Marilyn Monroe’s bond with Los Angeles was more intimate than the silver screen ever revealed. Beyond the studios, premieres, and incandescent glamour, she cultivated private worlds—quiet sanctuaries where she could disappear from the prying eyes of Hollywood and the relentless pulse of flashbulbs. Chief among these havens were The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air, two legendary Dorchester Collection properties that became her homes, her refuges, and the backdrop to some of the most enduring images of her life.
Next year marks what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, a centenary certain to reignite global fascination with cinema’s most radiant icon. Few locations are more entwined with her mythology than these two storied hotels, making them the definitive places to honour her legacy in 2026. Both properties embody the discreet glamour and rarefied privacy Monroe longed for—an irresistible blend of elegance, nostalgia, and Hollywood history.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
Opened in 1912—years before the city of Beverly Hills officially existed—The Beverly Hills Hotel helped shape the very identity of the world’s most famous zip code. Instantly recognisable in its iconic pink-and-green palette, the hotel became a magnet for stars seeking both indulgence and invisibility. For Marilyn, its palm-lined pathways and secluded bungalows represented the tranquility she craved.
Her most beloved retreat was Bungalow 1, a space she frequented more than anywhere else on the property. Today, its interiors pay subtle, shimmering homage to Monroe: curved, sensual lines; a warm, flattering palette; and a gold-leafed ceiling that glows like late-afternoon California sun. Bungalow 5 holds its own cinematic allure as the place where Marilyn stayed with Yves Montand during the filming of Let’s Make Love, while Bungalow 7—another personal favourite—was her chosen hideaway with Joe DiMaggio.
These bungalows, steeped in old-Hollywood romance, remain among the most coveted private quarters in Los Angeles: enclaves where the air still feels touched by film history and the whisper of a bygone era.
Hotel Bel-Air
Just minutes away yet cocooned in a world of its own, Hotel Bel-Air was another of Marilyn Monroe’s intimate sanctuaries. Known for its swan-dotted lake, hidden pathways, and exquisite discretion, it was here that Monroe lived for a period in her own private suite during her marriage to Joe DiMaggio—drawn to the unparalleled privacy the hotel afforded.
In 1953, Redbook magazine hosted a glittering celebration at the hotel, where Monroe was honoured as Hollywood’s “best young box-office personality.” But it was in 1962 that Hotel Bel-Air became immortalised in Marilyn’s story. Within one of its serene, light-filled suites, she posed for photographer Bert Stern in what would become her final official photoshoot.
Commissioned by Vogue, the session—later published as The Last Sitting—produced thousands of images that captured Monroe in a moment of vulnerable, luminous beauty. These photographs, taken just weeks before her death, echo through time with a poignancy that remains unmatched.
A century after her birth, Marilyn Monroe’s allure shows no sign of fading. For those who wish to honour her in the most authentic and luxurious way, there are no settings more evocative than The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air—two timeless sanctuaries where Hollywood’s brightest star found peace, privacy, and a world entirely her own.
The Beverly Hills Hotel
@bevhillshotel | dorchestercollection.com
9641 Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Hotel Bel-Air
@hotelbelair | dorchestercollection.com/hotel-bel-air
701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077
