Checking in: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
WHAT IT’S not easy to steal the spotlight in La La Land, but the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills — a glamorous new build that opened a few weeks ago at a reported cost of $200 million — has done just that. The city’s movie stars, models, NBA giants, agents and ladies who seri
ously lunch are flocking to its 12th-floor rooftop lounge and pool, where the panoramic views (from Downtown LA to the Hollywood Hills to the Pacific) are as jaw-dropping as the people-watching.
WHY Art Deco interiors from Pierre-Yves Rochon — including a double-height lobby framed by white marble columns, a grand brass chandelier and gilded geometric details — harken back to Hollywood’s golden age. The hotel further ensures its It-spot status by offering only 170 rooms and suites (intimate by LA “big brand” standards), all of which come with floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, marble bathrooms (furnished with swoon-worthy deco vanities), along with posh perks like complimentary pressing and shoe shining.
HAUTE EATS Chef JeanGeorges Vongerichten (inset, whose NYC restaurants include ABC Kitchen, ABCV and Jean-Georges) makes his California debut with an eponymous indoor-outdoor destination on the hotel’s main floor. (Head upstairs to that already sizzling Rooftop by JG for more casual bites.) “We are bringing our best dishes from New York, but with a California flair,” he tells The Post. Indeed, the hotel just hosted last week’s Taste of Waldorf Astoria, a culinary competition (emceed by “Top Chef” star Padma Lakshmi and co-judged by Vongerichten) that paired global Waldorf chefs with James Beard Foundation Rising Star-designated ones.
DON’T MISS Ultraluxe skincare brand La Prairie unveiled its first spa in Southern California here, a 5,000-square-foot retreat offering caviar facials, while celebrity hair colorist Tracey Cunningham (whose clients include J.Lo, Charlize Theron and Jennifer Garner) helms a discreet salon.
NEEDS WORK The hotel is still ironing out a few kinks — in-room iPads never connected with the front desk and Uber drivers couldn’t find the joint (hint: it’s next door to the Beverly Hilton). BOTTOM LINE Along with a welcome dose of California sunshine, the hotel delivers impeccable service paired with an unpretentious vibe. BOOKING DETAILS
Rooms from $875; WaldorfAstoriaBeverlyHills. com. — Carrie Seim