Our Readers Ranked This Celeb-Favorite LA Hotel the Best in the City — and It Has a Heated Rooftop Pool

During my visit to the City of Angels to dabble in a culinary tour-de-force at the Los Angeles Times Food Bowl event, I stayed at the legendary Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills . After reading that the hotel cost a cool $200 million to erect, my anticipation to stay was only heightened when Travel + Leisure's annual World's Best Awards ranked it as the number one hotel in L.A. this year.

Opened in 2017 and situated at the crossroads of the bustling Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, the 12-story boutique hotel offers 170 guest rooms (51 of which are suites). Its silver structure captivates the eye, with its unmistakable curvature hugging the roadways.

"We lightheartedly refer to it as a yacht, albeit one envisioned by Pierre-Yves Rochon ," explains Nadal Aghajani, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills' senior marketing manager. The award-winning French designer has a global portfolio of projects, which has previously included the St. Regis in Rome and the Four Seasons in Cairo — and yes, he's also been commissioned to work on private yachts.

In this scenario, the hotel's vessel-like aesthetic pays homage to its surroundings. "You have Marina Del Rey to the southwest of us and then the North Pacific Ocean just beyond that," Aghajani offers. In addition to the coastline, the hotel is ideally situated at the tip of the Golden Triangle — a roster of commercial streets that comprise the Business District of Beverly Hills). "The access point is unparalleled. You can 'sail' over to other major landmarks like Westfield Century City Mall , Rodeo Drive , City Hall , and Beverly Gardens Park ."

Nautical puns aside — location matters — and despite the hotel being in a dense urban area, a thoughtful amount of seclusion is built into it, starting with the verdant cypress tree-lined driveway that takes you to the entrance. Therefore, it makes sense why this destination is a preferred venue for not only jet-setting business travelers from all over the globe but also for celebrities. Rubbing shoulders with A-Listers like Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, and Hailey and Justin Bieber is not uncommon here.

Famous or not, everyone is drawn to the hotel because the property embodies liveable luxury while maintaining a refreshingly un-stuffy persona. On the day of my arrival, despite my being in scruffy sweatpants and donning toddler drool and puree stains on my shirt, from the moment I stepped out of my Uber, the staff treated me as if I was royalty. I was showered with the warmest of greetings, the same level of deference, and initiative in helping me acclimatize at the hotel during my stay. Even though I wasn't carrying a Birkin or sporting a Rolex, I felt at ease — and, more importantly, that I belonged here just as someone who was.

Ultimately, the synergy between Hilton's signature hospitality and Rochon's savant-like design graces — the dichotomy of a California dreaming state of mind with unabashed refinement — is a match made in hotel heaven for all guests to relish.

Here's what it's like to stay at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

The Rooms Pierre-Yves Rochon's interior designs exude sentiments of Old Hollywood glamor and romance but are firmly rooted in a contemporary ethos. Thanks to thoughtful touches in every room, every space feels indulgent yet homey, albeit in an upscale manner.

This includes using pebbled leather wallpaper, Bolivian lacquered hardwood for the bars, crush-velvet furnishings, gold and Italian marble flooring, and bookshelves lined with trinkets, curios, and coveted Assouline books. All rooms are also outfitted with Frette linens, Aesop beauty products, and Dyson hair dryers to embolden the luxe-living vibes.

There are five room categories which are spread throughout the 12 floors of the property. Standard guest rooms (which begin at 537 square feet and are usually located from floors 3–5) feel extra spacious, thanks to private terraces offered in every unit. The same room category is offered on floors 6–12, but at a higher elevation, you benefit from unobstructed cityscape views or Beverly Hills from your private terrace.

From there, you've entered the ' suite life ' with entry-level corner junior suites that range up to 775 square feet and have proportionally larger terraces. The singular presidential penthouse suite is at the pinnacle, offering a palatial 3,215 square feet of living space and a 1,459 square feet terrace.

While every retreat is graced with its own star-studded persona and creature comforts, arguably, the unofficial darling in this bunch would have to be the Hollywood Suite . It's a dazzling immersement in gold and cream tones, with living and dining room areas, a private bedroom, a walk-in closet, and marble-endowed bath and shower areas.

Aghajani says it's her favorite room, and she's in good company: It is the preferred space where the hotel does filmed interviews, including Vogue's signature celebrity- and influencer-led "What I Wear in a Week " series.

Food & Drink Culinary director Steve Benjamin oversees all the food and beverage venues at the hotel. Day-to-day, he has tasked Executive Chef Peleg Miron to spearhead the gastronomic programming at Espelette on the primary floor of the property. (Currently, the venue is only open for breakfast, and lounge snacks are available at the adjacent bar from happy hour into the late evening.)

On the restaurant side, expect an airy ambiance with warm tones, plenty of natural light cascading in, and patio and indoor dining options — all of which are bolstered with European farm-to-table fare that pays culinary homage to the iconic coastlines that line Italy, Spain, and Greece. The decadent Egg Caviar is a must-try; it's a delicate nod to superstar chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's dish when his flagship restaurant was situated in the same space before Espelette took over in the summer of 2023.

The soul of the dish is maintained here where a silky voluptuous hen's egg is topped with Bordier butter, crème fraîche, and showered with chives; however, the only difference here is that the portion size has been pared down (although you can opt for the original amount, by request).

Meanwhile, the bar emphasizes Waldorf classic and Espelette-crafted cocktails (the latter you can only find at this property). The evening I visited, my gracious bartender, Chris, asked for what I was in the mood for, then thoughtfully guided me towards a Mr. Earl ($24): an effervescent blend of Earl Grey-infused gin, a tipple of Cointreau, fresh lemon, and frothy egg white foam on top of a coupe glass.

For a more sociable ambiance (which includes people-watching, a favorite pastime of Angelenos), venture up to the appropriately named The Rooftop Beverly Hills restaurant. Perched atop the hotel and offering panoramic views of the Beverly Hills and Hollywood, the outdoor oasis is styled like a chic, emerald-dotted garden.

Here, Miron offers Asian-inspired flavors, like grilled octopus nested atop tempura-battered eggplant spears and finished with a Thai red curry vinaigrette. Fiery beef stir-fry is also a decadent flavor bomb: It sees cubed filet mignon pieces sauteed with cauliflower and piquant black pepper sauce. If you're visiting on the weekends, the venue also has brunch but focuses more on Western staples like eggs Benedict topped with smoked salmon and fluffy almond pancakes.

On the weekends, the hotel offers an afternoon tea service in the first floor Lobby Lounge , where the 31-foot tall ceilings are anchored by a magnificent, dazzling chandelier by Boii, weighing more than 700 pounds. For $110, guests can sip on flutes of Veuve Clicquot and curated brews from Tea Leaves, followed up by a showcase of tiered sweet and savory bites, which has previously included mini mushroom pies, seasonal quiches, smoked salmon sandwiches, truffle bonbons, and macarons — all while a live harpist serenades you with an angelic symphony.

Activities and Experiences The hotel's always-balmy heated rooftop pool is set to the backdrop of a pristine manicure garden oasis. It's available to guests from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and includes complimentary use of the three private cabanas (with drink, sauna, and food-related packages available), including one that is a wellness-focused, with offerings like infrared sauna, cold plunge, healing treatments such as cupping and massage. The latter is popular with those contending with jetlag, as all these amenities are aimed to accelerate the body's recovery from extended travel. Booking requests are made via email, and use is first come, first serve.

The gym is decked out with all the latest bells and whistles, but where they take it up a notch is by featuring a partnership with Alo Yoga where hotel guests are free to scan a dedicated QR code and take advantage of the Alo Moves app to access thousands of free classes, including meditation, yoga, fitness mindfulness, and self-care.

Personally, as someone who is usually dressed in head-to-toe Alo gear, I was thrilled to discover that I could try out all these tailored sessions in or outside of a gym setting and make it work for my schedule — even if you're crunched for time, they have you covered with their "5-Minute Fun Arms" session.

If you prefer to explore (even) more fitness options available, you can request the hotel's in-room wellness amenities. For $65 per day, you can use the latest tech to enhance your fitness routine — think smart goggles, compression boots, and a red-light therapy body belt. Lastly, if you cannot catch the complimentary rooftop wellness session on Sundays with Jai Jordyn, you can also book any fitness trainer to accommodate your scheduling needs.

Insider experiences are aplenty here. If you have a need for speed, the hotel has partnered with Beverly Hills Car Rental for The Suite Ride experience, which includes a set of luxe wheels to use during your stay — think Bentley, Ferrari, or Lamborghini.

If you prefer to swap the freeway for the waterways, there's also the ultra-romantic Coastal Yacht Voyage , where you board your own 40-foot private yacht and take a three-hour trip along the Pacific coastline. The excursion includes private transfers, spa treatments, restaurant dinners, golfing, a custom picnic, and a minimum four-night stay split between this property and its sibling, the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club .

The Spa La Prairie Spa at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills features 5,000 square feet of bliss and tranquility. There are a total of six intimate treatment rooms, and the spa uses this Swiss brand's proprietary roster of caviar-based products for facials that can do everything from providing hydration and cellular repair to anti-aging benefits.

The spa also has a roster of body treatment options, including hot stone, prenatal, reflexology, and couples massages. Whatever you choose, you cannot go wrong as therapists have decades of experience and are incredibly intuitive to client needs depending on how you want to feel at the end of your service (de-stressed, invigorated, relaxed, etc).

Family-friendly Options While the hotel doesn't shout from the rooftops that it's kid-friendly, it is actually very welcoming to tiny tots. Just inform the concierge in advance of how many pint-sized littles are with you. From there, kids are welcomed with a roster of available amenities, including cribs, child-sized robes, and slippers. Babysitters and childcare services are also available upon request, along with concierge services.

Fur babies get the five-star treatment at the Waldorf Astoria, too. Pets are greeted with a gourmet welcome treat (with their name embossed in peanut butter), amenities (such as a cozy pet bed), and room service for dogs with menu items like Wagyu beef. The best game plan here is to reach out to concierge services before your check-in so they can prepare everything for your furry loved one in advance.

There is a selection of ADA-compliant rooms and suites , which includes guard rails for the toilets and tubs and roll-in shower options; there is plenty of space and mobility for wheelchairs. There are also hearing aids available in the room, such as visual alarms. The Hilton team notes that even the website adheres to ADA compliance, which includes offering visual and hearing aids when making digital bookings.

The hotel is located in the Business District of Beverly Hills and has created its own Destinations Guide that includes activities and sightseeing suggestions that span from arts and culture (like the Getty Museum), well-known landmarks (Hollywood Walk of Fame), beach life (Santa Monica Pier), and sports attractions. These spots are about a 30-minute drive or less from the hotel. Overall, it's advised to rent your own vehicle or opt for a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft to get around.

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