The iconic Hotel Bel-Air originally opened in 1946 as one of Hollywood’s most beloved hideaways, known for giving guests the sense of being in a luxurious private residence surrounded by 12 lush garden acres. The hotel reopened in October 2011 after 24 months of an extensive renovation to revive and restore the iconic gem.
Hotel Bel-Air’s thoughtful restoration was completed by two internationally renowned design teams, Alexandra Champalimaud and Rockwell Group. The redesign celebrates the landscape by effortlessly blending the indoor and outdoor experience. Champalimaud’s design creates a new generation of Bel-Air aesthetic; contemporary, fresh and extremely comfortable. The glamorous eras of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s are represented through an eclectic selection of furnishings and color, while relaxed residential style interiors within Spanish Colonial architecture call to mind graceful living with international flair.
Rockwell Group restored the dining and entertainment venues including The Bar and Lounge, The Garden Ballroom, The Palm Room and guest restrooms. The design for the renovation was inspired by the unique and legendary character of the hotel, known for giving guests the sense of being in a luxurious private residence surrounded by gardens. Some of the historic elements have been restored while adding modern touches to encourage interesting juxtapositions between old and new.
Hotel Bel-Air features a total of 103 guestrooms and suites located throughout the property, which includes 58 rooms and 45 suites. The hotel’s seven individually designed specialty suites include the Grace Kelly, Presidential, Chalon, Herb Garden, Swan Lake, Grand and Patio suite. All offer grand residential style living with large garden patios, fireplaces and some with Jacuzzis. The Presidential Suite compound offers 6,775 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space, with exceptional privacy within a graceful setting, with private dining for 10, a chef’s kitchen, a study, great room with a grand piano, and a private pool located within a private Spanish courtyard.
Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air provides the ideal atmosphere for a romantic meal, a social celebration or solo dining. Every guest will feel close to the gardens with the addition of an indoor/outdoor patio adjacent to the outdoor Terrace. Uncovered skylights and stacking doors let natural light pour into the space. The Terrace offers a garden dining experience, with a cocktail bar ideal for a light lunch or late-night dinner. Five private alcoves offer a different way to dine overlooking Swan Lake. The beloved Bar and Lounge is a cherished space among locals and travelers alike. The familiar wood paneling has been revived with a fresh new inviting look, and the bar area now extends to the outdoors with intimate garden niches and fountains. Celebrities in black and white dominate the walls of The Bar and Lounge at Hotel Bel-Air, with iconic imagery captured by photography legend Norman Seeff.
Hotel Bel-Air has been a hideaway for world travelers for more than 65 years, and continues to be a favorite retreat among high profile global influencers, Hollywood celebrities and multi-generational world travelers.
Walking among the verdant greenery, it is easy to see why the grounds of this retreat have been likened to paradise. The native surroundings create a tropical and secluded atmosphere of soaring trees, lush foliage and scented blooms. The garden’s draping branches and cascading vines are intentional, adding to the intimate, romantic and natural setting.
Providing a natural sanctuary throughout the year, guests relax beneath the tropical palms at the sparkling pool or rest on their private terraces, many choose to walk the grounds enjoying the quiet surroundings first-hand. Guests can glimpse the numerous hummingbirds that nest in the redwoods and tree ferns. Hotel Bel-Air is also home to a host of colorful fruit trees such as peach, pineapple guava, strawberry guava, lemon, orange and apricot. Ancient sycamore trees sprout solid, twisting branches close to the hotel’s picturesque entrance, with many of its limbs growing horizontally over the low avenues and pathways surrounding Swan Lake. Reputed as one of the most romantic areas of the grounds, Hotel Bel-Air’s front lawn and wooded entry allow guests to meander beneath the canopy of soaring trees, along cobbled pathways and a running stream.
Many of the trees and lush vegetation found at Hotel Bel-Air are rarely seen in Southern California, such as the grove of coast redwoods, the 12- to 15-foot tall white flowering bird of paradise trees and the tipu tree above Chalon Road, which blooms into a cloud of yellow blossoms.
The Hotel Bel-Air Spa offers a secluded sanctuary that places an emphasis on luxury, pleasure and rejuvenation. The world’s most extravagant ingredients combine with the latest technological advances in a restorative oasis featuring seven treatment rooms, a private nail suite housing three manicure/pedicure stations, and a relaxation lounge.
The jewel of the Spa is The Enclave, a 570+ square foot sprawling private suite, which includes a shower, bathtub and shaded patio with soothing waterfall and outdoor seating. Perfect for couples or groups of up to 10 people, The Enclave is ideal for those who wish to luxuriate in privacy and treat themselves to the ultimate in pampering.
The Spa at Hotel Bel-Air addresses every relaxation need, from warmed towels to heated massage tables to personalized music selection for each guest. From the moment you step into the spa, the staff aims to exceed expectations and create unforgettable experiences that reflect the beauty and luxury of Hotel Bel-Air.
For more information or to schedule your stay at Hotel Bel-Air, please contact (310) 472-1211.
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