I recently stayed at the Hotel Bel-Air for one week while recuperating from surgery....and I definitely picked the perfect spot! Everyone from the valet to the check-in staff were so accommodating. I had been very candid with them when booking the room explaining that I needed something quite as I would be recovering and they gave me the perfect room. Suite 108. It is at the back of a lush courtyard and comes with a private patio surrounded by foliage. The patio was a wonderful spot for breakfast or dinner and was very quiet. You enter the patio through a small wooden gate and from the patio french doors open into the living room of the suite. Bliss!

The suite was light and bright with a dining area, living room area, 1.5 bathrooms and a one-step-down bedroom. The master bathroom was huge with large closets. double sink vanity, separate wc and a combination tub/shower. The tub itself is a little small but a minor point with such beautiful accommodations.

The associates working at the hotel were so thoughtful. Even with a big cast of my nose and black eyes they managed to look me in the eye, smile and ask if I needed anything. And they did mean anything. Extra ice, more pillows, nothing was too much to ask.

The food was excellent as well. I ate almost every meal for the first 6 days in my suite and it was such a treat! The last day I did have lunch on the terrace -- Yum -- and dinner in the champagne bar, alas w/out any champagne.

The gardens are tremendous and the fountains were soothing. There are gentle fountains everywhere around the property. Make sure that you don't miss the herb garden behind rooms 164/165. I loved heading out there for some fragrance -- and it was always empty! I understand from a valet at the hotel that Oscar DeLa Renta loved to have a table set-up for lunch in this area. I can completely understand that sentiment.

Several reviewers talked about feeling looked down on or under-dressed. I watched people come and go -- every appeared to be treated equally to me. I didn't see anyone in jeans and sneakers running around but I did see shorts and flip flops, khakis, summer skirts, etc. Everyone was appropriately dressed but I never felt like it was a style show....just nicely groomed.

One word of caution -- they are currently planning on building a new spa and have just broken ground. ASK about the progress on the spa because I imagine the noise level will change at this resort when it commences and suite 108 will back up to that site.

In short, I can't wait to go back to the Hotel Bel-Air and enjoy some solitude!

We stayed at this hotel after consulting trip advisor. And somehow I missed the reviews specific to room issues. We booked a grand deluxe room through AMEX FHR and upon arrival, asked for the upgrade to a one bedroom suite. There weren't any available (one of the challenges with a smaller property). They promised to try and upgrade us to a larger room the next night if one became available. (They never did call to inform us either way.) We also found out later that the one bedroom suites aren't much larger and don't offer fireplaces. The saving grace in our tiny, antiquated room was the fireplace so don't book a room without one. Our patio backed up against the new spa construction site - there is no spa on property currently and the fitness center (under remodel) is temporarily and tightly forced into two adjoining rooms (stay away from rooms above 300 on the far side of the property, across the service road). Peering over the wall into a ditch, listening to the hum of a generator did not incite feelings of romance so we decided to look at a couple of alternate locations. Both were above 300s and overlooking the ditch. Room design was longer with less patio space, no real sitting area (couch was very awkwardly squished to the side of the wall) and furnishings were reminiscent of my grandmother's living room (think lace doilies, gold lamps, floral patterns). We opted to stay where we were. My husband's real complaint was the lack of space in the room (he's 6'2") and he joked that we are much bigger people than we were in 1927. Our room contained a king size bed (very comfortable with beautiful linens) a small queen anne style loveseat (very small) and tea table. There was a dresser along the side wall. It was diffcult for us to both move around at the same time. Once we settled in, we decided to walk the property - the true reason we chose the Bel Air ( a sanctuary in the bustle of the city). I'm sad to say, we were sorely disappointed. The swan pond had one swan with a sign "do not feed the swans" we joked it should read "do not feed the swan" We walked along the creek and noticed empty bottles and trash strewn about. We made our way up to the herb garden and walked through several spider webs. Throughout the property we noticed hand carts, buckets, other service items in plain view of the walkway. We decided to spend our time on property in our room. Fortunately, we had an extensive itinerary planned off-site, but we chose the Bel Air for the quaint experience and at the end of the day, we would have prefered the predictability of the Four Seasons. The food was good and service was definitely 5-star, but overall the experience was over-priced and over-rated. We won't be returning.

The Hotel Bel Air in Beverly Hills was a hotel experience to be remembered.
We loved it in every way.
The staff of Concierge Mark, Recepionist Diego, and the whole team made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived.
Our suite was private, exclusive and soooooooooo comfortable.
The property is the place to be seen in Hollywood and over lunch the curiousity of spotting your fellow guest exceeds the wonderful dining experience.
The valet parking immediately creates a sense of service and exclusivity from the moment you arrive as does the welcome tea, five star home baking , and welcoming staff.
The resteraunt is equally excellent and wortth exploring.
Hotel Bel Air is my kinda hotel .
The drivers by the way are great and worth asking about Beverly Hills.
I want to go back as soon as I can!
p.s........for comtemporary art lovers and those who like the alternative.............check out the wiseman collection down the road!
Remember though that its exclusive and a wonderful chance to see how Fred Wiseman and his estranged wife lived .

Enjoy your stay and tell them I cant wait for our return

Staying at The Hotel Bel Air was a remarkable experience that I would highly recommend to any sybarite. From the moment you check in to the hotel and pass the swans in the pond, your senses are greeted with the beauty of the property and the smell of the colorful flowers that everywhere. Here are the specifics:

The Service--This was the most outstanding feature of the hotel. Every employee was beyond generous and willing to extend themselves in every way possible. In fact, after we left my partner forgot a charger in the room. It was Fed-Exed to the next stop on our vacation, but did not arrive on time. The head of security at the Bel Air credited our account at the hotel to cover the Fed-Ex charge. He called promptly and did everything he could to resolve this slight mix-up.

The Grounds--Terrific places for sitting and relaxing. Lots of little off-the-beaten path spots. I never felt crowded and I always felt secure in knowing that I could find a quiet location outside of my room.

The Location--It is up Stone Canyon Road in Bel Air, so the hotel is not downtown and it does take a while to get places. However, to me, this was a plus. It allowed my partner and I to feel as though we were escaping into a hidden world tucked away from the vibe of the city.

The Room--We had a standard room--room 105. While the room was not a suite, nor did it have its own patio or fireplace (many do), it felt spacious and it was very comfortable. Linens and towels are all top notch, as are the bath products. The rooms are also not overdone, which is always a pleasant surprise.

The Pool--Very elegant and comfortable. Also, very quiet, which I adore.

The Gym--It's small, remember the hotel only has about 90 rooms. Yet, it was never over-crowded and it had plenty of equipment.

The Bar and Restaurant--Very tasty and the bar has a very old-world feeling. The service here was terrific.

Concierge--I worked closely with a concierge named Mark who was a fund of information. Very helpful with directions and advice.

Overall--I would not suggest this hotel for business travelers because it is away from the rest of the city and things like the Internet always seemed slow, but the setting and beauty of this place should be experienced by everyone at least once. The next time you are in LA, go and go quickly!