Review of Beverly Wilshire, by Henry Shukman

At the Regent Beverley Wilshire in Los Angeles, aka 'the Pretty Woman Hotel', the first surprise is its lobby - there is an eye-befuddling explosion of blooms occupying the foyer - tulips the size of fists and spiraling tendrils of orchid as tall as a man. This botanical scene may differ from the movie scenes we're used to, but it certainly doesn't deter honeymooners and fans from renting the "Pretty Woman Suite" or even from renting the dress Julia Roberts wore in the movie.

One thing the movie did faithfully record is the level of service. I appear to have been assigned my very own keeper (with a staff to guest ratio of about 5 to 3, not too implausible), a spruced young Mexican called Diego in a traditional British barrister's outfit.

The Regent Beverley Wilshire is enough of an institution to have its own "Ambassador", named Ron Howard. "I've been here 27 years now. I've had every job except GM. I was planning on being the owner's daughter's husband but that didn't work out. But hey, I'm jazzed," he exclaims, whisking me up and down and round the hotel on a lightning tour.

"We get all the heads of state because the Peninsula's too small and the Beverley Hills has so many entrances, it's a security nightmare. Our clientele," he whispers, "are preeminently quality. And get this, I've installed special dishes on the roof so I can bring in every TV station in the world. The Middle Eastern heads of state like that. We've had everybody here. King Hussein of Jordan, Emperor Hirohito - when he came we cut through a wall so he could have two of our townhouse suites, one for living in and one for dining."

Everything is bigger and better at the Beverly Wiltshire. The Spa, which is designed around an eye-grabbing curved water wall, offers a whole range of massages, facials and body treatments, as well as ice cream-flavoured edible "Treat"ments for kids. There's some impressive dining options too: CUT restaurant offers a refined steakhouse menu in a minimalist-chic setting and The Blvd offers locally-sourced, sustainable California cuisine just off Rodeo Drive.

My room, a standard out of the 399 available, is nothing short of magnificent. A room like this seems to geographically map out the elegant life. Here's a big antique desk with a ten-pound leather blotter for you to work on. There's a deep sofa beside the minibar where you have your drink. Next a little escritoire for, say, writing a postcard or perusing a magazine. Next the tremendous oak armoire at the end of the room, with a set of voluminous drawers and a mammoth TV hidden within.

The leatherbound TV pages are held open to today's page by a special TV room-service menu: chips, chicken wings, popcorn. Snacks to lie down with on that pile of big cushions while giggling at your favourite old comedy shows. (Where have I seen this before?) Then through French windows into the marble emporium the size of an average walkup, otherwise known as the bathroom. This hotel has it all.