If you’re headed to Los Angeles and need to get your Southern California vibe on ASAP, we suggest you head to the Cabana Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. You’ll be seduced by the muted dappled sunlight that trickles in through its canvas-lined roof on to its handsome teak furniture and you’ll likely spot some serious Hollywood types talking intently at tables nearby. Just beyond the restaurant is the hotel’s pool, which is bordered by cozy cabanas. Stretch out there at night with a lit-up L.A. at your feet and you’ll feel you’ve truly arrived at your luxe West Coast getaway.
Of course, none of this fun stuff would be real without checking in first to one of the hotel’s top suites, and on a recent West Coast jaunt, Luxury Travel Advisor did just that.
One-bedroom Luxury Suites (880 square feet in size), set at the corners of the hotel, are notable for their wraparound terraces with views of L.A., Hollywood and Beverly Hills for miles and miles, but also for their sumptuous furnishings in their living rooms and bedrooms. We recommend a hot soak with Bulgari amenities in the deep soaking tub almost immediately, especially if you’re seeking to shake off the woes of a long flight from the East Coast. We also loved the Bose Wave sound system, 50-inch flat-screen TVs and the mood lighting, which put us into a mellow mood.
Note: The very best room at the hotel is the Royal Suite, which holds six adults, or four adults and two kids. Measuring 1,809 square feet in size, it has two bedrooms and four step-out balconies. The hotel also has two Presidential Suites. The one on the east side of the hotel has panoramic views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown L.A., while the one on the west has vistas of Beverly Hills and the Bel Air Hills. Contact Christian Gonzalez ([email protected]; 310-786-2216), director of sales, to book.
After you’ve properly bathed and fed yourselves, head to the spa, which has eight treatment rooms. This facility is a serious business here, so book ahead. If you need to consult on treatments, reach out to Derek Hofmann ([email protected]; 310-786-2259). The spa’s front desk phone is 310-786-2229.
The most talked-about treatment at the spa is the Ultra Facial, which uses an Ultra machine to give your face a good round of ultrasonic resurfacing; that’s the next generation of microdermabrasion for you spa newbies out there. It’s all complemented by red and blue LED therapy and a microcurrent technology that lifts to the face and neck. Our take on it? It all works quite well. The procedure comes as a part of the 90-minute Four Seasons Regenerating Facial, but follow-up Ultra treatments can be provided separately as needed.
Kathy was our therapist for the treatment and we say she’s tops, but the hotel also recommends Dallas Port. Need just a manicure? Genia Gregorian was named the “best manicurist in L.A.” by Allure magazine recently.
Other tips? Bethany is the lead body therapist for the spa’s 90-minute Manipura Experience (think detox and relaxation); Dmitri is the go-to guy for a deep-tissue massage and Gilma is tops for a stone-therapy massage. Catherine is the massage therapist highly recommended for the Swe-Thai Massage.
Traveling with kids who are itching for some pampering? They can get a children’s manicure or pedicure.
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| Culina Restaurant serves modern Italian and its Crudo dishes include an Italian version of sushi. |
By now you’re probably ready for a good meal again, and we say go no further than The Four Seasons’ new Culina restaurant. The venue is worth it simply for the lovely amber lighting inside and the VIP-esque patio setting outdoors (think fire pits lighting up L.A.’s velvety dusk evenings as SoCal denizens buzz about the excitement of their days). Culina’s cuisine is modern Italian and its Crudo dishes include an Italian version of sushi.
The hotel’s chef concierge, Joyce Louie ([email protected]; 310-786-2221), and her team can arrange for VIP golf at the Lost Canyons Golf Course in the Simi Valley; she can also set up a private helicopter tour via Elite Adventure Tours. We recommend the Urban Escape, a Malibu wine-tasting tour that includes downtown L.A., Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the mansions of Bel Air, Santa Monica beach, and a stop in Malibu where guests will tour a 1,000-acre private winery/estate.
Another option is the “Celebrity” private tour, which guarantees guests will meet a movie star, TV performer or recording artist.
Louie can also arrange for guests to fly a Cessna airplane with a certified FAA co-pilot; she also has access to VIP courtside seats for any NBA game or any special event at L.A. Live. Nice Touch: She can get you there via helicopter so you miss the L.A. traffic.
Don’t forget the nearby shopping on Rodeo Drive, Robertson Boulevard and Melrose Avenue; Louie can set you up with a personal shopper and a fun VIP package to enjoy the boutiques to the max.
The hotel is run by General Manager Mehdi Eftekari, who recommends luxury travel advisors making arrangements for their A-listers reach out directly to Gonzalez, the director of sales. The director of guest relations, Sunil Watumull, specifically takes care of all VIP clients.
The hotel is pet friendly, but dogs must weigh under 20 pounds.
The Buzz:: The hotel is absolutely mum about any celebrities it hosts but we heard around town that this Four Seasons hosts media junkets for new films, meaning a movie star or two might just be found in a secluded private suite at certain times, giving the press interviews on their latest feature film.
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| Presidential Suites, on the west and east side of the hotel, have killer views. |
Planning a wedding at The Four Seasons? Contact Catering Coordinator Wendy Diaz ([email protected]; 310-786-2162), who will set you up with the right manager to plan your nuptials. Good to know: The hotel has strong experience in this niche, hosting 50 weddings a year. Quite popular is the Wetherly Garden and ballroom, which can accommodate 220 guests. Famous feats thus far have included arranging weddings with ballerinas dancing on a platform above the garden as well as completely transforming the ballroom with new wall coverings and carpeting to customize a dream wedding.
Insider Secret: The Four Seasons also has a Kosher kitchen, so the hotel is very popular with the Jewish community in L.A.
More good things: We love that the hotel also provides guests with a complimentary Rolls Royce Phantom for shopping, dining and cultural destinations within a two-mile radius.
Private jets and helicopters can land at Santa Monica Airport and Van Nuys Airport, which are the two closest private airports.
Be aware that in January and February, L.A. is abuzz with award shows (Oscars, Emmys, Golden Globes and the Grammys), which can make getting a room anywhere downright difficult. New Year’s Eve is also big here, so plan accordingly.
Techno Touch: The hotel now provides a fun service using in-room iPad2 devices, which
allows guests to easily request services.