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 115