Maison 140 in Beverly Hills by Mandana Towhidy

I grew up in the LA. I went to all the clubs and the Hollywood spots and beaches well before I could legally drive. So, it’s hard to have a new experience whenever I visit. I don’t see the novelty of palm tress and paparazzi, of shopping and freeways. I see a place recycled over and over again. I didn’t think I’d be able to experience something new here.

I was wrong.

After visiting parents and friends at Christmas (I left nearly 10 years ago and return every so often), I decided to do something different. I booked a room for 4 nights at Maison 140, a tiny boutique hotel tucked on the west side off of Wilshire in Beverly Hills. I had seen photos (the hotel was designed by fancy pants Kelly Wearstler) and thought it might be fun to see what she’d done. Maison 140 is a bit of sly, so to speak. I repeatedly heard the same thing, even from the most savvy and stylish of friends - “I don’t know about Maison 140. Where is it?” Perfect.

I wasn’t disappointed when I pulled up in my rental car to the petite white Frenchie building with the little red door. The lobby was equally charming, equally French, equally fun with its black, white and red theme and radically decorated bar. Though the hotel seemed quiet, it didn’t bother me. I was happy it wasn’t the trendiest spot in town.

I was greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne at check in and then rode up in the tiny elevator which resembled an old French telephone booth. I walked into a room I had seen in a lot of magazines and wasn’t disappointed. Red and white chinoiserie wallpaper, black four-poster puffy bed, and a cute clean bathroom with nice toiletries. It was small, but I loved it. It reminded me of Paris. The other thing I really loved about the Maison 140 was the view from my window. I loved that I was able to push open the shutters for fresh air. Even better, the view was incredibly…NOT LA. It was quiet, relatively, and old and lovely…like some small European side street. I couldn’t believe I was just a couple hops from bustling Wilshire Blvd.

I ordered a ton of room service. I even stayed in for an entire day to do this. Though I loved the cheese plates and the food bar in the room, I wasn’t in love with the rest of the menu. But a glass of bubbly and some really good cheese, crusty bread slices, olives and blueberries is really all you’ll need for a late night, or early morning, snack.

The staff was charming and sweet. And very attentive. And the price was incredibly good for the signature Mandarin room I was in. Especially since I was there for New Year’s Eve.

If you like fancy and plush and tucked away and petite, Maison 140 is definitely a little treat…”a Mandarin French Kiss” from the City of Angels.

Maison 140, 140 Lasky Drive, Beverly Hills, California, 90212. +1 800 670 6182; http://maison140beverlyhills.com/

Mandana Towhidy dreams, writes, consults, and moves around in a quest to figure it out. If she’s getting close, her first novel will be out in 2010. (P.S. She’s thaaaaaaaat close.)