Did you know that Michelin, the authority on all things restaurants, is now getting into the hotel game? Starting this year, the organization is giving out Michelin Keys, the equivalent of its culinary stars albeit directed at a city’s most exciting hotels.
This year’s debut picks include two properties in Los Angeles that we are oh-so-proud of (even if we can’t exactly afford to stay at them): the Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air.
To be precise, the duo received three Michelin Keys each, an honor bestowed to only 11 properties across the U.S. As with its restaurant recognition program, the awards range from one to three Keys; three calls out “extraordinary stays” that are all about indulgence and top-notch hospitality.
According to an official press release, the Michelin Key Hotels, a program that took four years to develop, “recognize[s] the crème de la crème, awarding destinations that significantly add to our experiences as travelers.” The highlighted properties offer “an extraordinary stay” and are considered destinations in-and-of themselves.
It’s not hard to imagine the two showcased L.A. hotels as some of the best in the country (especially given their thousand-dollar-plus price tag).
As mentioned in the release, the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset Boulevard has been synonymous with Hollywood glamour since first opening back in 1912. Often referred to “the Pink Palace” given its now-legendary exterior color, the destination is also home to a number of restaurants that famous guests like the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, John Lennon and Frank Sinatra have dined at throughout the years: the Polo Lounge, Cabana Cafe, Bar Nineteen12 and the Fountain Coffee room.
The 12-acre Hotel Bel-Air, on the other hand, is more of a boutique, vintage-like property hidden away in swanky Bel Air. Built in 1922, it was famously the setting of what would turn out to be Marilyn Monroe’s last Vogue shoot a mere six weeks before her passing.
“A beloved hideaway for celebrities, artists and royalty alike, Hotel Bel-Air’s luxurious bungalows, lush gardens and discreet ambience have attracted residents including Monroe, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne and Robin Williams, and countless other iconic figures,” reads the release.
Outside of the three-Key distinction, a couple of local hotels received two Keys (L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, the Maybourne Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Montage Laguna Beach, Pendry West Hollywood, Chateau Marmont) while 21 spots in SoCal were awarded with one Key.
We never really need a reason to book a lavish staycation, but suddenly we’re dreaming of a night or two at a local hotel.