 2019 | Page 115
Hotel Bel Air
Resisting the urge to hum along to
that song, we pulled up to the stunning
pale pink facade of the Hotel Bel Air
about 7 or 8 … (sorry, enough).
Checking into the ultra-luxe and totally
secluded 5-star offering by the
Dorchester Group, set just one mile
(yet a million miles) away from Beverly
Hills, dressed as Mrs Incredible for
Halloween was not quite how I
envisaged my arrival at the exclusive
abode that has been serving the
Hollywood elite since 1946. But of
course no one batted an eyelid, as is
in keeping with a unique private
residence-cum-hotel with its hidden
suites – so secluded that famous
honeymoons and holidays are alleged
to have taken place with no one even
knowing the guest had arrived – there
was an air of absolute confidentiality,
seclusion and privacy.
The Bel Air claims proudly that it isn’t
about roar or fanfare; it is instead about
stillness and escapism. As we were led
over the bridge of the iconic Swan
Lake (yes, an actual lake with actual
swans), past the Hollywood Regency-
esque lounges with their roaring fires,
glamourous restrooms, and through
the lush palm-filled gardens home to
483 specimen trees and 4,000 plants
set in the 12 acres of grounds, we were
already at home in this secret paradise. Now forget standard hotel breakfasts, for of course the signature restaurant here
is none other than Wolfgang Puck at the Hotel Bel Air. With a waiting list for
dinner longer than our entire planning time for the trip, we were delighted to
be able to have breakfast in the elegant yet relaxed open-air garden restaurant,
with its cascading flowers, pale chairs, round tables and alcove booths which
afforded seclusion and wonderful views of Swan Lake.
Upon entering our Bel Air Suite, we
set the kids up in the lounge area with
a huge pull-out bed in front of a giant
Bang & Olufsen flat screen TV, and
we (and they!) were surprised with
goodie cauldrons filled with toffee
apples and candy. Children thoroughly
entertained, we were free to wallow in
luxury in our bathrobes in our private
oasis bedroom on the Egyptian cotton
sheets of our king size bed with views
to the sun-filled patio, with everything
from opening the curtains and
dimming the lights to ordering room
service controlled at the touch of a
screen from our Hotel Bel Air iPads. The breakfast menu offered a taste-bud tempting array of delicious choices,
from superfood smoothies to French toast. We sampled a bit of everything,
including house favourite, huevos rancheros – a taste explosion of poached eggs,
black beans, ranchero salsa, avocado, cotija cheese and corn tostadas, which
was exquisitely presented. The kids weren’t forgotten either with a signature
Wolfgang Puck children’s menu from which they devoured applewood bacon,
sausages, scrambled eggs, chocolate chip pancakes and fresh berries – just the
sustenance needed for exploring the city and beyond and to take us to our next
stop and to our next Dorchester Collection abode.
Hotel Bel Air
701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90077
[email protected]
www.dorchestercollection.com/en/los-angeles/hotel-bel-air/
HotelBelAir
Pulling back the blinds the next
morning filled our suite with the first
rays of Californian sunshine, enough
to tempt us to hit the secluded pool
hidden amongst the gardens for a pre-
breakfast swim.
HotelBelAirLA
hotelbelair
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