Fashion, original décor, and relaxation tucked into an oasis in the center of the goings on of a robust city is just what the doctor ordered

The Pink Palace, rather known as the Beverly Hills Hotel is located in the heart of Beverly Hills, in the heart of ultra-luxury. Many may not know this but the land the hotel sits on was once owned by the Mexican government. It’s what anyone who hasn’t been to the Los Angeles area might envision it to be. The style and ambience of the hotel is unlike anything one might expect. Sitting on twelve acres of gardens, ensconced behind banana leaves and quintessential tall and skinny LA Palm trees, it has seen a lot of Hollywood life since 1912. A Dorchester Collection hotel, The Beverly Hills Hotel is a part of a family of eight hotels and two to come, one in Dubai next year and one in Tokyo in five years. The décor is unlike anything and the hotel’s fashion items are enviable.

Before getting into the goodies of the hotel, it’s history cannot go untold. In a way, the hotel predates the movie stardom that Beverly Hills is known for. Burton Green, president of the Rodeo Land and Water Company had a vision for the area. He saw the area as a land magnate so he invested $500k and developed it, hiring Margaret Anderson to build a hotel in the Mission Revival style, which he named after Beverly Farms in his native Massachusetts. It had to have a stucco exterior and terra cotta tiled roof. Burton’s hope was that well-off East coasters would move out west and buy homes in the area, staying at the hotel in their in between.

By 1920 silent film actress Mary Pickford and her actor husband Douglas Fairbanks, as well as Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin, and Will Rogers were living in Beverly Hills. Notable guests from Princess Margaret, to her uncle, former King Edward VIII, Grace Kelly, and Henry Fonda have all been guests at the hotel. And, Frank Sinatra was a regular at the Polo Lounge. Films have also been shot at the hotel.

A hotel with a fashion line

Throughout the hotel you’ll find the banana leaf print on the wallpaper, which was created by CW Stockwell and selected for the hotel in 1949 by Don Loper. The print is iconic that it’s possible to purchase the same print from stores, known as the “Beverly Hills Hotel wallpaper.” You also find the print on the hotel’s fashion items from their Shhh Silk x Nechita Silk Filled Sleep Mask, to the matching Pyjama Set, Silk Robe, and Headscarf. And then there’s the Koio x BHH Signature Avalanche Sneakers. Done in collaboration with Koio a leather sneaker brand. Made in Italy, the CW Stockwell Martinique® print makes the shoe stick out with the bold emerald green and other shades of green. Made with Italian calf leather and suede, the shoe is $475.

There’s also another shoe by Koio, also for $475. Made from Italian calf leather and suede, it has a distinct powder pink sole, as well as the classic CW Stockwell Martinique® print. There are also blush pink items that flow in line with the hotel’s aesthetic like the Shh Silk Women’s Long Slip Dress for $250, as well as matching sleepwear items. Rarely do hotels have their own fashion line like the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The style

From its inception, the hotel exuded luxury. According to the hotel, Anderson stated, “Guests are entitled to the best of everything, regardless of cost!” It has seen most every movie star from Old world Hollywood to modern day celebrities. As you pull into the hotel, the first thing you notice is the large hotel sign from Sunset Boulevard, and as you enter the property you notice the foliage, the sea of manicured green gardens, and then you pull up to the red carpet and the valet men that greet you. Then there are the stripes, there’s pink, there’s green, there’s banana leaves, there’s flowers, and there’s a retro glam as you enter the lobby, where you begin to take in the fact that you’re standing in an iconic Hollywood landmark. Stockwell’s printed wallpaper takes up 5.5 miles throughout the hotel.

Rooms

There are two-hundred and ten rooms and suites, as well as twenty-three bungalows in the hotel. From a Superior room to a Bungalow Room there’s something for every personality, need, and budget. Superior rooms come with a king-sized bed, views of Beverly Hills, and embroidered linen. The Deluxe Room with Patio comes with the quintessential garden foliage the hotel is known for right outside the room. Flowing in line with other room, the crème tones with hints of pink and green in the bedding and artwork brings life to room. The spacious bathroom has a double vanity, soaking tub and walk in shower.

All suites from the Junior Suite to the Presidential Suite are spacious and elegant, coming with large en-suite marble bathroom, garden views, and privacy. And then there are the bungalows. Marilyn Monroe frequented Bungalow 1, Howard Hughes lived in Bungalow 3 for thirty years, and Bungalow 9 is inspired by late actor Charlie Chaplin.

The Polo Lounge

When they weren’t performing in Vegas, the Rat Pack were often seen in the Polo Lounge. They were amongst many Hollywood power players who dined at the Polo Lounge. The renowned lounge, has both indoor and outdoor dining. Founded by Hernando Courtright in 1941, the then Beverly Hills Hotel part owner and VP of Bank of America. At the time, the space was known as El Jardin Restaurant, but Courtright renamed it The Polo Lounge, after a celebrity band of polo players who had their victories post games at the restaurant. The dinner menu boasts starters of soup to caviar, the McCarthy Salad and the Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad, to main course items of chicken parmesan, salmon, filet mignon, risotto, and Colorado lamb chops.

Unwind

The spa and pool are located at the back of the hotel. With a very intimate space, the spa has muted lighting and massages from t Deep Tissue Massage, to the Swedish Massage, the Pink Himalayan Salt Stone Massage, and others. Some treatments range from thirty, to sixty, to ninety, and one-hundred and twenty minutes. Facials like the Valmont x The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa facial puts hydration back into the skin, while restoring and smoothing fine lines. Facials start at $165 and go up to $490. The spa also offers manicures and pedicures.

You have to cross through foliage to get to the pool, but the walk is a delight. Down the stairs you’ll find the renowned pool. Rectangular, it is surrounded by lounge chairs and servers ready to offer a menu to cocktails, mocktails, and food. Private cabanas are also available to rent.

The hotel will relaunch their poolside movie series with five events taking place this year. A large screen will be set beside the pool for guests to enjoy as their drink crafted cocktails and luxury food. Guests can rent cabanas for $1,700 if they wish that hold up to four people for a more intimate space. Premium cocktails, a pre-fixed dinner menu inspired by the respective film, and theme desserts are a part of the package. There’s also a snack bar with popcorn, chocolate, and candy. The films being shown: April 26th – Breakfast at Tiffany’s, May 10th – La La Land, June 7th – Clueless, September 20th – Troop Beverly Hills, October 25th – Some Like it Hot.

Don’t miss the Jean Pigozzi photo exhibit

The hotel has thirty-nine photos by photographer Jean “Johnny” Pigozzi on display at the hotel. Shot between the 1980s and 1990s, there are photographs of Dolly Parton, Mick Jagger, Clint Eastwood, Hugh Grant, John Belushi, Michael Douglas, Rod Stewart, Steve Jobs, Warren Beatty, and many others. The exhibit is on display until May 15th and shows his sophisticated way of taking photos. Pigozzi’s style was influenced by Robert Frank and Helmut Newton, and includes the social scenes of that era with his friends Anjelica Huston to Andy Warhol.

Stylistically the Beverly Hills Hotel is an icon, historically the Beverly Hills Hotel is an icon, nationally and internationally the Beverly Hills Hotel is an icon, and the Beverly Hills Hotel will continue to be icon. Its name is synonymous with pink and green, banana leaves, luxury, and top of the line design. To be honest, it must be experienced to be appreciated.