LA's Favorite Awards Season Hotels
January through March marks a special time for Los Angeles: the celebrity in gathering known as Awards Season, a frenzy of red carpets, statuettes and beat-the-clock speeches. So where do the guests of honor rest up, fuel up—or swag up—between rounds? Read on for four top spots.
The Beverly Hilton
Widely regarded as the kickoff to Awards Season, the Golden Globe Awards has been held at The Beverly Hilton for decades. Opened by Conrad Hilton in 1955, this retro-feeling icon has been teeming with celebrities from day one, when Esther Williams inaugurated the Aqua Star pool during the grand opening. Whether you stay here or not, we recommend the poolside brunch and Circa 55 restaurant.
Chateau Marmont
“Cheateau” (as locals call it) is so steeped in Hollywood lore, the hotel starred as itself in La La Land. From the property’s earliest days, when the head of Columbia Pictures famously told his actors that if they were going to get in trouble, they should “do it at the Chateau Marmont,” generations have taken that exhortation to heart. One of the most dramatic examples: the time James Dean reportedly jumped out a window to win a role in Rebel Without a Cause.
The Four Seasons Beverly Hills
Numerous Awards Season staples are housed here, from the fabled BAFTA Tea Party to the HBO luxury lounge gifting suites, where the Golden Globes celebrity swag consistently makes news. Though you may not leave the hotel with, say, free hand-painted custom kicks, you will leave with grateful taste buds if you try the modern Italian restaurant Culina, the new Vinoteca bar or the Windows Lounge.
The Beverly Wilshire
The Beverly Wilshire is a hotel literally fit for a king: Elvis Presley took up residence here in the late 50s, as did many other celebs. One of the main shooting locations of Pretty Woman, the hotel sits at the intersection of Wilshire and Rodeo Drive, where the people-watching is outstanding—especially from the front-facing BLVD Restaurant. Inside the hotel, visit Wolfgang Puck’s CUT, where you’ll find one of LA’s few Michelin stars, but likely several of the city’s other stars.