Why Hotel Bel-Air Is More Than A Hotel, It’s A Living Room
The only hotel in Bel-Air that attracts people because of its secluded and getaway feel | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
And The Restaurant, is the new dining spot the direction of Michelin-star Chef Joe Garcia
Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles is, quite frankly my favorite hotel in the world. I’ve been to a lot of hotels and there are many out there that will take one’s breath away. But, as with most of the big things in life, politics, religion, your favorite taco restaurant, or your go-to nail salon are all personal. And my love of Hotel Bel-Air is personal because quite simply it fits my personality.
In 2023, I was speaking with a renowned hotelier and he pointed out how a hotel is like a living room in a community, and how a good hotel is a place that brings people together, especially people that live in the same area of a hotel. I never thought about this until he explained: A hotel is more than a place to sleep or dine, it is also a place that brings people together to meet, relax, unwind, dine, laugh, get away from the world’s stresses. It also brings together people from the community that the hotel is located in. Hotel Bel-Air does all these things from its idyllic getaway ambience, to its lively Piano Bar, the food-coma-inducing menu of The Restaurant, the stylish rooms and suites, and the serene relaxing spa.
The garden is the first part of the hotel you’ll notice | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
As you arrive to the hotel, the first thing you notice is its tucked away exclusivity. Unlike its Dorchester Collection sister hotel, The Beverly Hills Hotel, which is a place to be seen at, Hotel Bel-Air is the place to get away from it all. As you cross the bridge to enter the premises the first thing you notice is the garden below and all the tropical-esque foliage. After checking in you walk through The Living Room, which is newly done by Champalimaud Design and has become the setting for afternoon tea Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with 3pm and 3:30pm seatings. Inside you’ll find the iconic large fireplace in the center of the room is a nod to the community feel the hotel brings, as well as designs inspired by the foliage found on the grounds of the hotel. All the furniture and wallpaper- which includes hummingbirds, jasmine, ferns, and citrus blossoms are new and it’s just a space that guests and visitors can sit and chat in.
Rooms are spacious and invite in the California sunshine. Superior rooms give garden views, while Deluxe rooms can come with a patio, and the Grand Deluxe King with Patio and Fireplace allows guests to warm up by the fire. Junior Suites (the Loft Studio, the Canyon Studio, the Junior Suite, and Junior Pool suite) and Studios are spacious and perfect for one or two guests. There are five Suites with their own unique personality, and seven Signature Suites.
The Premier Canyon Suite is perfect for one person or two. Both the living room and bedroom are spacious, but the kicker is the plunge pool and large patio with fireplace. If you want, you can just sit outside on the patio all day and taking in some California rays. The bathroom is also spacious and comes with deep soaking bathtub and rain water shower. The toilet is a smart toilet and the closet is a small walk-in.
The bedroom of the Premier Canyon Suite | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
The patio is spacious and comes with a plunge pool and fireplace | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
The Restaurant
Executive Chef Joe Garcia | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
The Restaurant opened at the end of July 2024, Chef Joe Garcia has worked to source ingredients locally with a menu inspired by LA and the Mediterranean. Before the Bel-Air Hotel, Garcia was Executive Chef at Manzke Restaurant, where he received a Michelin star in 2022 and 2023. And before that he was Sous Chef at The French Laundry in Northern California, where he worked beside Thomas Keller.
Both Garcia and Sous Chef Gel Zara have created a menu where there’s something for everyone. The Starters range from seafood options like Baja Gulf Prawns and Beausoleil Oysters, to Potato & Leek Soup, to Cinco Jota Jamón Ibérico. But if you’re a caviar lover then try the Imperial Osetra Caviar that’s served in a 12oz tin and traditional accoutrements (sour cream, crushed purple onion, boiled egg, chives, and mini pancakes. And don’t dine without having the Selection of House-Made Signature Breads. The Restaurant’s in-house baker arrives every day at 6am to prepare the day’s bread of hand-shaped ficelle, garlic croissants, black truffle brioche, and multi-seed lavash. There are house-made pastas, but my guest and I went for a main course, a surf and turf sort of option: the Baja Striped Bass and the 32oz USDA Prime Porterhouse Steak, with a side of Bloomesdale Spinach.
The Restaurant | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
Caviar is on the menu at The Restaurant | Photo provided by the Bel-Air Hotel
The Porterhouse Steak| Photo Credit: Seele Magazine
The Restaurant brings together residents of Bel-Air and the wider LA area. Sitting in the circular booths, surrounded by the warm southern California air, dining on food by Garcia or the Executive Pastry Chef Christophe Rull. The Chocolate Soufflé is light and doesn’t overwhelm, while the selection of warm fresh baked cookies keeps things simple while hitting your sweet tooth spot.
The only hotel in Bel-Air, this is a place to really getaway, where guests can unwind, relax, and dine.