This glamorous palatial diamond has been around for decades as the absolute epitome of prestige and continues to razzle dazzle us with all of the glitz and glam that Hollywood has to offer.
ArrayThe Beverly Hills Hotel is probably one of the most iconic hotels in the United States. With the past and present full of Hollywood glitz and glam and a moniker representing arguably the swankiest zip code in the nation, it’s no wonder why.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
Where is The Beverly Hills Hotel located?
It is situated on the iconic Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California amid an expensive residential area. The hotel has 208 guest suites and rooms, 23 bungalows and has for generations remained a solid fixture for countless rock stars, celebrities, and cultural icons.
The Beverly Hills Hotel is often mistaken for The Beverly Wilshire Hotel and The Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Beverly Wilshire is located on Wilshire Boulevard near Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Hilton is located on the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. If you keep up with the latest and greatest in the hotel world, you may be asking “Where is the Waldorf Astoria located?” Well, because Waldorf is a Hilton-owned brand it makes sense that the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills just opened next door to The Beverly Hilton. But again, The Beverly Hills Hotel is something all it’s own!
The hotel was established in May 1912, ironically, before the city even existed and was originally owned by a wealthy widow and her son, Margaret and Stanley Anderson.
The original design was the brainchild of architect Elmer Grey. Grey was based in Pasadena, California and had wanted to give the structure a Mediterranean Revival style. When seen from the road it is reminiscent of a palatial mansion with the wicker furniture giving it a wonderfully-beachy touch.
ArrayEach and every room has its own balcony and many are outfitted with kitchens and large spa tubs. The famous color scheme of greens, pinks, yellows, and apricots, of course, must be noted as prevalent throughout the interior.
There are several gardens covering the various acres of the land which were designed by an architect by the name of Wilbur David Cook. They are famous for their gorgeous aesthetic which includes a variety of banana plants, hibiscus, bougainvillea and other tropical flowers.
ArrayThe resort offers breathtaking views of the Pacific and there are several other large dining spaces in which to convene that can accommodate as many as 500 individuals.
In 1938, The Sand and Pool Club was created at the resort. It proved popular, with sand from Arizona. After it’s opening it began hosting fashion shows sponsored by local department stores like Bullock’s Wilshire.
ArrayCelebrities at The Beverly Hills Hotel
A number of bungalows were added to the gardens over the course of several decades for the purpose of providing frequent visitors a more secluded and personal option in which to house themselves, their families and staff. As of today, there is a total of twenty-three bungalows, each with their own specific history and story.
Array ArrayMarilyn Monroe has been said to favor bungalows 1 and 7. Number one is the most private of the bungalows and kept her uninterrupted. But, because of her frequency to number 7, it earned the nickname “The Norma Jean” – which is what it’s called to this today.
Array ArrayMarlene Dietrich, a frequenter of the resort, was known to favor bungalow number 10. It is said that while she stayed there she ordered a 7-foot by 8-foot mattress to be added to the space.This is also the bungalow where John Lennon and Yoko Ono frequented in the 1970s. Another fun fact – Dietrich played an influential role in shaping a policy in the Polo Lounge. At the time she frequented the establishment, it was required that women wear skirts in order to attend. Dietrich, however, thought this was absurd and refused to follow the code.
ArrayHoward Hughes permanently kept a bungalow in the Hotel. It’s reported that Hughes would often awaken the hotel chef in the middle of the night to prepare meals.
Now 2017, this remains a hot spot for celebrities, from movie stars to social media obsessed millennials. Just this week, Kim Kardashian was there having lunch at the Polo Lounge. It may be 100+ years old, but all the cool kids still love it!
ArrayHow much is a room at The Beverly Hills Hotel?
Recently a couple of Presidential Bungalows were added to the collection. These offer some of the priciest stays known. So how much is a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel? Well, a typical evening in one of the Presidential lounges will set someone back to the tune of around $15,000. Yikes.
Array ArrayThis is far from the standard price, but don’t get your hopes up. How much is a room at the Beverly Hills Hotel, you ask? Well, that depends on which room you want. According to the website, prices range from around $600 per evening at the low end to right around $5000 per evening. Of course, this does not include Bungalow prices or Presidential suites/bungalow prices which obviously reach into the 10’s of thousands.
From 1914 on the hotel became synonymous with Hollywood glitz and glamor. Film stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Rudolph Valentino purchased homes in the region significantly driving up the price of real estate.
Who owns the Beverly Hills Hotel?
In the early 40’s the most prominent owner to date was Hernando Courtright, the vice president of the Bank of America. Courtright purchased the hotel in 1941 with a handful of swanky friends including actresses Loretta Young and Irene Dunne. Another notable one was none other than one of the Warner brother’s himself, Mr. Harry Warner.
During this time the infamous Polo Lounge was established and cemented as pretty much the single most premier dining experience in Los Angeles. Celebrities such as Humphrey Bogart, Fred Astair, Carol Lombard and the Rat Pack were frequent fixtures, along with Marlene Dietrich, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marilyn Monroe. The Polo Lounge became associated with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the Rat Pack, who were known to get rough and rowdy while having endless nights of drinking.
Array ArraySince its creation, the hotel has run through a plethora of owners. Ben L. Silberstein owned the property from around 1954 until 1979 and was a prominent real estate tycoon at the time. It was purchased from the Silberstein Family in 1986 by a man named Marvin Davis.
More recently the property has fallen into the hands of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The Sultan purchased the property for $110 million dollars from Mr. Davis and still to this day is held by the Brunei Investment Agency. Due to the violent and oppressive government that The Sultan operates, many have boycotted his properties, which also includes the nearby Hotel Bel-Air.
Array ArrayHotel where Pretty Woman was filmed?
Despite many incorrect reports, this is NOT the hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed. Although many films and TV shows have filmed here, the hotel where parts of Pretty Woman were filmed is not far away at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
The Beverly Hills Hotel is arguably the most iconic hotel in the world. It is known for it’s notoriety and infamy surrounding the various high profile patrons that have frequented the location over the past decades. Only five years ago the establishment was named the first landmark in Beverly Hills. So, if you ever have a chance to visit the area, take a stroll through. Even a pit-stop to use the lobby restroom is an experience like no other. It’s definitely a must-see that you absolutely cannot miss.