A Secluded Oasis of Luxury at the Legendary Hotel Bel-Air
Meandering the garden-lined pathways at the Hotel Bel-Air, I could hear faint melodies of a jazz pianist in the crisp night air. I drifted toward the music and discovered it was coming from the hotel’s Bar and Lounge. Inside, the dimly lit space radiated the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Well-heeled guests gathered around intimate tables in leather chairs and cozy settees. Laughing and chatting, they sipped rare whiskys and nibbled on caviar and toasted brioche. At the bar, a few guests bantered with the bartenders as they crafted cocktails against a chic backdrop of backlit bottles.
I ordered a glass of wine and took a seat near the grand piano, where the music floated above the din of the crowd. The fire burning in the marble fireplace cast a warm glow across the room and added to the drama of the larger-than-life photography lining the walls. Norman Seeff’s iconic black-and-white portraits of Cher, Tina Turner, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, John Belushi, and Steve Jobs immortalize their larger-than-life personalities in riveting snapshots.
Studying the photos, I was struck by the contrast between their bold display and the quiet discretion that has long defined the Hotel Bel-Air. For nearly 80 years, the hotel has welcomed celebrities, dignitaries, and royals from around the world with a protective air of privacy. While Seeff’s photography showcases indelible moments of star power, the hotel provides a luxurious hideaway far from the spotlight.
Ensconced in a lush canyon in the ultra-luxe residential Bel-Air community, the Hotel Bel-Air is just a mile from Sunset Boulevard and the hustle and bustle of the city. But as you pass through the gates of this 12-acre estate and cross the footbridge over Swan Lake, you enter another world entirely.
The Hotel Bel-Air was born from a dream to create an exclusive, upscale neighborhood in the hills west of Los Angeles. Purchasing 600 acres, visionary developer Alphonso E. Bell created Bel-Air Estates in 1922. What is now the hotel’s main mission-style building was originally built as Bell’s estate planning and sales offices. Bel-Air flourished as the developer added roads, utilities, a country club, riding stables, and exotic vegetation.
In 1946, a hotel entrepreneur from Texas named Joseph Drown purchased 18 acres—including the offices—and began converting the estate into an elegant hotel hideaway. He transformed the grounds into a lush paradise, added Swan Lake to the picturesque front lawn, and built the hotel’s signature oval-shaped pool on the site of the original stables’ riding ring. The hotel opened on August 24, 1946, and quickly became a favorite of the rich and famous. Grace Kelly, Jackie Gleason, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe all once called the Hotel Bel-Air home.
Spread out among the landscaped hills, each of the hotel’s 103 guest rooms and suites is unique. Designed with a residential ambiance, the rooms blend old Hollywood glamour with warm contemporary style and understated luxury. All the rooms have private entrances and many open to private patios and gardens.
Some of the most coveted accommodations include the loft studios, canyon studios, and signature suites. Located above the hotel’s tranquil spa, the three stylish loft studios feature open floorplans with double-sided fireplaces and high ceilings. The canyon studios feature sweeping views, retractable glass walls, and private courtyards with outdoor fireplaces and spa pools.
The hotel’s signature suites are one-of-a-kind residences steeped in the glamorous spirit of Hotel Bel-Air. The elegant Grace Kelly Suite honors the legacy of the award-winning actress while the Presidential Suite is a hidden enclave offering the ultimate in luxury and seclusion with its own private pool and grand piano.
In the lounge, the pianist was winding down his set. I finished my wine and started back to my room. I walked through the open-air restaurant and the labyrinth of pathways weaving among the gardens, trickling fountains, and outdoor sculptures. I passed the newly unveiled Living Room with its four-sided glass fireplace and botanical-inspired interiors designed by Alexandra Champalimaud. I also passed the brand-new Patisserie with its jewel box collection of exquisite desserts and courtyard with an outdoor fireplace.
To my surprise, I encountered no one else along the paths to my room. Whether by design or by accident, the seemingly solitary walk gave the illusion that I was only person staying at this luxurious estate. I suspect it’s one reason (among a multitude of others) that the storied Hotel Bel-Air has remained in vogue among seclusion-seeking celebrities all these years.
In September, the hotel was named among the World’s 50 Best Hotels for 2024 and was the only California hotel to earn the distinction.