It wasn't the golden age of Hollywood, but the 60's were still glamorous in L.A.. Think Marilyn Monroe, the Rat Pack and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The Beverly Hills Hotel still encompasses that Mad Men chic, which has influenced the powers that be in Hollywood. After all, if it weren't for Mad Men, upstart series like The Playboy Club and Pan Am never would have been greenlit. I even saw a Shakespeare play, The Merchant of Venice, set in 1960's New York City amid Wall Street.
But did the Beverly Hills hotel hold onto that mid-century modern style throughout the changing times, like Palm Springs did? Or did they revamp it to make it look older than it was after some hideous 80's makeover?
Not sure, but one thing is: the hotel's Circa 55 encompasses all that glittered in the 60's. I enjoyed a lunch there recently. It was poolside with a view of the cabanas, of course. I half expected to see a starlet glide by in a white terrycloth robe and cat-eye shades.
Keeping with the old times, the cuisine at Circa 55 has not been infused with "Pan-Asian" or "California Cuisine." You can still enjoy a good, old-fashioned steak, martini, cobb salad or crab cakes.
It's no wonder this is a stomping ground for presidential visits and royalty too, like Will and Kate who came here on their North American tour.
If you don't have time for a trip to Palm Springs, lounge here for a while.
