What’s Haute: Beverly Hills

The famed 90210 zip code lives up to its reputation as an oasis of glamour, lights, and luxury at its height. With a length of less than six square miles, it’s easy to overlook what the historically rich mini metropolis has to offer. Here at Haute Living, we’ve selected the finest establishments, both old and new, where you’ll be sure to experience a lifestyle of the truly rich and famous.

By Alyssa Shapiro and Alexandra Ingersoll

The Shave
230 S. Beverly Dr.
310.888.2898

The Shave, a men’s indulgent barber, shave, and retail shoppe, is a nostalgic comeback of the 1950s barbershop. An homage to the great classic American barbershops, The Shave is truly a necessary life experience that after visiting once is bound to become a regular occurrence. Outfitted with antique leather barber chairs, The Shave offers a fantastic shave, great haircut, custom fingernail clip n’ clean, and a simultaneous shoeshine. With beverage in hand, patrons can watch the game on ESPN while Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra croon in the background, a testament to The Shave’s classic atmosphere. Exclusive services include their signature hot towel “shave of Beverly Hills,” full-body massages, eye calming treatments for the “day after…” and amusingly titled waxing services including “uni-brow surgery,” “sweater removal,” and “weeding.” Private membership is possible, and The Shave is also available for private parties and large corporate events. Clients can rent out the space for sporting and entertainment events and host Dad and Lad Sundays or The Groom’s Big Day, complete with complimentary cigars.

Beverly Wilshire
9500 Wilshire Blvd.
310.275.5200

The Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons hotel, celebrates its 80th birthday this year. Originally built in 1928, the hotel was redesigned in 2006 by distinguished architect Richard Meier, with contemporary and stylish interior designs by Barry Design Associates. The Beverly Wilshire is considered a Los Angeles landmark, perfected in comfort and style by the illustrious Four Seasons. Located steps away from the celebrated Rodeo Drive, the restaurants and eateries at the Beverly Wilshire exude old Hollywood glamour. Guests will feel pampered and relaxed when visiting the spa, plunging into the gorgeous Mediterranean-style pool, or lounging on the poolside Moroccan beds. For a personal retreat in the pool area, private cabanas with flat-screen televisions are available. To commemorate 80 spectacular years, the Four Seasons is teaming up with the Hotel George V in Paris and the Beverly Wilshire to create “8 glorious days in 2008.” The $800,000 package includes a private jet for two from anywhere in the world to Paris for a four day stay at the Four Seasons Hotel George V, then off to L.A. for four days at the Beverly Wilshire, and back home. The hotels will provide personal stylists, drivers, spa treatments, gourmet meals, and Champagne for the duration of the journey.

Oliver Ifergan Atelier
205 S. Robertson Blvd.
310.498.1505

Some people are born with style, and who better to prove this statement true than haute coiffeur, Oliver Ifergan. Born in Mexico City to parents of Mexican and French descent, the young Ifergan was always a natural at making people look and feel beautiful. His formal training began under his famed uncle, Charles Ifergan, whose self-titled salon was a staple of style in Chicago. It was there that Ifergan’s natural talent for styling hair and applying makeup was fostered. His travels to world-renowned styling and design houses have molded him into one of the most sought after stylists. His clientele include hot shots like George Clooney, Tom Ford, and America Ferrera, so his newest venture in Beverly Hills, Oliver Ifergan Atelier, comes as a welcome addition to the posh community. A select group of diverse and highly trained stylists assist Ifergan in offering the finest haircuts, treatments, colors, extensions, and makeup, boasting their ability to create a style that will uniquely fit each client’s personality, lifestyle, and individual needs. Ifergan is an adamant believer in giving back, and to further this, clients have the opportunity to donate a portion of their money spent at the salon towards a variety of celebrity charities and community efforts. After all, nothing makes one glow like the beauty that comes from within.

Villa Lounge
8623 Melrose Ave.
West Hollywood
310.298.8623

Located in a former speakeasy, Villa Lounge evokes a sumptuously eclectic style with a shabby chic house party vibe. As the oldest establishment in the city to hold a liquor license (awarded in 1919) and reopened for only one year, the location has a history of hosting Hollywood legends. Villa is the embodiment of L.A. nightlife. This unique space was brought to the scene by entertainment industry veterans Reza Roohi, Vincent Laresca, and Chuck Pacheco, who were determined to revitalize this historic space in a style that would differentiate itself from the commonplace slick minimalism of Los Angeles nightclubs. With the owners’ wealth of experience, enviable Rolodex, and fierce commitment to protecting the privacy of their guests, Villa has been able to attract a clientele of elite celebrities, insiders, and international jet setters, a sector of the Los Angeles elite that often eschews the nightlife scene. Stop by for a cocktail at this kitschy surrealist-meets-French-modernist space, whether in the “library” filled with vintage books, or perhaps the canopied “bedroom” overlooking the main foyer, and you’ll feel a wave of old Hollywood nostalgia.

Sundaram Tagore Gallery
9606 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
310.278. 4525

Established in 2000 in New York, Sundaram Tagore Gallery showcases beautiful art while offering an in-depth examination of cross continental social influences between Western and non-Western cultures. The gallery has extended this study beyond the visual to include literature, poetry, performance arts, film, and music. Developed by Sundaram Tagore, an established curator, gallery owner, and a descendant of influential poet and Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore, the gallery was destined for success. Tagore has worked with and advised some of the most influential art associations in the world, including: The Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. With the gallery’s latest opening in Beverly Hills, he hopes to expand his already strong patron following. Many renowned artists have shown their works in the gallery including Bruce Porter, Judith Murray, Lee Waisler, and Betty Weiss. Slated for July and August is an exhibition by Subhankar Banerjee entitled Resource Wars, keeping in Tagore’s theme of the pursuit of enlightenment. Explore the gallery for yourself, and while enjoying the aesthetics, try to look beyond and take in Tagore’s message.

Thompson Beverly Hills
9360 Wilshire Blvd.
310.273.1400

With a fusion of New York sophistication and California cool, Thompson Beverly Hills has recently hit the Southern California hotel scene. Celebrated interior designer Dodd Mitchell gives the Thompson something extra, designing custom furniture and fixtures that meld together the bohemian downtown styles of New York and the immaculate and manicured sensibility of Beverly Hills. Guests will notice the immense importance placed on every detail in the hotel, right down to the staff uniforms designed by Jenni Kayne and stylist Rachel Zoe, and all 107 rooms as well as the public spaces within the hotel showcase the stunning works of fashion photographer Steven Klein. For a particularly pleasurable stay, choose between the signature Thompson suite or the eighth floor penthouse. In guest rooms, marble sinks and luxuriously oversized showers feature the very best in bath amenities by Fresh and plush linens by Sferra. Every room has its own private garden-style balcony with spectacular views of downtown Beverly Hills or the iconic Hollywood sign. Atop the Thompson Beverly Hills hotel, guests will find a rooftop area complete with heated pool, 1,500-square-foot gym, as well as private cabanas and a chic lounge. Above Beverly Hills (ABH), the lounge located at the north end of the rooftop, offers cocktails and dining from the hotel’s fabulous eatery BondSt., shaded areas, and fire pits, all encircling a dramatic Canary Island palm tree center piece.

René Caovilla
242 N. Rodeo Dr.
310.385.0879

Venetian shoe designer René Caovilla brings his embellished and opulent styles to the elite feet of Beverly Hills. The new boutique on Rodeo Drive features handcrafted masterpieces adorned with Swarovski crystals, hand-beading, and embroidery, which are often spotted on red carpets and runways throughout the globe. The decadent interior of the 1,600-square-foot space brings together imported Italian wood flooring, tapestries, and antique luggage to showcase the fine flats and sultry stilettos, even though the shoes themselves are enough to decorate the boutique. For those devoted clientele who prefer a more private experience, the René Caovilla boutique houses a VIP room assuring an intimate shopping setting. Caovilla has recently been bestowed with the exalted Leonardo Qualità Italia Award in honor of the couturier’s famous career in footwear. The attention to detail is apparent in every René Caovilla shoe, whether bejeweled, adorned in delicate lace, or swathed in luxurious silk. Each style is unique, and even the most discerning shopper will have no trouble finding the perfect shoe for any occasion-from galas and dinner parties to weddings and brunches. His superb creations are truly museum-worthy and make a great addition to just about any woman’s wardrobe.

Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic
9975 Santa Monica Blvd.
310.553.7344

After jet setting around the globe, pay the Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic a visit for allover skin revitalization by booking the Jet Lag Rehab spa package. Or for spa-goers insistent on bringing along their beloved pet, the Pet Lover’s Spa Polish Package perfectly fits the bill. For the ultimate day of relaxation, allow the concierge to tend to all the details, providing private drivers, personal butler services, car detailing, nanny services, pet care, and any special requests a client may have. All five stories of the Sonya Dakar Skin Clinic house regimens for what Dakar calls Beauty Boot Camp. The VIP suite beckons elite spa-goers with its complete privacy, drawing in a celebrity clientele. It features its own private parking and entrance, bath and shower, personal butler on-hand for errands and chauffeuring, a fridge stocked with healthful snacks and beverages, and wireless laptops for those who can’t quite fully escape the rigors of the everyday. The high-end Kim Vo Salon is located within the penthouse, and offers cuts, colors, extensions, and views of Los Angeles. Atop the Clinic resides the Rooftop, where one can enjoy a gourmet vegan café, an imported water bar, cabanas for private dining, and treatments al fresco. In the summer months, the Rooftop will host a happy hour complete with organic wines and a DJ. Each Sunday morning, Sonya Dakar brings a detox breakfast to the roof, helping to erase evidence of the night before.