10 Glamorous Old Hollywood Hotels
Waldorf Astoria New York |
New York City, United States
For more than a century, Waldorf Astoria New York has known how to stay up late. Peacock Alley set the scene—a grand promenade where music carried deep into the night. Conceived in 1897 by John Jacob Astor IV to connect the original Waldorf and Astoria hotels, Peacock Alley earned its name from guests proudly “peacocking” in their finest. Cole Porter composed here at his beloved Steinway piano, which still stands today, while Frank Sinatra famously held court long after midnight. Now entering a new chapter after an eight-year refurbishment, the hotel blends restored Art Deco glamour with reimagined spaces, proof that legends don’t fade, they simply shine differently after dark.
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Fontainebleau Miami Beach |
Miami Beach, United States
Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been turning nights into legends since the 1950s. Bleau Bar, tucked just off the iconic Chateau Lobby, became the playground for Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack (Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford), where martinis flowed and glamorous antics seemed to go on and on. Elvis truly was in the building and even James Bond made a stop here in Goldfinger for a game of gin rummy, cementing the bar’s status as a cultural touchstone. Today, Bleau Bar still pulses with that effortless glamour, inviting guests to sip classic cocktails and soak in the same energy that made it a hotspot for Hollywood royalty, high-stakes card games and late-night magic.
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The Lafayette Hotel and Club |
San Diego, California
Since opening in 1946, The Lafayette Hotel and Club has been a playing field for stars and legends alike. Bob Hope was the very first guest and soon after, Betty Grable, Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner graced its halls. Nina Simone once lit up the stage at the Mississippi Room (now Lou Lou’s Jungle Room), where Tom Cruise later crooned “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” for Top Gun. Olympic gold medalist and Tarzan actor Johnny Weissmuller designed the iconic checkerboard pool deck, still perfect for lounging today. Even the 24/7 Beginner’s Diner is a time capsule, from neon signage to chrome details and classic Americana dishes.
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Hotel Bel-Air, Dorchester Collection |
Los Angeles, California
Nestled in the hills above Los Angeles, Hotel Bel-Air is one of the most iconic Old Hollywood hotels, a serene hideaway where A-list celebrities have found refuge for decades. Marilyn Monroe posed for The Last Sitting here, Elizabeth Taylor honeymooned with Conrad “Nicky” Hilton Jr. and Grace Kelly stayed before her wedding and after her Oscar win. Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall and Jimmy Stewart all wandered its lush grounds, making the hotel a living portrait of Hollywood glamour. The Bar & Lounge offers an intimate, late-night retreat where live music and signature cocktails mingle with famous portraits (like Cher and Elvis), keeping the legacy alive.
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Fairmont Breakers Long Beach |
Long Beach, California
Perched on the sun-drenched shores of Long Beach, Fairmont Breakers is one of California’s iconic Old Hollywood hotels, where the glitterati came to escape the spotlight. Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Elizabeth Taylor, Rita Hayworth, John Wayne and Errol Flynn all strolled its halls, while Babe Ruth and Charles Lindbergh made occasional appearances. The famed Sky Room offered sweeping ocean views and a glamorous refuge for dining, dancing and late-night cocktails, rivaling hotspots like The Brown Derby without the prying eyes of the paparazzi. On a clear day, guests could even spot the Hollywood sign, a reminder that Tinseltown was never far.
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Marbella Club Hotel |
Marbella, Spain
Since its founding in 1954 by Spain’s party-loving Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe, Marbella Club has drawn royalty, Hollywood icons and the international jet set. Audrey Hepburn lounged by the pool, Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot strolled the gardens and Princess Diana found a discreet escape from the public eye. Slim Aarons captured the resort’s rollicking heyday—backgammon tournaments, black-tie balls and even costume parties with guests arriving on camelback. At the heart of it all was Rudi Schönburg, the charismatic maître d’ and social conductor whose bar became the resort’s late-night living room. Nestled between La Concha mountain and the sea, the iconic retreat still blends seaside charm with a playful, let-your-hair-down vibe.
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Claridge’s |
London, England
Long celebrated as London’s most glamorous address, Claridge’s became a Hollywood home away from home in the 1950s. Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Yul Brynner and Bing Crosby all checked in, while actor Spencer Tracy famously declared he’d rather go to Claridge’s than heaven. Discreetly tucked away, The Fumoir has offered a quiet refuge for cocktails since 1929, where those in the know lingered away from the public eye. A standout among Old Hollywood hotels, its Art Deco elegance and late-night polish captivated stars on both sides of the Atlantic. In 2025, Claridge’s marked 100 years of Art Deco with a dazzling celebration inspired by the Bright Young Things—proof that its golden glow and legendary allure remain as captivating as ever.
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The Savoy |
London, England
Since opening in 1889, The Savoy has been London’s ultimate stage for glamour, celebrity and late nights. Conceived by theatrical impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, it attracted royalty, opera divas and society’s brightest lights, from Sarah Bernhardt to Dame Nellie Melba. In later decades, cinema icons like Mary Pickford, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra made their mark. Sinatra, a frequent guest, famously played the white grand piano in the restaurant, singing and entertaining fellow diners, adding a musical sparkle to the hotel’s legendary nightlife.
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One&Only Palmilla |
San José del Cabo, Mexico
Perched on the sun-kissed shores of Los Cabos, One&Only Palmilla has been a secluded escape for the rich, famous and adventurous since the 1950s. Built by aviator and playboy Abelardo Luis Rodriguez, son of Mexico’s president, the original 15-room retreat was only reachable by helicopter or yacht, attracting Hollywood icons like John Wayne, Clark Gable, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Today, the resort blends that legendary allure with modern luxury, from lounging on pristine beaches to diving among vibrant coral reefs. Golfers can take on the 27-hole Jack Nicklaus–designed course with sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez, too.
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Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel |
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Where the sand meets the spotlight, Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel stands among South America’s most storied Old Hollywood hotels, long synonymous with music, glamour and fun-filled nights. In 1959, velvet-voiced Nat King Cole arrived to celebrate the release of A Mis Amigos, recorded in Rio as a love letter to his Latin audience. He performed in the hotel’s iconic Golden Room—opened in 1938 and already a must-play venue for legends like Sammy Davis Jr., Mário Reis, Josephine Baker and Ella Fitzgerald. As his daughter Carole Cole later recalled, the city greeted him with overwhelming affection, roses thrown at his feet.
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