The Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the most famous luxury hotels in the world and has a price tag to match. We jumped at the opportunity to explore this place firsthand and learn about its amazing history.

Tinsel Town

Opening in 1912, The Beverly Hills Hotel is older than Beverly Hills itself. It was established to attract buyers to real estate in the area. The Hollywood film industry was taking off and stars like Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and Rudolph Valentino purchased property nearby, further establishing prime real estate. What I wouldn’t give to go back in time and pick up 15 acres in 90210 for $35k.

The hotel closed during the Great Depression giving famed architect Paul Revere Williams the opportunity to remodel the hotel in the 1940s. From the banana leaf wallpaper to the pink and green color scheme, it’s just so iconic.

Hang around the lobby for the best people watching, the displays of wealth and glamour. One can’t help but ponder “who are you?” about each and every person you see. Then head on down to the front entrance and check out the scene at valet. The car culture here can only be compared with the likes of Monte Carlo.

The Pink Palace

Upon arrival for the long President’s Day weekend, we were told that the hotel was at 100% capacity. There are 210 guest rooms in the main hotel and 23 detached bungalows dispersed amongst 12 perfectly manicured acres. But while wandering the grounds, we hardly ever saw anyone. It is easy to understand why this has been a location for secret affairs, a quiet place to hunker down whether it be to write a screenplay, or to discreetly recover from plastic surgery.

Danny and I were assigned Bungalow 14, located along “Bachelor’s Row.” This stretch of bungalows is where famous men such as Warren Beatty, Orson Welles, and JFK were known to bring their mistresses. High hedges outside each window ensure privacy and solitude. (For full room tour, check out my Instagram.)

Hollywood’s Golden Age

The storied bungalows were shaped by the eccentric guests who occupied them. If any hotel was known for catering to the whims of demanding egos, it was here.

Marilyn Monroe stayed in several different bungalows but favored 1 & 7. These days Bungalow 1 is known as the Marilyn suite and features a custom room service menu featuring her favorite things to eat, like the hot fudge sundae. When asked what she wore to bed, she was famously quoted, “Chanel number 5.” They don’t miss a thing around here — Chanel perfume and toiletries are provided.

By 1942, Howard Hughes took over 6 bungalows and lived here at the hotel, mainly in Bungalow 4, off and on for 30 years. He was kind of a weirdo. He was known to order roast beef sandwiches delivered to the crook of a tree outside his door and could be seen walking around with tissue boxes on his feet.

Over in Bungalow 11, Marlene Dietrich commissioned a custom 7’ x 8’ bed. In the ‘70s, John and Yoko spent a week in it, probably during their “hair peace” phase.

Bungalow 5 was a favorite of Elizabeth Taylor, who spent six of eight of her honeymoons here. She and Richard Burton were known to order two bottles of vodka from room service at breakfast and another two at lunch. I’d like to see what their recycling bin looked like at the end of the week. This bungalow has a private pool.

Actor Peter Finch died of a heart attack in the lobby in 1977. He would go on to win a posthumous Oscar that year for his role in the movie Network. But he’s not the one who is known to haunt the place. Over the years, guests have reported hearing harp music late at night and attribute this to the ghost of Harpo Marx.

Commissary TO THE STARS

Harkening back to the early days of Beverly Hills when much of this was horse land, Will Rogers had a polo field on his property. When riders were done playing for the day, they would head over to the hotel bar. When he died, the hotel named the bar after him and thus the Polo Lounge was born.

The dress code was strict and still is, but a little less so. There was a time all women were required to wear dresses, but Marlene Dietrich put a stop to that. (Thank you, lady!!) They still don’t allow casual hats, crop tops, swimwear, men’s sleeveless shirts, flip-flips, sportswear, nor ripped denim. And they uphold these standards — just ask Caitlin Jenner who was recently denied entry for showing up in torn jeans.

The Polo Lounge is home to the famous McCarthy salad. Its namesake was hotel regular Neil McCarthy, who broke his jaw in a polo match and requested that the restaurant prepare him a dish that was easy to chew. It is priced at a staggering $44 and is basically a fancy Cobb salad, tossed and finely chopped table-side. If the Soufflé is on the menu, this is something you cannot miss.

Some Like It Hot

In 1938, the Sand and Pool Club opened to much fanfare. White sand was imported from Arizona to create a beach-like environment. The Beatles held a private pool party here. Fred Astaire enjoyed reading in one of the private cabanas. Katherine Hepburn backflipped into the pool fully dressed. Conversely, Rex Harrison was known to sunbathe nude.

The sand is no longer but the poolside experience remains part of the luxury and fun. Eleven private cabanas with HD flatscreen TVs, refreshments, and butler service are available to spoil the spoiled. Leonard Bernstein dreamed up the concept for West Side Story in Cabana 3.

Hotel California

While most of these stars are long gone, may the Beverly Hills Hotel remain a historical landmark representing wealth, extravagance, status, elegance, and romance. The privilege of our stay was a truly once in a lifetime experience.

Beverly Hills, What A Thrill!