Hotel Bel-Air - Dorchester Collection
A historic five-star garden retreat in the Bel-Air hills
About this hotel
Hotel Bel-Air has occupied its spot in the Bel-Air hills since the 1950s, and the age shows in the best possible way, a sprawling garden with resident swans on the pond, mature trees and a sense of privacy that newer luxury builds rarely manage. Rooms keep things classic with large windows framing the garden, white bedding, modern furnishing and spa-style bathrooms with adult and children's bathrobes. The grounds hold a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center, while the Bar & Lounge, with its fireplace, grand piano and garden views, gives evenings a quieter, more residential feel than most five-star properties in the city. The Restaurant leans into a vibrant California style with Mediterranean influences, and North Rodeo Drive's shopping sits a short drive away. It is a property built for guests who want old-money calm over see-and-be-seen energy.
- Full-service on-site spa
- Outdoor pool and fitness center
- Bar & Lounge with fireplace and grand piano
- Garden with resident swans
Our take
Hotel Bel-Air - Dorchester Collection is a historic 1950s five-star hotel in the Bel-Air hills, with a large garden home to resident swans, a full-service spa, an outdoor pool and fitness center, and a Bar & Lounge with a fireplace and grand piano. I recommend it to couples who want a garden retreat and an evening by the fire rather than a skyline. I would look elsewhere for a rooftop. A 9.5 rating across 57 reviews is very high, though from a small base.
- ✓Book a table at the Bar & Lounge in the evening to enjoy the fireplace, grand piano and garden views together.
- ✓Ask for a garden-view room if the grounds and resident swans are part of why you are staying here.
- ✓Plan on driving to North Rodeo Drive rather than walking, since the shopping district sits a few miles from the hotel.
Why we love it
- A sprawling garden with resident swans
- Historic 1950s five-star architecture and grounds throughout
- Full-service spa and a large outdoor pool
- A Bar & Lounge with fireplace and grand piano
Why guests love itRetreating from a hectic press tour, a novelist and his wife spent four nights at Hotel Bel-Air - Dorchester Collection and hardly left the grounds. Mornings meant a walk past the resident swans, afternoons the outdoor pool and a spa treatment, and evenings a drink by the fireplace in the Bar & Lounge while the grand piano played. Their room's large windows framed the garden. Guests who like to walk everywhere will find they need a car.