CSQ Citysuite

The SLS Hotel

Beverly Hills, California

By Neal Webster Turnage

If you prefer an aesthetic that leans toward the distinctively whimsical—and who in LA doesn’t? —then proceed immediately to check-in at the SLS Hotel. Located on La Cienega Boulevard, intersecting the shiny veneer of Beverly Hills and the frivolity of West Hollywood, the hotel strikes a beguiling balance between both. It is as ideal for corporate executives on a company retreat or a micro-getaway/brainstorming weekend as it is for your “Mad Men” creative types and their entertainment industry friends.
It all begins with a Hollywood-type red carpet entry. Designer Philippe Starck (that certain Frenchman with that certain je ne sais quoi when it comes to mixing highbrow design with quotidian comfort), wants every guest to feel like a star. While Starck’s vision is always one to elicit ogles, it is never one to prohibit a good, old-fashioned, plunking down, kicking off the shoes, loosening the tie, and feeling right at home.
This is not accomplished at the SLS without drama, noir-like corridors, splashes of primary colors, and black curtains, all juxtaposed with elements you imagine might populate Ted Turner’s Montana ranch house (i.e. moose antlers, comfy couches, fireplaces, and throw rugs). Overall the effect is welcoming.
Oh, and did we say that the same goes for the rooftop pool as well?
Perhaps not the throw rugs, but some well “worn” furniture, lamps, and artwork that turns most ubiquitous LA tableaux into territory that even the most overworked executive can’t resist. And for the clear, sunny, and 75-degree weather that demands poolside meetings? There are plenty of tented areas deck- side just for that.

Spain Awakening

SLS has taken cuisine and, just like the design, put a few ordinary ingredients into a shaker, stirred and mixed, daring to depart from the standard fine dining and casual restaurant combo. Yes, there is Bar Centro, and yes, there is Rojo y Blanca for light bites and yet … how many times do you see this done in a way that offers the option of dining in your own private, curtained living room cum movie set, or in the Italian way, gathering at a few communal tall bar tables?

For the adventurous, there is the Bazaar, truly a place that invokes all the implications of its name. Aside from Moss, a haughty yet accessible custom-curated shopping area, there is The Patisserie for sweets, and the star of the show, the Bazaar by José Andrés. This is Spanish food, bold and imaginative in scope; tingling and sublime in taste. Ottoman carrot fritters, lush savory morsels that rest atop a bed of thick pistachio cream, are a must. A salad of Brussels sprout leaves with warm lemony foam makes you wonder why you don’t eat this vegetable more often. And for brunch, eggs done in so many different ways, (although we’re partial to the 12 mini eggs, sunny side up, Huevos a la Cubana “Andy Garcia”), you’ll want to try them all. Seafood, meats, and ham tapas pave the way for more unusual dishes like Japanese tacos, or the Hilly Cheesesteak.  The plates are small enough that you may try several dishes sans overindulgence.

Where Business Meets Pleasure

When it comes to holding seminars, meetings, and conferences, the SLS does not disappoint. There are a total of seven meeting rooms with a combined 12,000 square feet on the ground floor; upwards of 30,000 square feet are available for an event. Silver-plated doors and black décor accents provide an understated Bogie and Bacall era backdrop. For execs on the run, a business center is located on the 2nd floor, complete with every element necessary to work virtually.
But for the true sybarite? Think Ciel Spa at the SLS. Clouds of white curtains and a soothing soundtrack create peace and balance while fresh juices, (try the watermelon), teas, and goodies satisfy the body. It is an atmosphere where privacy and tranquility co-exist in perfect unison. Our personal recommendation is a hot stone massage, where aches, pains, kinks, and mind chatter are blissfully erased through long caressing massage strokes of heated stones. Chakra points are brought back in to alignment whereby the body is induced into a calm, near hypnotic stasis. 
It’s the SLS version of a delightfully untypical Hollywood happy ending.