When it comes to The Beverly Hills Hotel, there’s only one word to describe this Pink Palace and that is “Epic.” Yes, that’s a fashion word we throw around quite often these days, but I like to reserve it for the moments that are truly monumental in scale. The Beverly Hills Hotel is more than monumental, more than epic, it’s a hotel that exists on a level of luxury that seems almost of another world. The fact that it is referred to as the “Pink Palace” should tip you off to the idea that this is not your average establishment.
My drive-up to the door at the Beverly Hills Hotel might as well have been a shot for a Hollywood film. The sun was shining brightly, birds were chirping in the trees and I was waiting for an A-list celeb to step out of their Ferrari as I pulled up to the entrance. All a usual day for the Beverly Hills Hotel, maybe not so much for me. I was welcomed in the lobby and handed a room key that I knew for certain I would be keeping as a souvenir. The famous Beverly Hills Hotel Martinique pattern (also know as banana leaves) covers the room key, the information pack and all the walls as I make my way to the suite. Did you know you can actual buy this as wallpaper? Frankly speaking, folks, any hotel that has to reproduce their print en masse for adoring customers is doing something right. People actually want to take this print home to remind them of their Beverly Hills Hotel experience, and I can’t say I blame them.
I was given a beautiful suite at the Pink Palace in the newly renovated section of the hotel. The charming decor was feminine and delicate and for a moment I felt like a true woman of Beverly Hills. I wanted to order a bath of Evian and drink pink bubbly as I took in the view from my pink marble tub. A lot of pink, I know.
While I could have stayed in the comforting embrace of the suite forever, I decided I needed to venture out and discover all the hotel had to offer. I had actually cheated and experienced the Polo Lounge for breakfast earlier in the week. The french toast is melt-in-your-mouth goodness that will have you wondering how on earth everyone on LA stays so thin while this beauty is available on any menu. Of course the food is made all the sweeter by staff who seem to find pure happiness in catering to your every whim. I got the impression I could have asked for milk from a goat in Peru and the kind waiters would have found a way to make that happen before my coffee was even cold.
Speaking of food, I did manage to squeeze in a few moments by the pool with a friend from London who also happened to be in Los Angeles. As I had already thrown out any idea of dieting with the french toast, I thought I’d truly put the nail in the healthy eating coffin by ordering a big fatty burger. It was juicy, delicious and perfectly decadent. Pair that with sweet potato fries and a large glass of white and you had a happy couple of girlfriends enjoying life poolside at the Beverly Hills Hotel. My only regret is not eating breakfast in the famous Fountain Coffee Shop downstairs. Apparently this small space is frequented by some of Hollywood’s elite. It’s basically a well kept secret that I’ve just outed. Sorry about that, Pink Palace Police.
Now a word of warning to those who fall in love easily. The Beverly Hills Hotel will grab you and it will refuse to let go. You will fall head over heels in love and your heart will ache with such intensity that every minute you are away will feel like the greatest pain you have ever experienced. Ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but I am about to make a point.
Basically, love drives you to do crazy things. It also sometimes makes you pull out your credit card. So here’s the warning. DO NOT go into the gift shop. You will not be able to step out without three of four bags of Beverly Hills Hotel memorabilia. And, folks, this is not your average hotel kit. In the Beverly Hills Hotel gift shop you will find special edition shoes from Charlotte Olympia, Banana Leaf Printed material in every form you can imagine and pink striped bathrobes, stationary and more. You can more or less create the Beverly Hills Hotel in your own home. As I write, I’m wearing my BHH bathrobe, looking at my BHH pen sitting next to the computer and getting ready to take a bath with BHH bath salts. Oh heavily hotel gods, forgive me for I have sinned. I fear staying in any other hotel would now be cheating.
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
