Meet me by Marilyn Monroe’s fave pool
The Arizona Biltmore, an Old Hollywood haunt, is glitzier than ever
Channel your inner Golden Age star and head to the Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria resort. A favourite of celebs like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and more than a few U.S. presidents, the luxe hotel has recently reopened in Phoenix after a 15-month, $70-million (U.S.) renovation.
The Arizona Biltmore first launched in 1929 and was designed by Albert Chase McArthur, a protégé of the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who also consulted on the original building.
The team behind the transformation aimed to preserve the art deco details that make the property iconic, while adding a modern refresh.
The revamp included replanting lush gardens throughout the 39-acre grounds and restoring the Biltmore Blocks — textile blocks made with desert sand, featuring geometric patterns inspired by palm-tree trunks — which were a trademark of Wright’s designs.
The 701 guest rooms (from $588) offer an array of layouts, including 36 suites, 54 villas and 28 stand-alone cottages for travellers wanting more space. The interiors have been redesigned in a palette of blue, cream and white — an effort to bring a more casual desert vibe to the glam retreat. Stucco walls and bespoke furniture are staples, as are relaxing fire pits on private patios where possible.
For the signature dining experience, head to the evening-only Renata’s Hearth, which serves up a Latin menu based around the “essence of smoke” — think family-style grilled branzino, pozole blanco (a Mexican stew with smoked ham hock and hominy) and a refreshing mojito with grilled watermelon.
There’s also the Americanstyle bistro Frank & Albert’s (named after the architects) and the al fresco Spire Bar, designed in homage to Wright’s esthetic. Stop by the Wright Bar for a tequila sunrise; the cocktail was invented here.
By day, lounge in your choice of seven pools, including the Catalina Pool, famously frequented by Marilyn Monroe, or the new, adult-only Saguaro Pool, where you’ll find a 140year-old Saguaro cactus and plush cabanas. For family trips, wander over to the Paradise Pool, featuring a 65-foot triple water slide.
Other features to keep you entertained include two golf courses, six tennis courts and access to hot-air balloon rides.
To indulge like the A-list, book into the new Tierra Luna Spa for an exfoliating sage and desert-salt body scrub, or other treatments inspired by the nearby Sonoran Desert.