Bel Air

Nestled in the canyons of Los Angeles, Hotel Bel-Air has been a hideaway for world travelers for more than 50 years. The hotel, opened in 1946, is surrounded by 12 acres of lush gardens and soaring trees. Intimate shaded courtyards, gurgling fountains and wrought-iron terraces accentuate the pink stucco mission-style structure of the 1920s.

  Re-opening in 2011

Hotel Bel-Air has embarked on an extensive refurbishment project that includes the renovation of all 91 rooms and suites, the famous Champagne Bar and the hotel’s restaurant, event spaces and private dining rooms.  Additionally, a further 12 villas and a 12,000 square foot Spa with three additional spa suites will be developed within the hotel’s 12 acre grounds that are home to some of L.A.’s most beautiful and exotic gardens.  As we move forward with the project, we will:

  • Maintain the existing iconic Spanish colonial beauty of the signature pink stucco buildings, red tile roofs, and majestic bell tower.
  • Preserve our 12-acre private sanctuary of hundreds of plants, flowers, trees, and botanical wonders that grace the property including our wedding gazebo, the ethereal Swan Lake and our beloved swans.
  • Reduce our water consumption by using state-of-the-art practices such as the storage and subsequent use of greywater for landscaping, recycling water in Swan Lake and using indoor conservation technologies such as low-flow toilets and fixtures in every guest room.
  • Upgrade our infrastructure and technologies including a new more efficient central plant to lower our energy use throughout the hotel.    
  • Incorporate 12 new villas within the grounds, consistent with the architecture and quality of the hotel today.
  • Finalize the new Spa with seven treatment rooms and three Spa suites.
  • Improve the guest experience in all of the existing rooms and suites, including refreshing the interiors and improving the in-room acoustics, lighting, plumbing, air-conditioning and technology.
  • Upgrade the interiors in the Champagne Bar and Restaurant maintaining our signature services and offerings such as the exclusive Table One.

 

A visionary significant in the development of the area, Alphonso E. Bell created Bel-Air Estates in 1922. Bell acquired over 600 acres west of the city of Los Angeles, naming his new purchase “Bel-Air.” Determined that the estates would become an exclusive and upscale neighborhood, he enhanced the surrounding area with new roads, utilities, a country club and lush, exotic vegetation. What is now Hotel Bel-Air’s main mission-style building was originally built as Bell’s estate planning and sales office. These offices were located next to the Bel-Air Stables where residents could board their horses and enjoy the miles of equestrian trails winding throughout the canyons. For the next few decades Bell’s dream flourished. In 1946 Joseph Drown, a hotel entrepreneur from Texas, purchased 18 acres, and the land offices, and began plans to create an elegant pastoral hotel hideaway encompassing most of the land. Drown immediately hired architect Burton Schutt to convert the buildings and construct the 62 rooms of what was to become Hotel Bel-Air. Drown transformed the grounds into lush, beautiful gardens, adding Swan Lake to the picturesque front lawn. He had a vision of creating a natural California oasis, planting palms, ficus trees and perennial blooms. Drown also closed the Stone Canyon stables and built the sparkling oval-shaped pool at the site of the original riding ring. Hollywood celebrities and world dignitaries were frequent guests at the young and glamorous retreat. Hotel Bel-Air attracted privacy seeking celebrities including Grace Kelly, Jackie Gleason, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Over the years, the hotel has developed into one of the most luxuriant and respected properties in the world. As the hotel and city have matured, Hotel Bel-Air’s original ambiance has remained intact. The last extensive modern additions were made in 1982 when Rosewood Hotels & Resorts purchased the hotel for $23 million dollars. Ten years later, Rosewood sold the hotel for more than $110 million. Ongoing renovations have continued over the years to bring the latest fabrics and fresh interiors to the hotel, with the most recent refurbishment program completed in 2006 at a cost of $20 million. None of the 91 rooms and suites are alike, each decorated with a distinct individual personality. In 2007, Hotel Bel-Air received the coveted Mobil Five Star Award and was deemed the “#1 Hotel in the US” by Global Traveler Magazine and “#1 Restaurant, Service” by Zagat Guide. Today, the hotel is still considered a legend, drawing the latest Hollywood style-makers and stars. The exclusivity and tranquility of the hotel appeal to the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, Hillary Swank, Nicole Kidman and many other Hollywood notables.
Grace Kelly Jackie Gleason Cary Grant Elizabeth Taylor Marilyn Monroe Oprah Winfrey Robin Williams Hillary Swank, Nicole Kidman
An early brochure for Bel-Air Estates once read “Mother Nature was in her kindliest mood of creation when she fashioned the domain that is now Bel-Air.” Hotel Bel-Air, with 12 beautifully landscaped acres of gardens, is nestled in the very heart of this exclusive and private neighborhood, yet only minutes from Beverly Hills, Century City, and Brentwood. Hotel Bel-Air was originally the real estate office for the Bel-Air Estates development. Mr. Alphonso Bell had purchased the land in the early 1920s and decreed that this would be “a haven of rest for the businessman who toils in big, noisy, congested Los Angeles.” His wife named all the streets after her favorite places in the Mediterranean and it was not long before the entrepreneurs and business leaders were building multi-million dollar homes in a time when a $20,000 home was considered expensive. Ironically, he would not sell to anyone in the film business until the Depression when the rules were relaxed and Hollywood discovered Bel-Air. Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Alfred Hitchcock, and Zsa Zsa Gabor are only a few of the many celebrities that came to call Bel-Air Estates their home. In the 1940s, Mr. Bell turned the management and maintenance over to the Bel-Air Association, and in 1946 Joseph Drown purchased 18 acres on Stone Canyon Road. He quietly began remodeling and adding buildings to create the rambling complex of guest rooms and suites. The real estate office and tea room became the lobby and the pool took its shape from the oval horse paddock. While numerous updates have been completed since the 1940s, the hotel has preserved its rustic tranquility and has maintained an international reputation as one of the finest hotels in the world.
Managed by: The Dorchester Collection
92 Rooms
39 Suites
91 rooms, including 39 suites, offer a pleasing variety of sizes, floorplans and views. The individually decorated guestrooms feature private entrances from the hotel gardens, exquisitely landscaped fountain courtyards or the swimming pool area. With a $20 million renovation program completed in 2006, guest accommodations are now “customized” according to the tastes of Hotel Bel-Air’s long-standing guests to include specialty furnishings, tailored bed and window coverings, marble double sinks, larger showers and spacious bathtubs.
Hotel Bel-Air is situated one mile west of Beverly Hills, only onehalf mile off of Sunset Boulevard on Stone Canyon Road. The hotel is conveniently located two miles from the 405 freeway.
Try to get a tour of the hotel. Of the 91 rooms at Hotel Bel-Air, no two are alike. Along with the finest of hotel amenities, Hotel Bel-Air offers several unique features to guests. • Private Patios: Intimate tiled patios complete many of the hotel suites. Trickling fountains, small tables and fragrant flora adorn these outdoor havens. • Fireplaces: Several rooms are equipped with wood-burning fireplaces. Complimentary fire-building is available upon request. • Complimentary Tea Service: Upon arrival, guests enjoy complimentary afternoon tea service, with basket, tea and cakes in the privacy of their own room. • Jacuzzi Suites: Private Jacuzzis accentuate several hotel suite patios. Draping branches and lush foliage create a relaxing and romantic setting. • Technology: Complimentary wireless internet hotel-wide and flat panel televisions in 90% of guestrooms and suites.
Hotel Bel-Air has 2,400 square feet of meeting space. Two conference rooms, The Garden Room and The Pavilion Room, are able to accommodate 10 to 160 people. For smaller groups, hotel suites and rooms can also be used for confidential negotiations and small parties. Private parties and weddings can also be held outdoors near Swan Lake and on the Front Lawn.
Google Map

Our Select Member Hotel

Bel Air
Country: USA
City: Los Angeles
Opening date: 1946

Note from the Host

General Manager Carlos Lopes
Hotel Manager: Reginald Archambault

Coordinates

701 Stone Canyon Road
90077 USA, Los Angeles

Tel: (+1 310) 472-1211
Fax: (+1 310) 476-5890

Google Map

Book a Room

Click on the link below to start your trip (no booking fees)!