I had the pleasure of staying at this stunning luxury hotel for two nights recently. I also had the opportunity to do a site inspection and see the amazing two bedroom suite. L’Ermitage is subtle. It is nestled on a leafy residential street in Beverly Hills. The facade is also subtle. It blends so well into the luxury condos it shares the street with, that I drove right past it the first time.

I noticed the addresses I was passing were west of the hotel’s address and looked in my mirror. I only then saw the valet and knew I had missed my mark. The sign in the first picture is to the left of the awning in this shot, so you can see that they aren’t loudly announcing their presence at Raffles L’Ermitage. They also don’t have to. This hotel is a favorite of the rich and famous and prides itself on shielding them within. We were told at check-in that no photography is allowed on the first floor (the lobby, lounge, bar and restaurant). This policy is to protect the privacy of the many celebrities who stay there or just come by for a meal or a cocktail.

So how did I get photos of the interdicted first floor? Partly by sweet talk and charm, and partly by luck. When I met the sales manager I mentioned how lovely my photos would make the hotel look when placed on my blog. When we arrived in the lobby I asked again and mentioned that the entire first floor was now empty except for employees and myself. A quick call to the general manager and I secured permission.

Clean light wood furnishings, Asian accents, and bold modern art make quite a statement at this elegant retreat. Raffles started in Singapore and China nearly a century ago as a sanctuary for the British nobility traveling there. Although this hotel is far from those fabled shores it salutes it’s heritage in ways both direct and subtle.

Bamboo and dry flowers ornament a pot in this niche. Among the many design elements that remind us of the roots in China.

The other statement made loud and clear by the design team at L’Ermitage is welcome to the heart of Los Angeles. Bright modern artworks jump out from the soft blond wood paneling. Much of the art continues this bold statement of place. Here we are in Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills of the Hollywood Elite.

Ah, the glamour and glitz of old Hollywood! “Dahling, you really should put me in your next picture!” She cooed. “After your last star turn, dear, perhaps I should.” This 3-D piece really jumped out and caught my attention. There is a lot of attention to the details at this hotel.

This is what gives the posh comfy bar at L’Ermitage it’s name and it’s renown. Original screen plays are prominently framed on display. It was cool to see notes hand written on some of them. The Writer’s Bar is a favored watering hole for screen writers, producers, and of course actors as well. We spent a very fun evening sharing drinks and talk with a dear friend who lives in Malibu. While we caught up on all of our various doings a number of well known faces showed up as well. I am not the star—struck type in the slightest. To me people are people even if they are household names. As for who we saw during our stay, I do not kiss and tell. Discretion is important in my line of work.

Jaan is the signature restaurant at L’Ermitage and has earned the AAA Four Diamond award. We had one dinner here and the service was understated but attentive. Entrees were creatively presented and very flavorful. It is a lovely place to take a meal. My only complaint was that the menu was very limited. This was not at all an issue for me, but the fussy diner may see it as one. We enjoyed room service breakfasts that were brought promptly and were nicely prepared. I really loved the sign for Jaan.

As I have learned to travel with camera in hand and finished photographs in mind I have found taking good pictures of a room to be the biggest challenge. Bathrooms in particular are hard to do justice. Most are hard to shoot because one is in a small space. What was hard here was getting a picture that showed how large the space was. The bathrooms at Raffles L’Ermitage are very large. Very, very large. The dressing room area that you enter going into the bath was the size of many hotel bathrooms. Then it opens up to a large double vanity offsetting the oversized tub on one side and the toilet room and shower to the other. We did love the bathroom at L’Ermitage!

This was our king bed with a clever sliding screen headboard and blond wood night stands. The screens closed for privacy or opened up to connect the room to the dressing room area. It is another Asian touch that gives the property an exotic and elegant feeling.

Two overstuffed chairs with ottomans made for a very comfortable seating area in the room. There was a desk with chairs and high speed internet access. This is a must for hotels these days. The next must have is rapidly becoming flat screen HD Televisions. That bridge is yet to be crossed here. The move to HD is going to be a costly one for most nice hotels due to the existing investments in armoires that hold analog TVs and keep them out of site. The consumer will eventually demand it as they are accustomed to the big clear picture at home.

This is the living room in the huge two bedroom suite. There is a bedroom with private bath on either side of this central living area. This suite is large and very will appointed. One of the bedrooms has a king bed and the other two queens. A perfect family abode for your Beverly Hills getaway.

Each room has a balcony which we truly enjoyed. The hotel is on a tree lined street with a very residential feeling to it. I spent hours sitting on the balcony with my baby granddaughter. She loved watching the traffic go by and the bird chirping in the many trees. With such a benign climate, access to the outdoors is a must for a stay in Los Angeles.

To really savor the outdoors go up to the rooftop pool. Sit under an umbrella or in the sun on a padded chaise lounge. You can call room service at tables opposite the pool in a private feeling niche on the roof. All with a sweeping view of the city beyond and the lovely green Hollywood Hills.

The location is ideal for those who want to be close to the main shopping areas of Beverly Hills (including famous Rodeo Drive) but prefer to have a more residential feeling retreat. We were able to easily walk to Beverly Drive and Robertson Boulevard and then return to our more quiet tree lined street.

While close to all of the main Beverly Hills attractions, you find yourself in a sedate niche with a residential nature.

This simple yet stylish water feature greets you on exiting the exercise room and spa area leading to the rooftop pool. They make the most of the space allowed by the small footprint of the hotel. This is not a large property. Because of that they are able to personalize service. On check-in I was greeted at the desk by name. All of the staff do the same throughout your stay. That is one thing I love about a smaller boutique hotel. They do a great job from the valet to room service at recognizing and serving their guests.

This was a wonderful stay, and I highly recommend this hotel. It may not appeal to those whose tastes are more European or traditional in terms of decor and design. If you like modern design with Asian sensibility and attentive service you will love Raffles L’Ermitage.

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