It may be trite to say “you know where you are with a Four Seasons hotel,” but hey, you know where you are with a Four Seasons hotel. So sturdy is the luxury chain’s reputation, it’s unsurprising to find that their second Beverly Hills-area location offers comfort, style and—curveball—one of the best pizzas in Los Angeles.
From a lobby seemingly made of nothing but marble, to the great big installations of fresh, fragrant lilies and a swanky, apothecary-style House of Krigler perfume outlet, entering the hotel is akin to walking into a tech billionaire’s wedding party. And, considering the number of high-end events hosted here, both during awards season and beyond, you might just accidentally find yourself rubbing shoulders with the mother of the bride.
Not to be confused with the other nearby Four Seasons spot, the 1920s-built Beverly Wilshire, this hotel has been around since 1987, and not too long ago benefitted from a multimillion-dollar renovation. Taking up an entire city block, it’s a sizable affair, with 285 guest rooms, as well as two restaurants, two bars and a fourth-floor outdoor pool, as well as a landscaped drive where autograph hunters mill just outside, awaiting various sports, music and film stars who frequent the hotel.
Aligning with Four Seasons hotels across the world, there’s lots of black and gold and gray, and there’s a comfort in knowing what you’re getting. Tasteful, monochrome prints of 1950s fashion shoots line the walls and the only thing that could be seen as even vaguely tacky is a life-size Marilyn Monroe sculpture by the entrance. (Strangely, she’s pictured at her most New York—Seven Year Itch skirt fluttering across a NYC subway grate—but if you can’t get away with a lifesize Monroe this close to Hollywood, where can you?)
Bedrooms are dominated by the legendarily comfortable Four Seasons bed, cozy enough to make you want to lay down all day in front of their massive TVs instead of playing tourist. Even nine floors up, rooms have fully accessible balconies, something which feels like a rarity in a world where you often struggle to find a high-rise hotel whose windows open more than an inch. Of course, city noise is audible from the rooms, but if you were looking for a bucolic retreat you’d be in Big Sur, not Beverly Hills. Bathrooms are neat and womb-like and stocked with Byredo’s extremely hip Gypsy Water products.
If you really do fancy shuttering yourself away from the world, this is as good as any place to do it. There’s a spa offering a very Hollywood “liquid surgery” facial, as well as a 24-hour gym with personal trainers at your beck and call. Just lounging by the pool is also an option, with the Cabana restaurant offering alfresco dishes with vegan options. If you’re after something a bit heartier, Italian restaurant Culina on the ground floor is a popular local draw, offering one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had in L.A.; a sweet honey drizzled squash blossom pie with ricotta, pistachio and lemon zest. That’s in addition to lobster agnolotti, yellowtail crudo and the opportunity to rub shoulders with celebrity diners (play it cool though, yeah?).
