Shutters at Sunset

A Guide to Attainable Luxury

Shutters at Sunset

March 15, 2013 | posted by Molly

My sister-in-law Rebecca is a semi-finalist in the Scion contest for young entrepreneurs, so they flew her out to LA and put her up at Shutters for the week. (Not a bad gig if you can get it.) I lived in Santa Monica my first three years in LA and Shutters on the Beach was a place that I frequented (even if that meant laying on the beach in front of it wishing I could afford a room!). It is my absolute favorite hotel in LA, not only for the location, but for the way it feels like your very own personal beach house. It oozes romance— especially at sunset, and Wednesday night we made it just in time to capture the last glimpses of light before we met Rebecca for a drink. Pretty spectacular.

This is the living room, which overlooks the beach. We happened to be there for Wednesday Boîte, where DJ Harmony rocks the house and a special mixologist creates exotic cocktails with fresh ingredients.

So many cocktails, so little time.

My “Blueberry Collins”

This is Rebecca. She is a fashion designer in New York and so talented. She designs gorgeous custom bridal gowns and is becoming quite sought after! Check out Schone Bridal here. Best of luck, Bec! But really…is there any contest??

Shutters on the Beach. One Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90405. 310-458-0030

Tags: hotels on the beach, Los Angeles hotels, luxury beach hotels, luxury hotels, Santa Monica, Santa Monica hotels, Schone bridal, Shutters on the beach

A Spa Oscar Party at the Beverly Wilshire

February 21, 2013 | posted by Molly

This week I’ve found myself hotel hopping and you won’t hear me complaining. It’s Oscar week here in LA, which means lots of parties and a generally festive mood. Events for me are usually considered work, but every now and then I go for fun, which is what I did last night with my friend Jen. She’s so the girl about town, so I can always count on her to take me somewhere fabulous. We hit up the Spa Oscar Party at the Beverly Wilshire, and while I don’t normally write about events here, there are a few things you must know.

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Photo by Tiffany Rose

First, if you are looking for one of the most iconic luxury hotels in LA, look no further. It’s managed by Four Seasons and yes…it’s the hotel from “Pretty Woman.” It’s had a major face lift since then and Wolfgang Puck opened Cut, one of his best and most extravagant steak houses in town.

Photo by Tiffany Rose

I always judge an event by how quickly I have a glass of champagne in hand . I think this was a record 1.5 seconds, so you know I was happy.

Jen and I mingled with Carrie Mitchell (far left), the PR director for the hotel and Christine Chiu (who happens to be married to one of the best plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills…Dr. Gabriel Chiu (in case you are looking!).

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Ok, listen up. I cannot explain to you enough my obsession with Natura Bissé, a Barcelona based skincare line. I have very sensitive skin and it’s worth every penny. Though…I haven’t quite worked my way up to the Diamond line (their most luxurious). My daily routine includes their NB Ceutical Tolerance Cleanser, the Sensitive Complex and the Essential Shock Cream. When I found out the Beverly Wilshire Spa uses their products, I literally ran (I’m a dork) to the little tent set up and proceeded to gush in hopes I’d go home with some samples (I did).

I also got a Diamond scrub on my arm (they offer this as a facial treatment in the spa). And I swear, my arm looks years younger and a lot more sparkly!

Photo by Tiffany Rose

I think I may be the only girl in LA who never passes up the food at events…the passed hor d’oeuvres were by Wolfgang Puck.

Photo by Tiffany Rose

Though I did pass up the candy bar, but wasn’t it pretty!

On the way out the door, I made a new BFF, Robby, who sat me down for a 10 minute hair fluff. In addition to hair at the hotel, he also does the spray tanning…so I plan to go back next time I need a very fancy tan (and so should you). He was tons of fun.

Beverly Wilshire Hotel. 9500 Wilshire Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90212. 310-275-5200

Tags: Beverly Hills Spas, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Wilshire Spa, Four Seasons, Hotels in Beverly Hills, hotels in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Spas, luxury hotels, Natura Bisse, Wolfgang Puck

Christmas at the Greenbrier

November 14, 2012 | posted by Molly

It’s coming up on the time of year when we have to figure out our holiday plans, buying multiple sets of expensive tickets, cursing the airlines for making it impossible not to spend a bloody fortune just getting home. I came across these photos the other day of The Greenbrier. Oh, I dream of a day when my holiday is as peaceful as this looks—a family getaway with nothing but sleigh rides and quiet walks through the snow. Well, and a hot stone massage of course. The Greenbrier, located on 6700 acres in the West Virginia mountains, is a historic property regarded as one of the finest resorts in the world. If you are looking to escape this winter, check out their holiday packages. Doesn’t it look absolutely magical this time of year?

The Greenbrier. 300 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986. 855-453-4858

Tags: Christmas at the Greenbrier, Family getaways, Holiday getaways, luxury hotels, Sleigh Rides, The Greenbrier

The NoMad Hotel

August 26, 2012 | posted by Molly

Our taxi rounded the corner on to Broadway and I was filled once again with that excitement you only get from the pulsing city that is classic New York. The setting? The new NoMad Hotel, located north of Madison Square Park (NoMad neighborhood) and it’s become my new favorite.

I snapped this as we pulled up. Notice the smart dressed man walking by—the perfect Sartorialist moment.

Blue and Chocolate will never get old to me. Remember who else had blue walls? One of my other faves—The Nines in Portland.

How great is this gallery wall?? I love how the height lines up on every picture—so very Domino magazine, as my sister-in-law noted. R.I.P. Domino. It’s one of those touches that seems so obvious, yet so hard to pull off when you try it yourself. French designer Jacques Garcia did the interiors. Read more about his inspiration here.

Being that we were only here two nights, I booked a standard room, which was plenty big with a gorgeous European style bath. I also scored a deal for $225/night on Jetsetter. That is an AMAZING deal in New York no matter where you are staying. It also has the Mr. & Mrs. Smith seal of approval (and you know how I feel about that). Even without the Jetsetter deal, prices are great in August.

After a quick freshen up from the plane, we headed down to the hotel restaurant to meet my hubby’s two sisters, who both live in NYC. We had barely been seated when our awesome waitress recommended her favorite cocktails.

Two Badminton Cups please.

This is the bread for the table and it is even better than it looks. Fresh from the oven. Crusty on the outside; soft on the inside.

Dave no doubt giving his sister a hard time as only a big brother can do. Anneke loves food like me—check out her food blog and very impressive videos here.

We started the meal with a snack of radishes. With butter and salt, of course. So very French.The white around the radishes is butter, hardened like chocolate on a strawberry. I will be trying this at home.

I won’t bore you with photos of every single thing we ate, but let’s just say it was all exceptionally good. It would have to be to house Obama’s fundraiser last month for $40,000/plate, right?! My only gripe was that the portions are incredibly small. The above is the Broccoli entrée (with lemon, cheddar, bacon). Is your eyebrow raising too? When we questioned it, the waitress broke it down, explaining every single nuance of this complicated dish. Though it was as good as she described, I could have eaten two more of these. Luckily, we only ordered this to share as a side. If you are going to leave full, expect to order something from every part of the menu. My recommendations? The Bone Marrow (to start) the Steak, and Eggplant entrées.

The next morning we said our goodbyes to New York over breakfast in the Atrium. It was so delicious—I highly recommend even if you aren’t staying in the hotel. And, yes, the portions were much bigger than dinner. Try the sausage, egg and cheese English muffin. They make the sausage in house.

As I sipped my coffee, I looked up through the glass pyramid roof and watched the rain come down. I happen to love when it rains on the day I’m leaving. Apropos, I think. As if the city is also sad I’m leaving. But, I’ll return when the air is cool and the days are short. Thanks for an awesome birthday, New York! Until next time…

NoMad Hotel. 1170 Broadway (at 28th Street), New York City, NY 10001. 212-796-1500

Tags: Hotels, Jetsetter, luxury hotels, luxury hotels new york, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, NoMad Hotel New York City, The NoMad Hotel

Four Every Season

July 16, 2009 | posted by Molly

I’ll admit it. I hate the word “staycation.” I don’t want to stay home on my “vacation” and if I have to stay, I certainly don’t want to spend money to do it (I’d rather wallow in bad TV with a grilled cheese sandwich–ok, a Gruyere cheese sandwich). If you haven’t noticed, there are some amazing deals going on this summer and not just for average accommodations. Many of the world’s leading resorts are offering packages that are not only affordable, but are worth the little bit extra to truly get away where someone else makes your bed (and your grilled cheese).

Take for instance, this past weekend—While attending my second wedding-of-the-year, I had the pleasure of making my home base at the Four Seasons in Westlake Village, CA. Located just 35 miles north of downtown Los Angeles in the rolling hills and arroyos of Conejo Valley, this particular destination is a bit off the beaten path. The best part? I didn’t have to fly, rent a car or spend all day getting there. What I paid for my room was the cost of my trip. And what a room it was. Complete with views of their indoor pool and tranquil waterfall, it was every bit as luscious as I have come to expect from a hotel of this caliber. The marble bath with soaking tub was perfection, but it was the L’Occitane bath goodies that really put me over the edge.

Unfortunately time did not allow for a visit to the California Health & Longevity Institute (located inside the hotel) or the Asian inspired spa, but I did manage to spend a few hours basking in the sun eating frozen grapes at the serenity pool before checking out. Are you there God? It’s me, Molly. I really hope there is a Four Seasons in Heaven.

Right now, there is an amazing offer called Double the Fun, where the second night is complimentary and your guest “plays for free”—think a swankier version of buy one get one free. Other Four Seasons are offering the Stay Longer package which includes a third night free. If you’ve never stayed at a Four Seasons, your time has come. Their extraordinary resorts are located all over the world, but take advantage of one a little closer to home. It will most certainly save you time and money.

And that’s always in season.

TIP: Follow @Four_Seasons on Twitter for the most of the moment deals across the world. When you call to book your reservation, ask for the best possible deal. Because I was in a wedding block, I got my rate for $150/night. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Tags: Four Seasons, Hotels, luxury hotels, Westlake Village hotels

The Merchant of Belfast

May 25, 2009 | posted by Elisabeth

Belfast’s Merchant Hotel isn’t the easiest place to find. Tucked away in the city’s charming Cathedral Quarter, this grand hotel sits on the corner of two narrow one-way cobblestone streets. But, oh, is it worth the search.

After several months of hearing about how incredible the hotel was, I made plans to see for myself what the fuss was all about. I couldn’t imagine staying the night—rates start at £140 and can go as high as £430—so I opted for drinks in the bar with a group of friends.

The Italianate-style building is impressive to say the least. Once the headquarters of The Ulster Bank, The Merchant is substantial and evokes a feeling of reverence. Lit by a glass-ceiling dome, the lobby is fashioned in shades of deep red and gold, and luxurious fabrics.

The Bar at The Merchant is one of several restaurant options at the hotel. With its Victorian detailing, high ceilings, plush sofas and velvet drapes, The Bar encourages lively and lengthy conversation. Luckily, we decided on an early arrival. I’m not sure we would have secured a table had we arrived any later.

In a place as opulent as The Merchant, I expected to pay a small fortune for small drinks served by a reserved staff. Not so! The staff was exceedingly friendly and prices were comparable to what one would pay in New York or London. The Bar at The Merchant is serious about their cocktails; I was provided with not a menu but a small book describing in great detail the history and recipes of their beverage selection.

My friends and I each ordered different cocktails, allowing us to sample several menu options. My favorites? Black Tea Punch (£5.45), Mojoto Criollo (£7.95), and Suburban Pink (£7.50).

The one drink we weren’t able to try was what The Bar bills as “The World’s Most Expensive Cocktail”, a Mai Tai cocktail made with an extremely rare bottle of 17 year old Wray and Nephew Rum. At £750, my server promised it was worth every penny. I think I’ll just take his word for it

Tags: Belfast, luxury hotels, The Bar at the Merchant, The Merchant Hotel

This Yuppie Life

A Guide to Attainable Luxury