

She goes by many names: the Pink Palace, Los Angeles Landmark, Playground to the Stars, Hollywood Hot Spot. She’s a grand and stately lady, all 203 rooms of her, all 21 unique bungalows and 12 lushly landscaped acres of towering palms. She’s a party girl, too.
She dates to 1912, when, for a then-whopping $500,000, she opened exactly halfway between Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean.
She’s the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, at an address so exclusive that for years it was self-described simply as “on Sunset Boulevard.”
Today, 100 million makeover dollars later and with a ritzy new spa, she’s looking finer than ever: The signature banana-leaf wallpaper is still here; the cozy, countered coffee shop still looks like a movie set; and the Polo Lounge is still populated by stars and music executives working deals over power breakfasts and lunches.
If these walls could talk, they’d tell how:
In the ‘40s, Howard Hughes took up residence in the bungalows and lived here off and on for the next 30 years.
m The legendary pool and Cabana Club became the setting for Gregory Peck and Lauren Bacall in 1957’s “Designing Women.”
Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand stayed in Bungalows 20 and 21 while filming “Let’s Make Love.”
Elizabeth Taylor spent five of her honeymoons at the bungalows.
Charlie Chaplin checked in when he returned to Hollywood in 1972, after a prolonged absence, to accept a special Oscar.
“California Suite” was filmed here after being written by frequent guest Neil Simon.
Singers including Madonna and Mariah Carey have requested Bungalow 5’s four bedrooms and private pool.
Tom Cruise and his agent brokered a movie deal here.
Director Ang Lee took up residence at one point.
Also, if these walls could talk, they’d tell an amazing tale of how a handsome young swimmer from Denmark had a few starring roles of his own but none more rewarding than “Poolside Prince of the Pink Palace,” a title given him by Los Angeles Magazine.
View Entire StoryBy H. Leighton Steward
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