Why go
Far from the trad style of beloved Beverly Hills grande dames like the Beverly Hills hotel, Peninsula, Four Seasons and Beverly Wilshire, The Waldorf Astoria is a shiny new opening on the 90210 scene. No matter when you tie the knot, LA is a year-round destination in itself, or the perfect springboard for a longer Cali road trip or stylish stopover for an even more epic adventure moon.
Honeymoon style?
More independent lady than pretty woman, The Waldorf Astoria is made for our Art Deco-appreciating, culture-loving, foodie honeymooners who love a sceney vibe, contemporary interiors, big views, sunshine and the buzz of the City of Angels; but with the lure of the Pacific waves under an hours’ drive away when the time comes to jump in the Cadillac and put some miles on it. Basically, you can have it all.
Set the scene
The Waldorf building was purpose-built in 2017 and it shows (in a good way) with thoughtful layouts, clean lines, modern tech, spacious rooms, wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies with panoramic views and a rooftop pool with generously-sized jacuzzi to die for.
The crowd is cosmopolitan LA – a happy, diverse blend of Soho House-style creatives, couples and families with pre-schoolers, and you’ll find local Californians here (if such a thing exists in this melting pot town) as well as holidaymakers, and of course loved-up newlyweds.
Ease off the jet lag and into holiday mode with a soak in the rooftop whirlpool and a glass of bubbles (or two). Naturally golden hour is the best time to switch from swimming pool to heated tub, just as the sun begins to set and the mood changes from daytime chill to hyping up for the evening crowd.
Rooms
The hotel is cleverly dual aspect, and the 170 rooms (including 51 suites, a ratio that sums up the lux vibe of this property) come with a choice of city or hillside views when it comes to bedding down for the night.
In keeping with the modernity of this property, all rooms feature handy mod cons like Dyson hairdryers, USB charging points and a smart tablet so you can draw the curtains from bed.
Honeymooners may shoot for the presidential penthouse, which is a 3,215 square foot showstopper with a home cinema and private spa room. However we’d be equally happy in the slightly more humble Hollywood suite, a 1,103 square foot abode with separate dining room and the all-important mega terrace with those unforgettable views.
Food & Drink
The foodie scene in LA and the wider area is pretty strong, whether you want that Nobu Malibu moment, are more of a Hailey’s smoothie drinker or (gasp) something more low key. But whatever your jam, you’ll want to have both the Waldorf’s restaurants on your reservations list.
Name-dropping at the top, literally, is Rooftop by JG, aka chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, featuring everything from sushi and salads to burgers and steak, served in the oasis-like surrounds of the lush al fresco rooftop space
At lobby level is the newest and best kept secret (but not for long) which is former Jean-Georges prodigy Steve Benjamin’s Espelette (on the site which used to be Jean-Georges Beverly Hills). The hero plate – a hollowed out gold egg shell filled with scrambled egg and crème fraîche, topped with a healthy portion of Ossetra caviar – is reassuringly Beverly Hills and so good it’s on both the dinner and breakfast menus (and deservingly so).
Family-friendly
Without being overtly a ‘family-friendly’ property, the hotel is incredibly welcoming of younger guests, and this ethos is maintained from start to finish of the stay. Lucky tots can expect to be treated to a teddy at check-in, a mind-blowingly colourful plate of personalised chocolate treats in the room, along with the sweetest mini robe and slippers.
We can’t rave enough about the pool for adults taking dips, but with a whole shallow side with steps, it handily makes a great splash pool for toddlers too.
Spa
Crucially for honeymooners, the spa has a dedicated couples suite, and all of the dreamy massages can be taken à deux, for lovebirds who prefer not to be parted (plus his and hers separate steam rooms, for those who do).
For total privacy, and the absolute luxury of not leaving your honeymoon suite, request an in-room treatment. Or, if you can’t be torn away from the rooftop’s heavenly loungers and those stunning views, ask for a treatment poolside.
When it comes to facials, you know this spa means business with La Prairie as the brand of choice. For a jet lag-busting boost with no downtime or need to dodge sun exposure, try the bespoke Signature facial with an LED light add-on to have you glowing for date night(s).
Eco-Friendly
We loved all the lush planting- from ground level across the rooftop area – from the restaurant and bar all the way to the pool deck, and what’s even better is this landscaping is maintained using greywater through the hotel’s water recycling programme. Not as obvious a green-brag as a bamboo toothbrush, but big on impact.
The Story
Ten years in the making, with a rumoured build cost of $200 million, the hotel was finished to an evidently high standard when it opened in 2017, and crucially hasn’t lost any of that shine since.
Location
On the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards, the boujis boutiques of Rodeo Drive are within striking distance, as is fellow newcomer the Maybourne Beverley Hills, which is a must port of call for design lovers to have a snoop and a cocktail.
Those who prefer to be driven (when in Rome) can make use of the hotel’s complimentary car service, which should just about blag you a lift to the Getty Museum if you ask nicely.
From there, it’s a half an hour Uber down to Venice Beach and the likes of Gjelina for a little culinary and cultural texture. Or for a real escape, easily under an hour from the hotel to the beached out bliss of Malibu.
LAX is conveniently 20 minutes away, although airport car rental queues can be lengthly, so those in the know jump in a cab and pick up their ride at a Beverly Hills car-hire.
To book, visit: waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com
Related article: Honeymoon Review: Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam
