The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills: Luxury Fun in 90210

Melissa Heckscher Avatar
The view of The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
The Waldorf Astoria is centrally located near many popular LA landmarks. Photo credit: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

The writer was hosted.

I’m not going to lie: I felt a little out of place when I walked into the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Beverly Hills. I mean, I drive a Subaru—probably the only one in the motorcade of $200K+ luxury cars lining the grand driveway.

But despite its reputation for luxury, the Waldorf Astoria doesn’t feel pretentious. I realized this right away when two friendly bellhops offered to help with our bags and the white-gloved doorman smiled warmly at my 9-year-old daughter. It’s a place where you can experience top-tier service without any airs. After all, this is the hotel chain that invented room service (and eggs Benedict, by the way).”

Here’s everything you need to know about the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills:

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Private terrace of a private room at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.
The private terrace of our Deluxe Queen Room at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher

Where is it?

Nestled into the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards, the 12-story hotel is just down the street from both the sprawling Century City Mall and the iconic Rodeo Drive. It’s not a walkable street, per se (nobody walks anywhere in LA anyway) but it’s a bustling strip of traffic that’s fun to watch from your balcony a few stories up.

So, whether you’re shopping for a Gucci purse or simply enjoying the Hollywood Hills from your balcony, the location is ideal.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Need a ride? The hotel will happily arrange a house car to chauffeur you to and from nearby destinations.

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A deluxe queen room at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills
My daughter in our Deluxe Queen room. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher

What are the rooms like?

Waldorf opened in 2017 and has that shiny new feeling (and noticeably delicious smell!) to prove it. When you walk into the hotel’s lobby, with its gold chandeliers and roster of weekend tea times, you’ll get a sense of why this hotel is often called one of the top hotels in Los Angeles, if not the United States.

As for the 119 deluxe rooms and 51 suites, all are suitably spacious—the smallest is 630 square feet and the largest, the epic Presidential Suite (we can only imagine who has stayed here), is 3,215 square feet.

The rooms are all designed in soft hues of blue, cream, and taupe, with beds so cloudlike they actually sell them on the hotel’s website. Rooms are also outfitted with sophisticated touches like thick books perched on built-in shelves, an Echo Show that doubles as a hotel brochure, a Nespresso machine for gourmet caffeination, and large Italian marble and gold-trimmed bathrooms that beg for a long, luxurious soak.

Tiny touches take things up a notch, including small sliding doors for the desk outlets so you don’t have to see any pesky reminders of technology unless you choose to plug in.

The best part? Every room has floor-to-ceiling windows and a sizable balcony with views of either the Hollywood Hills or Downtown LA. Comfy outdoor lounge chairs beckon, and my even my 9-year-old daughter headed right outside so she could chill and take it all in.

Seared king salmon a The Rooftop restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria.
The seared king salmon a The Rooftop restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher

How about the food?

Ahhhmazing. But, in my opinion, skip the first-floor dining room and head for The Rooftop. Not only is the food great at the 12th floor eatery (Hint: Try the Tuna Crispy Rice, or the Seared King Salmon), but the breezy panoramic views make it worth the hefty price tag. It’s no wonder this place is almost more popular with locals than actual guests of the hotel.

Views from Waldorf Astoria's rooftop restaurant.
The view from The Rooftop restaurant. Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher

SheBuysTravel Tip: If you’re not staying at the hotel but want to come for dinner, take the separate express elevator that goes straight to The Rooftop (the guest elevator requires a room key).

To be fair, we didn’t try Espelette, the lobby-adjacent restaurant that offers contemporary California cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. But with the prices being comparable, I’ll take the choice with a view every time.

Waldorf Astoria's rooftop pool.
The rooftop pool at the Waldorf Astoria. Photo credit: Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

The Rooftop Pool and Spa

If you’re headed for The Rooftop restaurant, you may notice the adjacent pool glistening above the faraway cityscape. It’s not huge, but it’s got the view going for it and is a nice place to cool off when the temps get high in LA.

As for the spa,  we didn’t use it, but as one of only two La Prairie Spas in the

United States and a Forbes 5-Star recipient for six consecutive years, it’s safe to say that the treatments—which include a caviar facial and a facial that uses pure gold—are as luxurious (and expensive) as they sound.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Not a hotel guest but want in on the glitz? Book a spa treatment on a Monday through Thursday and you’ll get access to the rooftop pool for the rest of the day. The hotel also offers pool cabana reservations for both hotel guests and locals.

Waldorf Astoria is 20 minutes from Hollywood.
The hotel is about 20 minutes from Hollywood (depending on traffic). Photo credit: Nathan DeFiesta

What’s near the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills?

Pretty much everything! The Waldorf is smack dab in the middle of LA, so close to many of the region’s most famous spots. If you want to stay the neighborhood, it’s just a few blocks from the expansive Century City Mall and the swanky Rodeo Drive. But if you want to sightsee, Beverly Hills is central to many of Los Angeles’ most popular tourist destinations:

  • Holywood Walk of Fame (5.5 miles)
  • Santa Monica Pier (9.5 miles)
  • Universal Studios (8.1 miles)
  • The Getty (5.9 miles)
  • The Grove (3.6 miles)
  • Disneyland (44 miles)
Book the American Girl Experience at the Waldorf Astoria, which comes with a guided shopping experience!
We booked the American Girl Experience at the hotel, which comes with a guided shopping experience! Photo credit: Melissa Heckscher

Kid and Dog-Approved!

Got little jet-setters? The hotel has some dream packages for littles, including the American Girl Doll Experience package, which includes an American Girl Doll bed, AG swag, plus a chauffeured ride to the American Girl Doll store for a guided shopping experience at the nearby Century City Mall.

Or, if a fur baby is your plus-one, the hotel is dog-friendly (with a $200 pet deposit) and will even provide pet sitters and dog walkers upon request (for an added fee).  

How much does it cost?

Of course, luxury comes at a cost—especially when you’re in Beverly Hills, where 5-star hotels are the norm. That said, rooms at the hotel start at about $900 per night.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Frequent traveler? You can use Hilton Honors points to book your stay at the Waldorf Astoria.

Melissa Heckscher is a freelance writer and mother of three living in Los Angeles. She is a former staff writer for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group and is the author of 10 nonfiction books, including, “The Explorer’s Gazette: Amazing Stories of 30 Real-Life Journeys” (Scholastic Books) and “Be Happy That… This Book Isn’t Covered in Poison/Plus 100 Other Reasons to Cheer Up.” (Potter Style). When she’s not writing (or parenting), she spends her time watching rocket launches, going to Broadway shows, and planning that Next Big Trip.
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