LOS ANGELES—The 73-year-old Polo Lounge at Dorchester Collection’s Beverly Hills Hotel has been reintroduced after a two-month restoration program. Led by designer Adam Tihany, the subtle refresh to the Polo Lounge pays homage to its heritage and iconic design elements.
“The Beverly Hills is a dream project. I love this hotel. And it is so important that it continues to respect the spirit of the city,” Tihany said in a statement. “By maintaining much of the Polo Lounge’s beloved originality, we have not only kept the connection to the community but also enhanced it.”
The room continues to celebrate California’s relaxed lifestyle with its green and white stripes and similar color scheme still intact. Updated carpets and upholsteries reflect the hotel’s warm residential feel, and a new hostess stand has been added. Fixtures, lighting and furniture were replaced, and ornate mirrors, historic images and renewed rich, dark paneling adorn the walls. In the patio’s outdoor space, enhanced heating, sound systems and improved lighting have been added. Flower settings, vintage lamps, Riedel glassware, and new linens add the finishing touches.
Executive Chef Kaleo Adams’ menu continues to offer traditional American fare. Changes to presentations and service delivery have enhanced the dining experience. Afternoon tea, complete with a tea expert has been reintroduced on Friday and Saturday. Wine lists are also now offered on iPads, creating an interactive experience that enables guests to visually select their wine of choice.
“The Polo Lounge is lovingly referred to as ‘Hollywood’s commissary’ and will forever be a timeless fixture in the community,” according to Ed Mady, regional director, West Coast, USA and general manager. “We felt a tremendous responsibility to maintain much of its wonderful originality while also providing an enhanced and relevant dining experience to our countless regular guests and first-time visitors. The Polo Lounge is and always will be a very special place for generations of very special people.”
In addition to the new lobby and refreshed Polo Lounge, the hotel’s restoration program continues at the pool cabanas and Cabana Café, followed with all guestrooms and suites being updated by the summer of 2014.