By Amber Gibson

BEVERLY HILLS UPGRADE

A former Residence Inn gets a major glow-up, debuting as Burton House Beverly Hills, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott. The new hotel is named for Burton Edmond Green, a real estate developer who was one of the founders of Beverly Hills, with fresh décor inspired by the 1930s. All of the 186 spacious rooms have large refrigerators and microwave ovens, and a guest laundry facility with eight machines in the basement is helpful for long-term stays. There’s even an 1,100-square-foot yoga studio with classes throughout the week and a Sprinkles cupcake vending machine in the lobby. 1177 S Beverly Drive, burtonhousehotel.com

FLASHBACK FEAST

Meat lovers across the city have been gushing over the burger at the Benjamin, a newly opened bistro on Melrose in Hollywood. The Art Deco locale from streetwear designer Ben Shenassafar (founder of the Hundreds) is dripping in classic Hollywood nostalgia, featuring olive green velvet booths and lots of wood paneling. The famed Benjamin burger is topped with classic American cheese, seared onion, pickles, and hickory sauce, and is best enjoyed with an ice-cold martini. Additional standouts include an Australian Wagyu New York strip with creamy cognac sauce and whole roasted branzino dressed with red chimichurri. Non-meat options include an array of fresh salads and shareables, like a highly Instagrammable house-recipe caramelized onion dip. 7174 Melrose Avenue, thebenjaminhollywood.com

EAST-WEST WONDERLAND

A mesmerizing tale of French cuisine told through a Japanese and California lens is the only way to describe Camélia, one of L.A.’s best new restaurants that recently opened in the Arts District. Partners Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba (Tsubaki, Ototo) have been dreaming of this restaurant for years, and they strike a beautiful balance between classic and one-of-a-kind dishes, paired with French wines and Japanese sake. Abalone and mussel pot pie studded with juicy nuggets of king trumpet mushroom swimming in snail butter under a crispy puff pastry veil is an absolute must-order, and an homage to French bistro Church & State Restaurant that previously occupied this space. Add house-cured ikura to either black sesame parker house rolls or kombu rice, and save room for kokuto car amel pudding for dessert. 1850 Industrial Street, cameliadtla.com

DYNAMITE DUO

Stylist to the stars and armed with many years of New York Fashion Week experience, David Pierre just opened his eponymous hair atelier with partner Taylor Pappalardo in an intimate private room within the Peninsula Beverly Hills. The serene chemical-free space has just one chair, so Pierre and Pappalardo see one client at a time, offering cutting, styling, and nourishing conditioning treatments with Milbon and Gloss Moderne. The speakeasy-style suite is on the fifth floor adjacent to the spa, and guests can enjoy the relaxation lounge before and after their appointment. 9882 S Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, thehairatelierla.com

SWEET SLUMBER

With just eight rooms located in an historic 1920s firehouse in the hip Arts District, kodō hotel feels like a minimalist urban escape. It’s clear as soon as you step up to the massive boulder check-in counter that this is not a typical hotel. Ryokan-style rooms imbue a sense of serenity with futon-style beds, concrete and wood furnishings, walk-in rain showers, and modern technology, including seamless virtual check-in and QR code room keys. The effortless simplicity creates a feeling of comfort and calm accompanied by tasty Japanese food at the izakaya downstairs. All-day kodō cafe serves exquisite matcha and black sesame lattes, and you can even book an omakase tasting for dinner at the sushi counter. 710 S Santa Fe Avenue, kodohotel.com