L'Ermitage: A Paparazzi-Free Night in Beverly Hills
The Lounge at L’Ermitage Hotel, for those in the know, is where million-dollar movie deals are made and stars duck in for a discreet night out. And you have to make a point of going there or you’d whiz right by it on the buzzing Burton Way in Beverly Hills.
The Lounge, just to the left of the entrance of the Viceroy Hotel Group’s L’Ermitage, reflects its secret nature, with low-key tan leather lounge chairs, a four-seat bar and just outside, a zen-like patio with a lush fountain adorned with tropical plants.
Subtle sophistication is the theme, even down to the cocktail menu. Stephanie Brown, F&B manager and mastermind behind the signature cocktails at L'Ermitage, knows a thing or two about well-crafted concoctions. Rumor has it, she even cultivates strange and wonderful herbs in her own home garden to experiment with at L'Ermitage Beverly Hills.
Brown says of her cocktail style, “I certainly have a feminine touch with garnish and color but they still pack a potent punch.”
An illustration of her artistic expression in a glass is The Fall Of Xulio with Sauza Tequila, pomegranate, lime, Habanero Mezcal, and Cointreau — rimmed with a verdant cilantro salt (pictured below).
Perfect for the summer wedding season or perhaps an anti-love cocktail, depending on how you interpret the name, the Love For Sale cocktail is of Brokers Gin, Dolin Blanco Vermouth, lemon, Leopold’s Blackberry Liqueur, lemongrass syrup, orange bitters, and Peychaud Bitters.
Not usually a tomato eater or drinker, my favorite at L’Ermitage’s The Lounge is the Off The Vine for its surprisingly stellar ingenuity of Buffalo Trace Bourbon, lemon juice, agave nectar, heirloom tomatoes, basil, club soda. Thanks to you L'Ermitage, I just discovered a genius way to add more tomatoes to my diet — douse them in bourbon or whiskey first.
Heading out to the patio to enjoy the colorful rainbow of cocktails bartender Mick of The Lounge expertly spun out, Brown sets one more out: The Bitter Truth served in a champagne flute.
Brown says, “This is my absolute favorite of my creations of elderflower Liqueur, grapefruit, and champagne, it's an elevated alternative to the traditional mimosa.” After tasting it, I can imagine sipping on this while basking by the L'Ermitage rooftop pool, but this will remain a fantasy as pool access is one of the perks of staying here.
Beyond a quite hideaway with lofty cocktails, live music livens The Lounge every Friday night from 6 pm to 10 pm. Travers Huff, playing Jazz tunes with fiery fingers, offers Los Angelenos a sweet segue into the weekend.
With the upcoming Belmont Stakes on June 9, L'Ermitage is ready for the races with a reverse Happy Hour on Sat/Sun, 9 pm to 11 pm. Pony up with the Duck Confit with kim chi ($8) paired with the Southern Gentleman ($12) of bourbon, peach liqueur, mint and lemon bitters. Also included on the late night weekend happy hour is the Paper Thin cocktail ($12), perfect to keep you in summer shape at 100 calories, of coconut, citrus vodka, pomegranate and sweetened with Stevia.
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
