“Genuine†and “Beverly Hills†might not be words heard together often, but the Montage Beverly Hills brings them together with grace and synergy. The luxury hotel, located in the shopping and dining center of the city, offers visitors and locals the Beverly Hills treatment of extraordinary service and ambiance, but it adds sincerity, and indeed, even warmth to its experience.
There was no mistake from the moment I arrived at Montage Beverly Hills that it is a property worthy of its namesake hood, beginning with the highly efficient valet staff that greeted me at the entrance to the meticulously professional and movie-star-good looking front desk attendants. Though it is hard to call a hotel with more than 200 guest rooms “small,†there is an in
timacy to the lobby, halls and lounges that feels welcoming, and while the ornamentation is opulent, it is impresses without intimidating.
Chakra One Up
The Spa Montage is a gem within the hotel that epitomizes the hotel’s brand of hospitality. After donning my robe and slippers in the posh and immaculate locker room, I settled into the spa’s relaxation lounge with a soothing herbal tea and a glossy celeb mag. I was so cozy I began to doze, but soon Deborah, my therapist, came to escort me to my treatment room – a mood-lit chamber with a deep hydro tub centerpiece, which is a hi-tech Jacuzzi of sorts, complete with disco lights. I had wanted to try something more than an ordinary massage, and this promised to be all that.
M
y treatment was called Essential Waters. Once I slipped into my oh-so-flattering spa bathing suit, resembling a shower cap with leg holes and a Daisy Duke tube top, I reclined in the tub, and Deborah added a potpourri of lavender and rosemary, rose and lemon into the water. Each of these herbs, flowers and citrus zest are designed to promote relaxation, sooth aches and pains, relieve congestion, hydrate the skin, balance the energy system, detoxify the body and aid digestion.
The tub’s lights fill the water with the colors of the chakras to activate and cleanse the energy system. A hose spraying pressurized water is used to massage the body, neck to toe, and though the water massage is actually deeper than deep-tissue massage, it feels gentle and relaxing. If the water treatment were not spoiling enough, it is followed by a traditional full-body massage for 45 minutes. The treatment concludes with an invigorating scrub and Vichy rain-like shower with seven shower heads, topped off with a rub down with tangerine fig lotion. The entire experience was completely indulgent.
Water Water Everywhere
All spa guests are given access to the Montage rooftop pool, a delightful oasis with spectacular panoramic views of Beverly Hills, including the neighboring Beverly Canon Gardens, a gorgeously landscaped European inspired public park of fountains and vine-covered walkways that adjoins the hotel property.
The pool itself is a thing of beauty, with mosaic-tiled walls and a Jacuzzi framed by plumes of water along the perimeter that arch into the saline waters. Despite the decidedly sophisticated poolside ambiance, there was a pleasant mix of guests of all ages, including couples, families and groups, offering lots of good people watching, such as the French-speaking entourage in a corner cabana that presented a fashion show of bikinis, for both women and men.
The pool depth was perfect for my son, who could easily stand in the shallow end, and he was delighted to find several friendly kids with whom to play games in the water. After working up an appetite, we dined at the rooftop’s Conservatory Grill, which offers poolside service of a menu of farmer’s-market-fresh healthy cuisine for breakfast and lunch along with a number of Montage signature smoothies and cocktails.
Real Happy Kids of Beverly Hills
The Montage’s very young guests, aged 5-12, have their own place to hang while the adults enjoy the spa, dining at the hotel’s Scarpetta restaurant, shopping or other grown-up diversions. The Paintbox kids club, available to spa or hotel guests by the hour, or longer spans that include meals, hosts children in a cutely decorated recreation room of toys and games where they are supervised by trained childcare staff. While my son was hesitant for about two minutes, after meeting the lovely attendant Maya and a handful of other happily playing kids, he jumped right in, designing his own complimentary drawstring backpack and creating a glittery plaster mold of his hand, among other arts can crafts and activities.
Our day at Montage was a treat for both mom and child. The staff and service saw to our every need, as you would expect at a tony Beverly Hills establishment, but with the refreshing and unexpected addition of genuine friendliness. I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, and my son had such a full day he was ready for a late afternoon nap. By all accounts, a perfect day.
For more information: www.montagebeverlyhills.com
