Photo: Alan Light (Hotel Bel Air, pool and gardens), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Hotel Bel-Air
701 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90077
The Story
Opened in 1946 and set in twelve acres of lush gardens in Stone Canyon, the Hotel Bel-Air was the hotel of choice for stars who wanted privacy rather than publicity — the very opposite of the Beverly Hills Hotel's see-and-be-seen Polo Lounge. Grace Kelly, Cary Grant, and Gary Cooper were regulars, and the hotel has maintained its secluded, garden-party atmosphere ever since. Swan Lake, complete with actual swans, is one of the most peaceful spots in Los Angeles, which is saying something for a city that rarely sits still.
Discretion as a design principle
Where other hotels traded on being seen, the Bel-Air built its reputation on the opposite. Hidden away behind the gardens of Stone Canyon, it offered the quieter kind of old Hollywood glamour — the sort that did not need a photographer to confirm it had happened. Unlike the Beverly Hills Hotel (see and be seen) or the Chateau Marmont (see, be seen, and regret it in the morning), the Bel-Air kept its cachet by keeping its guests to itself.
" Discretion as a design principle.
Signature Experiences
Swan Lake
Complete with actual swans, Swan Lake is one of the most peaceful spots in Los Angeles — which is saying something for a city that rarely sits still.
The gardens
Twelve acres of lush gardens in Stone Canyon, the setting that has given the hotel its secluded, garden-party atmosphere since 1946.
Famous Connections
Who Came Here
Plan Your Visit
Good to Know
- How to Book: Book direct at dorchestercollection.com or by phone. The Hotel Bel-Air is part of the Dorchester Collection.
- Best Time: Year-round.
- Accessibility: Contact the hotel directly to confirm access requirements.
- Tip: Unlike the Beverly Hills Hotel (see and be seen) or the Chateau Marmont (see, be seen, and regret it in the morning), the Bel-Air is for old Hollywood glamour of the quieter kind. Come for the gardens and Swan Lake, and the discretion that has always been the point.
Nearby
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