5* Service!
Oct 24, 2021 gosha83 Los Angeles, California
This was our first time staying at L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. It had just returned to its independent status a week prior, as it stopped its affiliation with Viceroy. I booked the hotel through the American Express Platinum card, meaning that we were entitled to a few perks.
First the hard product:
The hotel is a boutique hotel, meaning that…
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This was our first time staying at L'Ermitage Beverly Hills. It had just returned to its independent status a week prior, as it stopped its affiliation with Viceroy. I booked the hotel through the American Express Platinum card, meaning that we were entitled to a few perks.
First the hard product:
The hotel is a boutique hotel, meaning that while it has all the amenities of a 5* hotel, they aren't necessarily of the size and scale of the nearby Four Seasons or Fairmont. I ordered a massage for my wife through the concierge and it was in the suite as they don't have a full on-site spa. The pool is on the rooftop with a couple of cabanas and a couple of dozen day beds. There is also an event space and a little play area for kids and dogs.
The restaurant is called Avec Nous and it specializes in French cuisine. The bar is also in the restaurant and together they represent the full scope of the dining options. There is a formal dining room, the bar area (counter and sit down) and an outdoor terrace. The terrace does face a fairly busy road that you don't see but definitely hear. There is also a walk in cellar, which is pretty cool.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our breakfast was included in the rate and it was quite lovely. Options ranged from continental to custom omelets to pancakes, waffles, and bagels with smoked salmon. Tea is excellent and the coffee is solid.
The lunch and dinner menus are different but keep in mind that even though the burger isn't on the dinner menu, you can order it and it is truly fantastic, as are the truffle fries. We thought that the cocktails were a bit subpar relative to the rest of the dining experience.
The rooms are very big. They are described as suites but ours was more of a studio suite, with a king size bed, balcony, an L-shaped sofa that comprised the small lounge nook and a desk. The bathroom, powder room and hallway are huge by Beverly Hills standards.
Now the soft product:
The service in this hotel is incredible. It is truly first-rate in that it's incredibly attentive but in no way overbearing. From the moment we stepped in, we really felt that everyone was preparing for our stay, specifically. There is none of the exuberance you sometimes get in the hotels in the US. Instead, the service is understated and is incredibly thoughtful. During the entirety of our stay, we never heard a single "no" and we felt that the everyone working there was 100% committed to making our stay as enjoyable as possible.
For example, I mentioned that I ordered the massage through the concierge ahead of arrival. When we checked in, I approached her and at the mere mention of the massage, she already knew who we were, remembered all of the details of my request, our names and more. I was floored - she did not reference her computer or her notes. She just knew!
Another example was at the restaurant where our host, Dasha, made us feel like we were the only diners there. The waiters, John and Joey, both paid thoughtful attention without being overbearing. And the sommelier engaged with us in a fun and informative conversation about the wine collection.
It's hard to describe the feeling, but there was a genuine warmth that was generated. We felt at total ease and there is a strong sense of mutual respect between the hotel staff and guests. It was an incredible feeling.
The final piece d'resistance were the monogrammed pillow covers that the hotel arranged for us as a surprise at check in. The aforementioned concierge (I believe her name is Christine), slipped a question into an email as I was inquiring about the massage about my wife's name. I thought it was for the masseuse but it turns out it was to have these pillow cases made for us. We were really surprised and it was a total delight! And of course, we were allowed to keep them :)
There are 5* hotels and then there is the L'Ermitage Beverly Hills! While the amenities are good the service is what truly blows the competition out of water. It is hard to imagine choosing a different hotel to stay and pamper yourself in after this experience. I cannot wait to come back to this property in the future and I wish them the absolute best as they return back to their independent roots.
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