I Stayed at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills Because of Astrology—& It Was Worth It
Astrology is so much more than reading your daily horoscope or watching an out-of-pocket TikTok video made by a Gen Z astrologer. It’s a way of life. As an astrologer, it’s only natural for me to look to the stars for travel advice, and they led me straight to the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, a place that promised the comfort of home wrapped in five-star luxury.
When I found myself craving a vacation, I realized what I really wanted was something that made me feel deeply at home. Not just relaxed and rejuvenated—at home. I wanted to be somewhere familiar, easy, but also stunning and brand new; a place where I can find indulgence, and maybe even a little transformation. I hoped it would help me see “home” from a different perspective.
I considered a few destinations that felt like home to me and required little effort, like the strange but comforting land of Portland, Oregon or even the low-key artist’s mountain village of Idyllwild, California—two of my favorite and most reliable choices. But then I remembered something curious from my astrocartography chart—my moon line runs right through Los Angeles, which happens to be where I already live. (Astrocartography is a branch of astrology that maps your birth chart over planet Earth to show you the way places can activate different energies in your life.) Your moon line reveals where you feel the most nurtured, emotionally fulfilled, and connected to your inner world. I was born, raised, and continue to live in LA, which explains why I already feel at home here. Why not just plan a quick staycation here instead? Could I bring some lunar energy into my life by vacationing a few neighborhoods away from my own apartment? I’m a Cancer rising, which means luna is already my ruling planet, so I jumped at the chance to find out.
Instead of booking a flight to some exotic, faraway locale, I opted for a room at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, a legendary hideaway on Doheny Drive that I had never been to. In the past, I had already visited the Beverly Wilshire, which is also a Los Angeles-based Four Seasons hotel. It’s an iconic spot, thanks in large part to the fact that Pretty Woman (1990) was filmed there. In this rags-to-riches film, the main character Vivian—played by Julia Roberts—also makes that hotel her temporary home, even though she already lives in a small apartment on the nearby Hollywood Boulevard. (I guess you could say she, too, was taking a “staycation,” even though the term hadn’t been invented yet.) In one of the film’s most memorable scenes, Vivian takes a satisfying bubble bath in her suite and jams out to music she’s listening to through wired headphones, feeling like she’s right where she’s meant to be. By the end of the film, the staff even begins to feel like family to her.
This time, I wanted to stay somewhere I was totally unfamiliar with while capturing that same elevated feeling of “home” that Vivian must have felt during her stay at the Beverly Wilshire. Naturally, the Four Seasons Beverly Hills was my first choice. It felt like the perfect way to see my own city through new eyes, just with better lighting, room service, and maybe a sexy Aperol spritz by the pool—or two.
As a true Cancer rising, I brought my mom on this trip with me, because what’s more “moon line” than mother-daughter time? We pulled into the driveway of the Four Seasons on a sunny day in the middle of June, and it felt like stepping into a dream version of real life. I love my apartment in the nearby Miracle Mile neighborhood, but this hotel represented a version of “home” that felt downright out-of-this-world. From the moment we arrived, we both exhaled in relief, as though we’d just gotten off a long plane ride that we never had to take.
The lobby was grand, brimming with polished marble, and full of fresh flowers and greenery. Our room was immaculate, which included a plush king bed, a decked out bathroom, and a sweeping view of Beverly Hills that reminded me why people fall in love with this city. There were also a few welcoming touches that instantly made me feel cared for, like a plate of chocolatey treats served with the dreamiest presentation, plenty of BYREDO Gypsy Water bath products, and an actual vanity with its own chair. This room was designed to make you feel as comfortable and chic as humanly possible. Even some of the most luxurious hotels tend to skimp on at least one aspect of the experience, but the Four Seasons finds a way to deliver on all counts; that much was clear.
Later that afternoon, we headed straight for the pool; my mom brought her iPhone for scrolling and I took my Kindle to read under the shade of an umbrella. I ordered the Tuna Caesar Tostada from the poolside restaurant La Ola, which more than satisfies with its delicate crunch and coastal flavors—the perfect poolside snack. I sipped an orange-red Aperol spritz and watched the way the sunlight danced off the water. There were no rushed itineraries, no travel fatigue, and no reason to do anything other than revel in the feeling of being taken care of.
Later, we got ready for dinner in a bathroom that felt like it was made for getting glamorous. A well-lit mirror and bathroom counter that also doubles as a vanity space with its own stool? Make no mistake—the rooms at this Four Seasons are designed for people who take “getting ready” seriously. Before heading out to dinner, we walked through the French doors of our balcony and took selfies together under the late afternoon light, taking in the gorgeous view while glowing with bone-deep relaxation.
Dinner at La Ola was an unforgettable experience. This restaurant officially opened on May 30—just two weeks prior to our stay—making us among the first people to dine there. Situated on a sophisticated Beverly Hills rooftop just a few steps above the hotel’s pool, this restaurant feels like a quiet oasis nestled in a tangle of busy city streets; you can’t hear the traffic down below at all.
It’s helmed by chef Jesus Medina, whose roots in Monterrey, Mexico inspired a dinner menu that’s both nostalgic, elevated, and entirely unique. And I’m not just saying this, but the service was truly impeccable—the kind of intuitive, warm hospitality that makes you feel seen without ever feeling hovered over. Everyone from my server to the food runner to the busser treated us like special guests. The pool manager Ryan Servellon even told us a story about how they once helped calm down a guest who was on the verge of a panic attack because he was so nervous about his date that evening. After his date arrived, the staff paid special attention to their table and spoke to him with added reverence to help impress his date. They made sure the experience made him look like a genius for picking such a good dinner spot. That type of service is definitely something that can be found at La Ola.
Just reading the drink menu—led by beverage manager Tianna Brammer—will make you feel like you’re on vacation. I ordered the El Pico Rico, a cocktail made from Código Blanco tequila, contreau, honeydew juice, and a subtle kick of spice from the Anchos Reyes Verde. We also ordered a bottle of the Dominio de las Abejas, an organic red wine that comes from vineyards in Baja California, Mexico. The name literally translates to: “Domain of the Bees,” which is a testament to the vineyard’s commitment to preserving biodiversity. The wine tasted just as clean and crisp as that sounds. We savored every single sip.
The rest of the menu was brimming with comfort and creativity. As starters, we ordered the Scallop Crudo—which was so refreshing, especially during summertime—as well as the Shrimp Aguachile Verde, which we truly couldn’t get enough of. My mom and I are seasoned shrimp eaters, and not only were the shrimps thick and juicy, but I could have slurped up the sauce like cold soup.
We moved on to the Charred Corn Esquites, which was exceptional. Even if you don’t normally have a taste for corn, you’ll love these. Served with some toasted tortillas, they deliver the warm, sweet, and nourishing experience of eating corn, but with some added citrusy tartness, some saltiness from the ancho aioli, and some lightly smokey touches from the charring process. We also couldn’t help but try Mi Madre’s Fideos—which are aptly named, given that the chef’s childhood is his biggest source of inspiration—and they were just as unique and interesting as they were enjoyable. The prawns were large and cooked to perfection, but they were sitting over a bed of what seemed like short pasta noodles with a subtle tomato sauce. After all, “fideo” means “pasta” in Spanish and specifically refers to a type of short and thin pasta shape, such as broken spaghetti.
For our main entrée, my mom and I both couldn’t help but get the Dry-Aged Catch a la Talla, which was one of the most enjoyable orders of grilled trout I think I’ve ever had. The skin was crispy and lightly charred, the flesh was juicy and tender, the green salsa it came with was cooling and thrilling, and the overall experience was exactly to my taste buds’ liking. I tend to get full pretty easily, but I loved this so much that I wished I had an extra stomach to finish it all in one sitting. After going through about half of it, I had to resign myself to the fact that I would have to bring this one back to the room and finish it later.
Because I can literally never say no to dessert—even when my stomach is racking up overdraft fees—we ordered two espressos and ordered two plates of something sugary to finish the evening. The Platano Macho—a plantain and yuzu dessert served with a side of cotija cheese on a large lava rock—was just as astonishing in its presentation as it was in its delicate and salty-sweet flavors. The Buñuelo—my personal favorite—was a scrumptious caramel fried-dough fritter that was beautifully decorated with little daisies. The dessert menu—which is overseen by Riccardo Menicucci, the Executive Pastry Chef—was definitely not designed as an afterthought, but a key component of the dining experience.
Before we left the table, we made sure to finish that bottle of Mexican wine. My grandmother and my mother’s mother always used to say that wasting even a drop of wine was a sin; who are we to question that logic?
While feeling lightly buzzed and pleasurably full, we floated back upstairs and put on Pretty Woman while getting ready for bed—because of course we did. As soon as we slipped under the plush comforter of the king-sized bed, we immediately fell into in a La Ola-induced food coma and were both asleep before the two-hour rom-com was over.
The next morning, we ordered breakfast from the hotel and watched our room transform into the most elegant dining area. What’s better than enjoying a glorious view of Beverly Hills while sipping coffee in a robe and eating waffles with expertly cooked eggs? After checking out, we passed by a very attractive team of professional soccer players in the lobby (truly a cherry on top), and within fifteen minutes, I was back in my apartment feeling refreshed, inspired, and resplendent with luxurious nourishment.
It turns out you don’t have to fly across the world to “get away.” Sometimes, the place that nurtures you the most is the one that was written in your stars all along—the one that was always sitting right on your moon line.
