Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Hotel description

Despite subtle name changes over the decades, to most of us, it’ll always just be the Beverly Wilshire. Fresh off a massive renovation, and still under the Four Seasons flag, this Beverly Hills grand dame is more high-end than ever, a perfect match for the unapologetic opulence of Rodeo Drive.

The Beverly Wilshire was never exactly understated to begin with; it’s a massive E-shaped Italianate monolith, spanning the length of an entire city block, and the lobby is still an all-out assault of old-money glamour. The restaurant and bar, however, have been brought into the twenty-first century — the Wolfgang Puck steakhouse features interiors by Richard Meier, the architect responsible for the Getty Center museum, a modern LA landmark.

Upstairs, the guest rooms have seen changes as well, though subtler ones. Still relatively conservative (no Richard Meier makeover here), they’re somewhere between modern and classic — marble baths still prevail, and there’s more than a hint of prewar Hollywood atmosphere in the decor.

It’s a city hotel, but one with room to breathe, and offers a sort of city-resort feel; the spa and fitness center are smallish but well-equipped, and the pool deck is a self-contained oasis, complete with day beds and private cabanas.