No wonder celebs love this iconic LA hotel

The hotel

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles

The Langham Huntington in Pasadena has a rich history.

Check-in

John Paul Young’s 1972 hit Pasadena plays over in my head as I stand in the elegant lobby, where check-in is a breeze. The good news is the upscale neighbourhood of Pasadena is not that far from downtown LA – about 25 minutes north – and is so worth the drive. The historic pink-hued hotel, which opened as The Huntington in 1914, has always attracted A-listers, celebrities and royalty seeking a break from glitzy LA. Shimmering chandeliers, pink roses en-masse and that signature Langham scent star in the marbled lobby. It’s framed by a pretty garden where – in a nod to one-time owner, railroad magnate Henry Huntington (1850-1927) – an antique railway bell is rung to mark the onset of evening. If you are lucky, you may be asked to ring it.

The look

The hotel’s garden courtyard is cool and shaded.

The 379-room hotel sprawls over nine hectares with lawns hemmed by manicured gardens. The thump of tennis ball battles can be heard, while guests work on their tans by the Lanai pool, which was California’s first Olympic-sized swimming pool and a movie star haunt over the years. There’s also a new freeform pool, the Royce, that has opened. A Japanese-style garden includes a red Monet-style bridge and a covered Picture Bridge with 41 replica oil paintings of Californian landscapes (originally painted by artist Frank M Moore in 1932 in exchange for food), placed in its gables. The San Gabriel Mountains are a dramatic backdrop and Pilates and wellness classes are held in the perfumed gardens. It might look familiar because it’s been a location for Saving Mr Banks, The Parent Trap and Modern Family among others.

The room

Executive Club Suite bedroom at Langham Huntington.

Textured curtains, polished timber furniture and a velvet chaise longue are charm laden, but it’s the views that really make it. The executive suite has a separate cosy lounge area with French doors that lead to a balcony overlooking the main lawn, framed by lofty palm trees. An Italian marble bathroom has in-house Chuan Spa products and a separate powder room. Bungalows with floral themes are surrounded by gardens.

Food + drink

Guests can dine at Royce, where prime cuts are cooked on a wood-fired grill.

The Royce Wood-Fired Steakhouse, named after past owner and general manager Stephen W. Royce, spoils meat lovers with a choice of wagyu and grass-fed beef, cooked by a team headed by chef Jorge Delgado. Seafood and truffled French fries are memorable while the five-cheese mac-and-cheese has a devoted following. The glamorous Tap Room pays tribute to its 1930s antecedent, which opened after the end of Prohibition, and its cocktails are fabulous. There’s much chatter from guests at the legendary Afternoon Tea where you are treated to scones, luscious pastries and savoury bites served on rose patterned china with tea or pink bubbles and views over the Horseshoe Garden.

Out + about

Club lounge, complete with nibbles, at the Langham Huntington.

Nearby attractions include the Rose Bowl stadium, Norton Simon Museum, The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens (known as The Huntington) features 16 themed gardens with 83,000 plants. Head to Old Pasadena, which spans 22 blocks, for great shopping and return via the hotel’s elegant Chuan Spa for a glow-up facial or a soothing massage.

The verdict

No wonder celebs come here to chill.

Essentials

Suites from $560 a night. The Langham Huntington Pasadena, 1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, California. See langhamhotels.com

Our score out of five

★★★★½

Highlight

Like JPY’s Pasadena says: “Find some air that’s kind of cleaner.”

Lowlight

Expect to get lost, it’s a big property.

The writer stayed as a guest of The Langham Huntington, Pasadena.