Word of Mouth: Beverly Hills
With its notable art and architecture, a luxe new hotel and one of the country’s best whisky collections, the multilayered city offers more than celeb homes and high-end shops
At first glance, Beverly Hills seems straightforward enough: a nine-square-mile enclave of luxury retail, celebrity real estate and palm-lined perfection. However, like much of Los Angeles County, a closer look at this meticulously planned city reveals surprising complexity.
Originally a failed lima bean farm in the early 1900s, Beverly Hills was quite literally invented as a luxury destination by developers who understood aspiration better than agriculture. Following lackluster home sales, they built the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1912 as a means to lure wealthy Angelenos westward. Beverly Hills grew around it, maintaining its independence from the City of Los Angeles in 1926, then gaining the iconic Spanish Revival-style City Hall in 1931.
Understanding Beverly Hills means moving beyond Rodeo Drive’s familiar glitter. Other neighborhoods reward closer attention. The Flats, that coveted grid of streets south of Sunset Boulevard, remain the city’s residential crown jewel. The Golden Triangle forms the commercial heart, bordered by Santa Monica Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard and North Crescent Drive. Then there’s everything north of Sunset, climbing into the hills, where Benedict Canyon and Coldwater Canyon carve their way toward the Valley. For first-time visitors or anyone who’s ever felt disoriented by LA’s sprawl, thinking of Beverly Hills in distinct zones helps decode this surprisingly compact city. It’s smaller than you imagine, more walkable than you’d expect and far more layered than its glossy reputation suggests.
The Maybourne Beverly Hills
Located discreetly at the terminus of North Canon Drive, The Maybourne Beverly Hills occupies a special place in the Los Angeles hotel scene, physically and metaphorically. This isn’t the Old Hollywood glamour behind the Beverly Hills Hotel‘s pink facade, nor is it the copy-paste sleek minimalism that defines so much of LA’s luxury landscape. The Maybourne brings something decidedly different to LA’s scattered hotel scene: European grand-dame hotel luxury, thoroughly imbued with British sensibility, translated for Southern California living.
Step into the lobby through the main entrance and the shift in sense-of-place is immediate. The frenetic energy of Los Angeles gives way to cultivated calm that is to be relished. Light filters through carefully considered spaces. Architectural details reveal themselves slowly, rewarding attention. This is a hotel that doesn’t announce itself with fanfare but rather invites discovery, a refreshing change in a city where it often feels like everything and everyone is vying for your immediate attention. That alone could be the reason to choose The Maybourne as your accommodations while visiting LA, but it’s only the first of many.
What sets The Maybourne apart is precisely this restraint. Where other Beverly Hills properties lean into opulence and performance, The Maybourne opts for a more subtle approach. The service philosophy draws from well over a century of hospitality expertise honed at London’s three most iconic hotels (Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley) that formed the foundation of the Maybourne group starting in 1998. The approach is intuitive rather than intrusive, discreet rather than showy. Staff anticipates needs without hovering. Requests are fulfilled as though they require no effort at all. You’re as likely to bump into a Hollywood A-lister in the elevator as you are a family with children and dogs in tow.
The design language speaks to this same sensibility. British elegance doesn’t simply transplant itself here, it adapts under the eye of acclaimed designer Bryan O’Sullivan—who, together with Andre Fu, has defined what each hotel in the Maybourne’s portfolio feels like. Southern California’s legendary golden light is of course central to the experience, flooding spaces that balance European refinement with West Coast ease. Indoor and outdoor areas flow together naturally, with a gentle breeze seemingly always blowing in from the Beverly Cañon Gardens outside the northwest corridor.
Honoring the laidback Southern California lifestyle while maintaining the sophistication of the Maybourne name is a delicate balance, the result feeling neither imported nor imitative, but genuinely of this place. That’s what’s so immensely charming about The Maybourne Beverly Hills; from the rooms to the common spaces, you don’t forget where you are. Feeling so grounded makes for a supremely relaxing stay, allowing you to fully enjoy the property whether it’s a restorative visit to the world-class spa, soaking up the sun at the roof-top pool or a self-guided art tour viewing works by Ed Ruscha, Damien Hirst and Mary McCartney, just to name a few of the mega-talents on display throughout the hotel.
The food and beverage program is equally well executed. From the all-day casual Terrace and Maybourne Cafe, to the convivial Maybourne Bar and hidden treasure Whisky Bar, European techniques and sensibilities meet California’s exceptional produce and laid-back culture. It’s a collaboration rather than a conquest, bringing distinctive flavors to Beverly Hills’ competitive F&B scene, without dismissing the cornerstones of California dining. On the rooftop terrace, Dante brings its award-winning cocktail program from Manhattan to LA and expands on the Italian cafe menu to deliver a singular dining experience, all under the stunning ceiling mural by painter Abel Macias and equally eye-catching wall-mural by Jessalyn Brooks. Whether you vistit for the iconic “Negroni Sessions” or a four-course meal, we can’t think of a more memorable Los Angeles dining room than Dante.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Maybourne group expanded its collaboration with Dante to include a summer pop-up at Claridge’s, extended through the end of 2025. We’d be surprised if something more permanent didn’t materialize. With Maybourne bringing British elegance to Beverly Hills, it’s only appropriate that the favor is returned in the form of cocktails and wood-fired oven dishes. Indeed cultural exchange is at the core of the Maybourne group’s well-rounded approach to luxury, which makes sense when you consider the foundation of their portfolio: Claridge’s, with its art deco grandeur and celebrity appeal, The Connaught, embodying Mayfair’s understated sophistication, and The Berkeley, bringing contemporary edge to Knightsbridge. Much of what makes these properties iconic, and what makes more recent additions of The Emory and The Maybourne Riviera noteworthy, is the interplay between what luxury hospitality looks and feels like. Each property maintains fierce individuality while sharing an unmistakable DNA consisting of meticulous attention to detail and intuitive service.
Whether in London, Los Angeles or the Côte d’Azur, the same principles apply: respect for place, partnership with exceptional talent and hospitality that feels immensely personal rather than formulaic. The Maybourne Beverly Hills brings something to Los Angeles that it didn’t quite have before, a truly elegant hotel. It is sophisticated luxury, firmly rooted in substance rather than spectacle. In a landscape of world-renowned icons, it’s established itself as much more than a new contender in just five years, racking up accolade after accolade since Maybourne took over operations. With The Maybourne Saint-Germain coming to one of our favorite Paris neighborhoods in 2027, and whispers of New York, Tokyo and Dubai, the hotel group is nothing if not ambitious. We’ll be watching closely, as we imagine they’ll continue to raise the bar for authentic luxury wherever they plant the Maybourne flag.
LEORA
Los Angeles is the land of the all-day cafe. Perhaps it’s the perpetually pleasant weather, the prevalence of the non-traditionally employed or a combination of the two. Either way, when it comes to places where you can order breakfast until at least 3 pm and find a robust natural wine menu, this city has you well covered. On this visit to Beverly Hills we found a new favorite, LEORA, that opened in 2022. The brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Leor and Laura, this cafe is hidden-in-plain-sight in the bottom of UTA’s office building. On a weekday afternoon the place was buzzing inside and out, with plenty more people picking up to-go orders. After enjoying breakfast tacos, tater tots and a Masala Chai latte, it’s easy to understand the appeal. Talking to a local friend who is a regular, we concluded that the whole menu is full of great choice after great choice, but standouts include the LEORA Breakfast Burrito, Shakshuka, Chicken Sesame Ginger Salad, Chopped Cheese and Holy Schnitz. There’s also a case full of baked goods that deserves your attention.
Gagosian Beverly Hills
Los Angeles is home to more art museums and galleries than nearly any other city in the world. LACMA, MOCA, The Broad, Hammer and The Getty Center are deservedly destinations in their own right, but sometimes a gallery that you can just pop into on a whim is “just the thing.” That’s the case with Gagosian Beverly Hills, where entry remains free, as it has been since Larry Gagosian opened it in 1995. A true “blue chip gallery,” Gagosian Beverly Hills really needs no introduction, but rather a reminder that it is there waiting to surprise you with its rotating exhibitions and delight you with permanent works from iconic artists. Edmund de Waal’s “if you came this way” was shown through December 2025, and it made the most of the MeierArchitects-designed building by soaking up natural light and playing with negative space.
Sushi Note Omakase
Hidden downstairs at the Rodeo Collection, Sushi Note Omakase operates fourteen seats where celebrated chef Kiminobu Saito brings a mastery of Edomae technique to a space that transports guests to Japan. Hospitality veterans Andy Paxson and Dave Gibbs, who established the original Sherman Oaks location, created this sanctuary with a singular focus: to honor omakase at the highest level.
Twenty courses unfold deliberately over a 2-hour period, allowing you to savor both the food and the moment. Premium Japanese market fish meets cutting-edge and traditional Edomae techniques in ways that feel seamless rather than showy. Further elevating the experience is the beverage program. Beverage director Ian Lokey collaborates with culinary director Earl Aguilar to craft unexpected pairings, rare bottles and thoughtful selections that highlight flavors you might otherwise miss.
It is an exercise in attention-to-detail at every level and even without considering the location, the pricing reflects that. For those who understand the craft, Sushi Note Omakase delivers something increasingly rare: authenticity that doesn’t need to declare itself. Instead, it is simply undeniable and easily perceived.
The Whisky Bar
Hidden within The Maybourne Beverly Hills, The Whisky Bar feels like a secret worth keeping. Dim lighting. Rich wood paneling. The kind of hushed atmosphere where you can’t help but lean in and listen. It’s a contemplative space, which is appropriate when you’re housing one of the most significant whisky collections in North America.
The selection spans continents and centuries. Rare Japanese single malts that seldom leave their home market. Scotch from distilleries that no longer exist. American bourbon bottled before most guests drinking them were born. The breadth is staggering, but what distinguishes The Whisky Bar is how the team approaches this library of spirits. These are not antiques gathering dust, they’re meant to be appreciated, understood and most importantly, experienced.
Ask about a specific distillery’s history and you’ll get stories, not sales pitches. Request a recommendation and the questions come thoughtfully: “What have you enjoyed before? Are you drawn to smoke or sweetness? Highland or Islay?” We’ve been fortunate to have the bulk of our whisky education come by way of visiting distilleries in Scotland and Japan, interviews with the people behind the “the juice” and more than a few special samples. A visit to The Whisky Bar to chat with David, Sean or Natasha is the next best thing.
In addition to the robust whisky selection, there’s also an impressive menu of over 1,000 cigars available for purchase by hotel guests, and anyone with a reservation is allowed to bring their own as well. As we’re not regular smokers, but enjoy a cigar under the appropriate circumstances, we again leaned on the knowledgeable staff to guide us in the right direction.
A cool Autumn evening on the second-floor terrace was well suited for us to try new whiskies like Connemara 12-year, Redbreast Lustau Sherry Finish, Shibui Pure Malt 10-year), and a few personal favorites, Lagavulin 16-year, Glenfiddich 14-year and Glenmorangie 18-year. Crucially, “wee dram” one-ounce pours are offered, or if you’re going all out, the “Once in a Lifetime” Tasting Flight is a rare (albeit pricey) opportunity to try some of the world’s best whiskies in one sitting.
What are your thoughts?