Rock ’n’ roll hotels
1 SUITE WHERE LENNON GAVE PEACE A CHANCE
Hilton, Amsterdam In March 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono used their honeymoon in suite 902 to stay in bed and promote peace. The world’s media joined them. Now called the John and Yoko Suite, the room has Yoko-approved furnishings. Rooms from €230 (the John and Yoko Suite from €1,499). hilton.com
2 JOIN THE HELLRAISERS OF RIOT HOUSE
Andaz West Hollywood, Los Angeles As the Continental Hyatt House (19671976), it was affectionately dubbed the Riot House. Led Zeppelin motorcycled along its corridors, Jim Morrison was ejected for hanging from a balcony and Keith Richards tossed his TV from the window of room 1015. From 240, westhollywood. andaz.hyatt.com
3 GO WACKO LIKE JACKO
Kempinski Adlon, Berlin Occupants of the Royal Suite get a view of the Brandenburg Gate. In 2002, Michael Jackson famously dangled his ninemonth-old son over the suite’s balcony to show his fans. From €350 (the Royal Suite from €26,100), kempinski.com
4 TAKE A SEAT AT THE THRONE OF JAY Z
Mercer Hotel, New York In 2011 rappers Jay Z and Kanye West took over the second floor of this SoHo hotel while recording their joint album Watch The Throne. From €420, mercerhotel.com
5 ROLL UP FOR THE MAGICAL MYSTICAL TOUR
Oberoi, New Delhi En route to London from Manila in 1966, The Beatles stopped in Delhi to buy musical instruments from Rikhi Ram in Connaught Circus. Music tutors then visited them in the Oberoi’s suite 438 to give them sitar lessons. From €166 (luxury suites from €2,565), oberoihotels.com
6 FINDING SATISFACTION IN MOROCCO
Es Saadi Resort, Marrakech When Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones stayed here in 1967, Cecil Beaton photographed them by the pool. From €142, essaadi.com/en
7 BRANCHING OUT INTO THE DESERT
Joshua Tree Inn, Joshua Tree, California Country star Gram Parsons put this desert motel on the map in 1973 when he died of a drug overdose in room 8 – there’s a guitar-shaped memorial to him in the courtyard. Donovan stays in room 11. Gram Parsons Room from €93, Donovan Suite €135, joshuatreeinn.com
8 PILLOW FIGHTS IN PARIS
George V, Paris The Beatles stayed here in January 1964 and, when news that I Want To Hold
Your Hand had topped the US charts, the Fab Four celebrated with a pillow fight. From €1,195, fourseasons.com/paris
9 WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA
Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles The Eagles’ Hotel California was not about a specific establishment but the album cover featured the Beverly Hills Hotel – and the publicity helped the venue triple its bookings. From €592, dorchestercollection.com
10 NEW BEGINNING AFTER A VICIOUS ENDING
Chelsea Hotel, New York Scheduled to reopen next year, this is the rock’n’roll hotel par excellence. Madonna and Patti Smith lived there, and Sid Vicious stabbed to death his girlfriend Nancy Spungen in room 100.