The Peninsula Hotel is my favorite hotel. It tops the Four Seasons George V in Paris, which we visited in July 2006. I have a dog that is 60 lbs and a large cat that we travel with, and the Peninsula loves when they visit. We've stayed at this hotel 4 times now, and it's never ever been a disappointment. This time was our anniversary, and they were on top of their game!

Our check-in was speedy and efficient (Abe) was such a doll. Everyone said welcome back and Happy Anniversary. Which was a nice touch.

We arrived in our room, and they have lemonade to refresh us, a beautiful fruit bowl, some fresh water, and a lovely rose bouquet. In the bedroom, they had pillows embroirdered with our initials which we could bring home with us. Then they also have 2 towels embroirdered with our pets names on them, not to mention bowls, fresh water, and treats for them also. We also received a bottle of champage, and a tray of chocolate covered strawberries. It was wonderful.

The concierge staff is just fantastic (David and James). They went out of their way and called around to the local restaurants and found a few that would allow us to bring our dog with us as we had dinner on their patios. Just wonderful!

I would recommend this place whole heartedly! I can't wait to visit again!

Just had a weekend stay here. When looking for a hotel along the Wilshire Blvd. /Rodeo Drive corridor, the luxury choices are the Peninsula, Beverly Hilton or Regent Beverly Wilshire (the Beverly Hills Hotel, Raffles L'Ermitage, and Four Seasons are a bit further away). Boutique hotels include the Mosaic (#1 with Trip Advisors) and Maison 140, both a block from the Peninsula, and the Luxe on Rodeo. I chose the Peninsula due to pleasant past experiences at Peninsulas in New York and especially Hong Kong, which remains my favourite hotel of all time, thus far.

I made the reservation on-line, and very quickly received a confirmaiton e-mail with an attachment to "personalize your experience" and fax back to the hotel specific requests. Of our few requests, the hotel got the monogram (they will monogram your pillowcases) and newpaper preferences correct, but did not acknowledge our room preference or welcome beverage selection (we were aksed again at check-in).

Two weeks before arrival, I called the concierge desk for assistance with restaurant reservations on 2 occasions. One request was for Cut, the popular new Wolfgang Puck steakhouse in the Beverly Wilshire, and the other was for Spago. On neither occasion did the concierge e-mail me back as promised--I had to follow up by phone on my own, and then discovered Cut was completely booked, but Spago was confirmed. No offer to help with another reservation was made.

When making a hotel reservation, you are asked what time you will arrive. I stated 3pm, but we arrived at 2:30. The room was not ready, but within 30 minutes we were called and escorted to the room by a front desk receptionist. Luggage had already arrived. During the 30 minute wait, I observed the activity at the front entrance. Scads of valet, bellmen and pages stand at the ready, and almost all the cars entering and exiting were German and luxury. The hotel itself has a Rolls at the ready. No taxis noted, but many town cars.

Here are some observations after exploring the hotel: the hotel is definitely French-inspired, with almost all room windows being French doors. The hotel's architects/designers have made maximum use of a small, irregularly shaped plot prime real estate. All the amenities and services expected of a 5-star property are here. The main building is a zig-zag shape, with a triangular porte cochere and 2 triangular wedges of villas surrounding it. While critics may use such descriptions as "small, cramped and narrow", I prefer to describe public areas as " intimately opulent, cozy, and charming". This includes the lobby, restaurants, lounge, function rooms, pool, spa (both rooftop), and giftshop.

The guest room, however, was well-sized, well-designed and well-equipped. The least expensive superior rooms apparently all face Lasky Drive, a quiet, not unpleasant side street off Wilshire. Maison 140 is on Lasky. A negative may be that the Peninsula's loading dock is also here. We had a deluxe room--same size but with a view of the gardens between the main building and the villas. A fountian's trickle could be heard from the window. Nice touches: live orchid plant, fresh fruit bowl, bedside control panels. One negative--no TV in the large bathroom.

Service was impressive, with almost all staff greeting you, sometimes by name, as you pass. Some also pause, hands clasped, and wait until you pass before they resume walking in the other direction.

We were amused by the variety of mineral waters available, often complimentary. There was Fiji as a welcoming beverage (over $10 in the minibar), Voss in the Living Room in the mornings (along with coffee and tea), Spa water in the spa and fitness center, and Evian at turndown.

We did get to sample the food from Cut, without a reservation. The charming lounge Sidebar, next to Cut, serves its full menu at the bar.

We stayed in the Peninsula-Suite for twelve nights.. It is a large 2 bedroom suite with a massive patio on the third floor with an adjoining room for the kids.

We will definitely return to this suite.

This space is a charming island of tranquility and refinement in the flats of Beverly Hills. It is easy walking distance to the best restaurants and shopping, yet far enough away from the tourist action at Wilshire and Rodeo to make you feel more like a resident than a visitor. A friend of mine has lived in a mansion behind the Beverly Hills Hotel for years and was floored by the caliber of the hotel.. and our suite.. He came over for wine and after returning home, began Googling the hotel's decorator to explore working on his place.

The Peninsula suite is like a comfortable guest house, not a hotel suite. But it is correctly laid out as a hotel suite should be. We were not in want of a material thing during this stay.. It was an elegantly sublime experience.

Teriffic food (as it was last year) with non traditional gourmet comfort foods and large satisfying portions. Sweet smells of lilac wafting through the common areas and guest corridors. Piano music filtering up from the Living Room. Warm luxe fabrics, antique furnishing reproductions in suite and in the common areas. We loved the little touches. Petit fours with room service, fresh soap every day after a single use or even a loosening of the cap.. ultra fine fabrics, linens, glasses and dishes. Housekeeping/Maintenance does a sensational job caring for the property, before it is needed.

Service at the front door leaves room for improvement this year.. We were staying in the most expensive suite in the hotel for nearly 2 weeks straight and nobody in the parking area (except for Louis) ever acknowledged us by name. They continously asked for our "ticket number" when we called for our car.. the same lady on the phone, grinding for "the ticket number" every morning..

We are a couple with children, not expecting to to be stroked and molicoddled, however when you are paying a significant sum to stay, you expect to be greeted by name and have them "know" what you are driving. When we returned to the hotel after a day out, we could see the look on the faces of the attendants.. it was as if we were inconveniencing them. This might be acceptable when you get a simple room in the hotel at half-price through expedia -- maybe... But its not acceptable when you are paying $5,000.00 dollars a night. We always had a ten dollar bill in our pocket for the parking valets but they were so inattentive as we walked out the front door in the AM that we couldn't stomach giving it to them.. well, maybe once we gave them a five.

Our only gripe in-room was the cork screw.. They supply a complimentary corkscrew for opening wine in-suite.. This was the cheapest corkscrew money could buy.. It did not even have a knife blade for removing the capping foil. We were drinking $300 dollar a bottle wine and poking and clawing at the capping foil with the pointy tip of the corkscrew. That got lame, lame, lame after the fourth or fifth bottle.

As they say in Beverly Hills.. "the town is always the same, only the names on the mailbox change". We look forward to a two week return in 6 months time, a better corkscrew and some some new faces in the parking dept.

I visited the Peninsula Hotel last month with my teenage daughter. We were in Los Angeles to visit colleges and look for a prom dress. Everyone at the hotel was very helpful, especially the concierge James Little and his wonderful staff who found us a great driver and made last minute reservations at Crustacean and Debra Shinn the Room Divisions Manager who greeted us personally on arrival and helped us map out the prom dress hunt. My daughter was very impressed with the beautiful room and the great (and fast) room service. We met friends for afternoon tea and champagne and collectively decided that my daughter should go to college in Los Angeles, so I can visit her and stay at the Peninsula again.