Seconds from the hustle and bustle of Westwood Village and minutes from Beverly Hills, sits the gorgeous Hotel Bel Air, which was just unveiled this fall. After two years of extensive renovation, it reopened to mixed reviews.

Amidst the lush green foliage, the pink of the hotel looks warm and tropical. Much of the exterior looks the same. It still resembles what once was a favorite hideaway for the tycoons, moguls and starlets hoping to escape the Hollywood haze unnoticed.

A little history: going back to the 1920’s, the area was developed by Texas oil tycoon Alphonzo Bell, a Los Angeles native who subdivided the large parcel and developed it calling it Bel Air Estates. The original stables were part of his estate, which he later sold in 1946 to Joseph Drown, a Texan who was in the hotel business. Drown and architect Burton Schutt, set out to build the Bel Air Hotel, an establishment like no other. There were many famous visitors, who could truly relax there; they preferred the discreet bar, the pool and the lush, magical, almost mystical setting in close proximity to all.

The hotel has been undergoing renovations for the last two years. It is part of the Dorchester Collection of luxury hotels, owned by the Sultan of Brunei. A luxury brand of 100 plus rooms, they’ve also added the new La Praire Spa and many other wonderful features. The design team of Alexandra Champalimaud and the Rockwell Group team brought it into the 21st Century, with the worldly jet-set traveler’s expectations in mind. The lounge has a cool vibe with a contemporary art collection and a grand piano taking up a good portion of the lounge, although Antonio Castillo de la Gala has been relocated to the Peninsula Hotel and isn’t returning anytime soon to entertain.

Fans of the old Hotel Bel Air are not too keen on the new look. The consensus among the Bel Air Garden Club women is a unanimous “no!” They want “the old charm back.” They’re also upset that the designers painted over the wood beams.

I love the new look; it’s old character, old money meets 70’s revival London chic. I think it is the perfect blend of old and new. The exterior gardens still remain my favorite place in all of LA. The swans still grace the lake, blissfully gliding in good company, without any regard for what’s happening around them. The mega mansions have sprouted overnight, it doesn’t matter to them. They’re oblivious and in perfect rhythm with their world; they seem content and at peace. The respite into nature is the mystique of the Hotel Bel Air and the swans graceful presence in nature is what is so captivating. It’s my favorite place any time, but especially when it’s a stormy night with the fireplace roaring. It feels remote yet so close to all.

Have you been to the Hotel Bel Air? What do you think of the renovations? Please share your ideas and leave your thoughts below.