sight by sight
Verticality has its advantages. Especially in a city as low-rise as Los Angeles. The peril of earthquakes may have been responsible for the City of Angels’ horizontal character, but modern technology and changes in city ordinances have allowed new skyscrapers to blossom. And that’s to the benefit of buildings like the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills; from its floor-to-ceiling windows and oversized private balconies, here be unrivalled vistas of the Hollywood Hills, the expansive urban canyon of Century City and well beyond.
Opening its doors this month at the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, the new 12-storey hotel takes architectural cues from the past. The exterior was co-designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon Inc. (PYR), Perkins+Will, and Gensler, with interiors by PYR, around the theme of Art Deco. But not the elaborate, exuberant Art Deco of chevrons and sunbursts, but the later Streamline Moderne style of the 1930s and 40s. Characterised by long horizontal lines terminating in curved forms with nautical hints, it is a style that stands the test of time; and a reference to the Golden Age of Hollywood.
That streamlined style pervades all 170 guestrooms – 119 deluxe rooms and 51 suites – of the hotel, punctuated by references to Hollywood glamour. As the first new build for the brand on the US west coast (and second in California), the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills sets the standard at levels that superstars are used to. A personal concierge is assigned to every guest, a common thread linking the entire journey from pre-arrival to departure. Suggestions will be offered, whether it be options along the retail mecca of Rodeo Drive or the best seat at swanky rooftop pool deck, the largest in this part of town.
For dining, the hotel’s culinary offerings shine as bright as a (Michelin) star. Legendary French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has three options for the discerning diner – Jean-Georges Beverly Hills, The Rooftop by JG and Jean-Georges Beverly Hills Bar. Delicious. Then there is the only La Prairie Spa in Los Angeles, which leads the wellness options at the hotel. After a hectic day of pleasure, pampering and all that, guests can retire to their rooms and enjoy the sight of stars twinkling over the gleam of city lights from a perch that only the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills can provide.
