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The Langham Huntington
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1401 S Oak Knoll Ave
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 568-3900
Pasadena, CA 91106
(626) 568-3900
- Price Range:
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$$$$
49 reviews for The Langham Huntington
Got my drink on, and my smoke on, and went home with something to poke on! Saturday we put on our suits lite up our stogies and headed to the "Langham" we had our high school reunion and said "fuck that shit" we drank did some drugs and let my buddy Bubba that was actually going to the reunion at some place else in Pasadena and scouted out a few to meet us back at our room!
OK this place is the shit ! The place is kinda expensive but well worth it to party with class! we where 5 until we hit the bar and made friend with a small party of girls also out for the night. The place looked good we looked goo and at the end of the night we all felt good!
Don't come here to often the room was about 600 a night and we ended up blowing around 1500 between the 5 of us, so expensive but fun and well worth to live the life of luxury a least for one night!
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Last night was my first time at this property since it changed to Langham. I used to come quite often for the Dining Room, the bar area, and afternoon tea. This place is just not waht it used to be when it was the Ritz, which is obviously understandable. It looks pretty much like it did before but the decorations are slightly drabbier and it looks like it's in need of renovation.
We came for my boyfriend's grandfather's 90th birthday. Yep, pretty big occasion so we wanted only the best. We ate at The Terrace. Before coming, we had tried to negotiate with the staff because we were a large group of 15 and we were ready to shell out the cash. So first we tried to get free corkage. No dice. Then we tried to get free coffee and free sodas. Still nothing. Then just free coffee. Nope. But they told us they completely understood if we wanted to cancel the reservation. I mean it sounds like it must be a pretty poppin night for them not to even consider our propositions and their willingness to forgo a 15 person party. So we went along with it. When we got there, it was pretty much empty. Through out the entire meal there were probably 5 other tables with just 2 people each table. There was one other larger party but it was less than 15 people. I'd say they were probably at like, 20% capacity.
The entire time we were not given even half a smile. The first thing the waiter said to us was, "can I take your drink order." No "Good evening folks. How are you?" Nothing like that. Every time we asked for extra anything the waiter would not even reply although he would bring it.
The food was not good. I had the John Dory and my boyfriend had the filet mignon. The John Dory was overcooked and the filet was mediocre at best. But even as the Ritz, the food wasn't excellent so I expected okay food. We went there for the excellent service and the ambience.
We asked the waiter to take a picture of our entire table but before he did, I ran up to him to ask him to take an extra picture with my camera. He did not smile and he looked rather annoyed that I would request something else from him.
In the end the host asked my boyfriend how the meal was. My boyfriend answered, "it was okay!" The host turned to the hostess with a quizzical look as if his answer was completely out of the ordinary. I mean honestly, what do you expect if you're not even going to smile at your guests or ask them how they're doing with their meals or even bother to reply when your guests ask for something? Is it that difficult? I mean you are part of a hotel...your goal should be excellent service. Our party spent over $1000 on the meal but I guess that means nothing to them. At the end I was thinking about it and realized that they were willing to forgo $1000 before they were willing to give us free coffees. I mean our party obviously made up most of the revenue that night considering the restaurant wasn't even half full for dinner time.
I can think of a ton of other places to go to spend the same amount for much better food and much better service. Just a glance around the valet parked cars at the front should give you a hint about this hotel. It used to be all Rolls Royces, S classes, and Porsches but i did not see a single one of those last night.
WOW, WOW, WOW... GORGEOUS, MAJESTIC, OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE... what more do you want from this AAA 5-diamond hotel?!??
We were here for a wedding venue search, and the visit to the Langham was absolutely flawless. Previously the Ritz Carlton, this hotel is definitely one of the most BEAUTIFUL hotels I've ever seen. Attention to detail in every single location is absolutely phenomenal. They define LUXURY in every angle.
For a large wedding, you have your ceremony in front of the majestic hotel structure, in the large lawn. It's gorgeous.
For small weddings, you can pick either Japanese garden or the Courtyard. They're both stunning. I love how the Japanese Garden is so private and intimate. Reminds me of Asian fairy tales!!! Very very nice.
If you can afford it, I would definitely consider this awesome hotel for a possible wedding venue.
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I preferred this property as a Ritz Carlton. Langham just doesn't hold up to that standard. I wrote an earlier review which seems to have disappeared, so it appears they're also savvy about their bad reviews.
I had dinner in their dining room and will NEVER return. 4 hours to get my 5 courses (none more than a mouthful.) It was AWFUL. I wanted to leave but my family wanted to stick it out and see how it goes. The food was bland or occasionally too salty and I had to flag down staff just to get bread to keep from starving. WORST dinner of my entire life.
The ONLY HIGHLIGHT of my recent experience was the valet. They were very nice. Otherwise, staff was happy to ignore me and their service was sub par at best. I definitely won't return.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/29/2009
I had the misfortune of eating in the dining room at the Langham last night and will NEVER return.… Read more »
What a horrible and disappointing experience. I've traveled the world and stayed in many hotels, including several Ritz Carlton. I pride myself on my research and thorough digging before i book any hotel. I was interested in this property due to it's listing as a Leading Hotel of The World. A prestigious achievement, but it seems as though the hotel actually pays for the placement on this list. Here are my critiques.
- There is no self parking available. Only valet at $12 and $25 overnight parking/per night. The first "5 star" to charge me for parking.
- The hotel desperately needs updating. The only thing that looks as though it's been updated has been the marble floor in the front foyer area of the property. The hotel has a musty old smell. The room has clearly not been updated. The fabric covered chairs are stain covered and the room features a tube television, remember those? and very old furniture. Just old furniture, tattered and beaten, not cool and vintage.
- I was excited to take advantage of the pool, I figured i would take advantage of the California weather and relax. For a good two hours, there had been no waiter in sight in the pool area. A good amount of people but no customer service of any kind. There was the occasional employee that would walk through the area and people would have to flag down and ask for a bar/food menu. The only person in sight was a woman rolling towels in the corner and collecting soiled towels.
No lifeguard to speak of either.
I then decided to enter the pool and noticed that it was absolutely filthy, and the top of the water was laden with dead bugs and most of them bees, and dirt covered a good quarter of the bottom of the pool.
I noticed people making their way into the pool and then quickly moving out after noticing the filthy bug bath.
Another guest snagged one of the hotel employes and asked him or someone to net the pool since no one could swim in it. After three hours and then four hours and two more requests from other guest the pool was NEVER cleaned. This continued the entire three days of my stay. BTW as I walked through the pool area on my last day i saw the pool net right off to the side of the pool behind the towel area. i would have cleaned it myself if I had known!
Just a side note, not the place for you if you are looking to relax, and don't want to hear the screaming pitch of kids, or babies.
On the last day of our stay we decided to order room service for breakfast. There is a $5 delivery charge for room service and a 20% service charge. The breakfast presentation was substandard even for Dennys, but honestly if it's good eats i couldn't care less. We ordered a good variety so we could give it a fair shake. The french toast tasted like freezer burnt bread that had been thrown onto a pain with a bit of egg. The bacon super thin and mostly fat. Alright fine at this point I'm not expecting much of anything from the Langham. But then I dig into my pancake only to find that it's entirely raw and uncooked on the inside. Disgusted and so disappointed i call the front desk and report my lump of pancake dough and tell them not to send another.
I then wheeled the room service cart into the hallway with my uncooked pancake exposed and for all to see in the hallway.
-Upon returning to our room after a few hours our dirty dishes and leftover pancake was still sitting in the hallway,BUT the pancake had been covered by a plate cover. Perhaps a hotel manager trying to save face.
Well that's it folks. Just trying to save you the time and a big waste of money.
So second part of my series of keeping it klassy I decided to book tea time for 5 a couple of weeks ago. I was fresh off the plan from Vegas and didn't have my monocle or top hat. (cause there's really one way to demonstrate class and it is to dress like the Monopoly guy) Right.. Service was great, it's free valet parking (with validation) if you go for tea.
We started off with complimentary champagne glass and you know it's classy because they broke out the bubbly! For teas, we decided on the mint truffle tea, passion green tea, and pear caramel. The Pear Caramel was my favorite. Rich taste of black tea with ever slight hint of caramel. This place was so classy I even drank my tea cup with my pinky out. WOW I think I may quit my day time job and open a charm school =)
As for the food, we had 3 tiers of scones and sandwiches. One regret is that they did not offer enough savory stuff. My favorite had to be the salmon with cocoa mousse and the ham with chocolate caviar. I wasn't too crazy about the scones, one bite of each and I lost my interest. I did enjoy the chocolate fountain but it was more for the novelty rather than the taste. Sad to say, I was chocolate out by the end of the day.
Of the AYCE pastries, my favorite had to be the green tea panna cotta. It was light and extremely delicious. Now I understand there was no sign that says the tea is all you can eat, but hey if it's self service it's all you can eat. You can take the girl out of the ghetto.. but you can't take the ghetto...
Anyway, overall a nice escape from the tough life of AYCE Kbbq and Chinese buffets. The pianist played some mean classical as well as some numbers from Phantom of the Opera. Swoon.. Men, if you plan to go play golf with the boys I highly suggest you arrange a tea outing for your woman and her friends.
- Cheers
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I really like this place- it's so close to the 110, and yet you have to drive through some small streets and a neighborhood to get there. Really awesome tennis courts, they have an on-site instructor as well. I like the blue-ness. I ordered a delicious chicken sandwich and they brought it out, silver platter and all, to where I was playing by the net!
The pool area is nice as well, there is a restaurant on a patio right next to it. Great place to have lunch and soak in the sun. The hotel itself is beautiful, fresh flowers, elegant decor, mini apples (a treat) on each counter.
Pretty nice, but you know, this used to be the Ritz Carlton..
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Gorgeous hotel with both class and elegance. I've been here twice, once just to hang out and once for my class graduation banquet (courtesy of my Trojan Alumni). I went here back when it use to be called the Ritz Carlton. This hotel is nestled in a private community. You can easily miss the hotel altogether and drive right pass it. The food was great.
This is not a modern, hip hotel, but is a truly luxurious, classy resort well worth the price (it even seemed like a deal!)
It helped that the weather in Pasadena was in the high 80's during our stay, but the Langham was a dream!
We arrived a little early, but were able to check-in and to start enjoying the club room. But even outside of the club room, the resort staff was attentive and friendly, even welcoming us back after leaving the hotel for a walk in the surrounding neighborhood, which is unbelievably nice!
The lobby was grand, but not over the top, while the hallways were filled with museum-quality works of art. All of the common areas, including the hallways, courtyards, restrooms, and the pool and spa area, were clean and spacious. The grass area and Japanese garden were pristine!
The club area guestroom on the 7th floor was large and clean. Again, not modern, but classy. The bed was very comfortable, with soft linens and plenty of pillows. Our room had two French doors that opened onto the patio overlooking the grass area and had a view of the valley below. It was hot, but we decided to leave the A/C off and the doors open, even at night. It felt like waking up in a dream!
The club room staff was amazing, very friendly and helpful. The food was plentiful and enough to keep us satisfied (didn't even need to have lunch elsewhere). The tea service in the afternoon was a nice touch; the scones were wonderful.
Can't wait to return!
I toured this gorgeous property inside and out. It is a wonderful property for relaxing and better yet, to hold a wedding. Previously the Ritz, it is one of the most beautiful hotels I've seen. The have huge pools and the cutest courtyard. I met some of the management staff and they are very passionate about giving this best customer service and they manage their employees superbly. After the tour we had traditional afternoon tea at the lobby lounge. The tea was delicious and they had a variety of deserts to eat from! It felt very classy and you will definitely receive your money worth if you are able to afford to stay at this hotel.
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I have mixed reviews on this place. While this place holds a lot of memories for me, as I've come to the bar and had drinks several times with friends and this great girl; staying here and experiencing the service of the staff was totally the opposite. Perhaps they are jaded to the rich and powerful, but at times, it definitely felt like we got the short end of the service stick.
Perhaps like the adage then, the Langham is "nice to visit, but I wouldn't want to [stay] there".
This is one high-end hotel. And I don't mean your hip and trendy hotel. This is the type of hotel your rich aunt would be staying at when she comes over for a visit.
The hotel was a former Ritz Carlton and is located in a very posh neighborhood in Pasadena. The staff is just incredibly nice and helpful. The interiors were just gorgeous. It felt a bit too fancy that sometimes you feel out of place - until you hear people having fun at the pool, then you calm down and realize it's not really "that" kinda of place.
There were five of us and got two rooms - which are pretty big. The beds were large. There was a comfortable seating area. The television unfortunately was not a flat panel - but that's just minor. The bathroom is huge - you can have a party inside. We had a nice view of their "lawn", the place where they have weddings and events. (which by the way, there were 3 weddings the week we were there).
One drawback: they only have valet parking - which sucks when you want to get something out of your car in the middle of the night.
(See pics)
This is a classic and luxurious hotel that has the castle outside look with a traditional inside feel that has a hint of modernness.
Pasadena has the drier weather and is perfect with the grassland that is almost breathtaking if you are in the front. Inside and the back, on the other hand, has the restaurants, pools and a couple gardens that are nested intimately.
Service was phenomenal. Everything is taken care with respect, politeness but not too distant. It makes you feel special from checking in to the properly carpeted room that features a marble bathroom. The room was of standard size but perfectly quiet and overlooked the Horseshoe Garden. The Japanese Garden is simple and more for a retreat. They also have a very nice ballroom with chandeliers which would be a perfect venue for a small party.
Amenities were ample with good shower head and bathtub. I felt totally pampered. The bed was soft on top but firm beneath. Perfect thick curtains made me sleep like a baby even with the bright sun outside! The overall bedding was light and room temperature was just right (I usually have problems with hotels and such that need a lot of adjustments on the temperature.)
Had the afternoon tea there for brunch. They were all very fresh and delicious, especially the pastries. The creme brulee and coffee pastry were my favourites. The Assam Gold Leaf tea was good compliment though they must order a new set of teapots that would not drip to the bottom when you pour. Good teapots will have a more curved and pointy spout!! And they should probably make the tables either without the thick table cloth or more space with the chairs. It's a bit congested sitting there even with my slim figure.
They also have validated parking (I think usually it's about 30 dollars) if you eat at one of the restaurants. So even it's $40 per person it's totally worth it!
My stay was very pleasant and think it would be a great spot to host tradiitional and intimate such as close friends and family events.
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This review is for the customer service. I had a reservation for tomorrow and was treating my pregnant friend to a day at the spa & pool & then some friends were to join us for dinner outside. I was really looking forward to this as I had toured the Langham before making the reservation and it looks absolutely gorgeous. But due to the fires, the air quality up there is just too bad right now for my pregnant friend to be outside. Even though my reservation was supposed to be non-refundable, they treated me very nicely and were able to cancel it.
I will definitely be back to the Langham to use all the facilities as I know the customer service is already top-notch. Thank you!
I love love love this hotel. It is true luxury. Got a room on the Langham floor where you can go to their Langham suite for snacks and drinks throughout the day. The service is so amazing. Staff is so friendly helpful. The Langham is gorgeous! The rooms are spacious, great linens, bathrooms are perfect. I didn't want to leave! Japanese garden is beautiful. I can't wait to go back. They also have a shuttle service that will take you to old town for shopping and pick you back up. That is a really great service they offer.
The restaurant was awesome too. I will write a separate review of that place because I would like to commend the chef.
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Walking through the Lobby Lounge where the Chocolate Afternoon Tea is held, on both sides of the room, there were chocolate sculptures. Once seated, we perused the teas. My friend and I shared the Mayan Truffle Tea and Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea. We were had a complimentary glass of champagne. Soon, 3 tiers of tastiness arrived of just scones and sandwiches. Where were the sweets you may ask? I'll get to those later, trust me.
We had two different scones, a chocolate chip scone and a marble chocolate chip scone. Although they tasted the same, both were firm on the outside, but flaky and moist in the inside. As for the scone accompaniments, the blueberry jam was wonderful, the Devonshire cream was light and fluffy, but the Lemon Curd didn't quite do it for me. I found it too tangy or too sweet or maybe too much of both?
Then I started to make my way through the sandwiches. One thing to mention is that each sandwich had an essence of chocolate. It was all about subtlety. First, there was the Smoked Salmon, Roasted Fennel and Cocoa Nib Mousse. I'm not exactly sure what fennel is supposed to taste like, but the tiny hint of bitterness from the cocoa nib mouse paired well with the smoked salmon.
Next was the White Chocolate and Avocado Mousse with Vanilla Marinated Shrimp. Technically, white chocolate isn't chocolate, but still it went nicely with the avocado mousse and both went well with the shrimp. My one issue with shrimp was that it was overcooked. The Foie Gras Mousse Profiterole with Chocolate Dust was my favorite of all the sandwiches. I liked how the profiterole was light and airy and that the chocolate dust cut into the sweetness of the foie gras mousse.
After the Profiterole came the Cucumber, White Chocolate Mint Mousse and Grapefruit sandwich round. This was actually my least favorite. The cucumber was too thick plus the mint part of the mousse was too subtle and the grapefruit was lacking in tartness. The savory portion of this tea ended with the Serrano Ham, Burrata Mousse with Chocolate Caviar. That ham was tasty. I could have easily just eaten more of the ham by itself without anything else, but I liked how the burrata mousse and the chocolate caviar balanced the saltiness of the cured ham.
After our sandwiches, it was time for dessert. We started with the chocolate fondue station. The dipping options included marble cake, nougat, lemon marshmallows, peppermint marshmallows and assorted fresh-cut fruit. First, in regards to the chocolate fondue itself, it was decadently rich and I loved the flavor. The one thing I would change is to make it a teeny thinner. It was a bit too thick which made the food kind of glop on the plate after we coated them. I did like how both the lemon and peppermint marshmallows were subtle in flavor so as to not clash with the richness of the chocolate.
I was actually stuffed, but my friend and I rallied and headed to the dessert station for their 14 chocolate inspired desserts. We ended up sharing 9, although we only took little bites (so I tell myself anyway). My fav was the White Chocolate Green Tea Panna Cotta. The panna cotta was rich and creamy with the white chocolate cutting into the bitterness of the green tea.
Both the Milk Chocolate Orange Gateau and Chocolate Raspberry Gateau were also excellent because they were rich and moist; however, the Madeleines were disappointing because they were dry. The Chocolate Macaroons were little bites of heaven with a delicious chocolate cream filling. The Chocolate Coated Candied Orange Sticks were pretty good. When you bit into one of those sticks, it tasted like biting into a real orange.
I liked the presentation of the chocolate brulee in a serving spoon and I enjoyed the intense caramelization coming from its surface. The final, but not the least, dessert was the Chocolate Cream Fruit Tart. The chocolate cream was rich and creamy and matched well with the tart berries.
So you think we'd be done by now, right? Nope, there was one last item. Basically, the end of the whole experience comes in a cup of liquid chocolate. You had your choice of 3 different kinds. I went for the Spicy Chocolate and my friend went for the Hazelnut Chocolate. The one thing I'd adjust is the temperature. Both of the liquid chocolates weren't hot enough. I'm not sure if that's the way they are supposed to be served, but I would have enjoyed mine even more if it was a little hotter, temperature wise.
Overall, it was a wonderfully, relaxing and sweet way to spend a Sunday. The ambiance was wonderful and our service was excellent and except for a few little things, I absolutely enjoyed this chocolate-themed foodie activity and if you're a chocolate lover, then this Chocolate Afternoon Tea is definitely for you!
By the way, the Chocolate Afternoon Tea is $59 per person & served Sundays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
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My Goodness!
came here for a wedding. the ceremony was in their japanese tea garden and the reception dinner was in the Georgian room. also, we had drinks and snacks where their outdoor fountain and pond are located. great service and beautiful lobby area. rest rooms were well-kept, of course.
Great place for a wedding.
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A luxurious experience during my 3 nights stay for a conference. I can't comment on the pricing because my company paid for it, so I can only speak for the experience itself. I may have had the Grand Room, which was beautifully decorated and cozy, with Victorian theme that spells "Lush". I had my jaw dropped from the time I entered the grand hotel entrance to the moment I entered my room.
Langham was the old Ritz Carlton, located in the middle of a high end residential area, near the Huntington Library (a Botanical Garden). The setting was very quiet and relaxing. It's only about 5 minutes from Old Town Pasadena as well.
The perfume in the lobby was a bit overdone, and the valet parking fee was a bit outrageous ($25/day, same price even if you stay for 10 min). Other than that I had no complaint. Sleeping on that fluffy and comfy king size bed was like heaven. There's also a desk and a loveseat along with plenty of big windows overlooking the beautiful garden. It's so spacious that I can even do a cart-wheel. The bathroom is of lovely Italian white marble. I could spend hours taking a nice bath pampering myself.
It's a true romantic get-a-way. Next time when I visit again, I'll make sure to ditch my laptop.
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Mike took me here for afternoon tea to celebrate my 30th birthday. The lobby lounge overlooks the beautiful lush garden outside of the hotel. Inside the lobby lounge are comfortable chairs and tables for afternoon tea service and a pianist playing soft tunes.
There is a choice of traditional ($39) and royal ($59) afternoon tea. The royal includes champagne and strawberries so we decided to try one of each tea setting. There is a plethora of teas to choose from and I got the gold asam black tea while mike got a green passion fruit one. Both teas had a great aroma and flavor to it. The sampling of savories and sweets were also delicately presented. The salmon sandwich was in a pastry puff and there was a seasoned shrimp sandwich that was also unique. The bite sized desserts were also scrumptious. I'm not a fan of creme brulee but this one was pretty good. Also, their scones were just right. The strawberries and champagne were not worth the extra $20 so I would recommend the traditional tea.
Because it was my birthday, the pianist played happy birthday on the piano and they brought out chocolate dipped strawberries on a happy birthday plate. Nice touch.
We really enjoyed this afternoon tea experience!
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If you want to stay at a hotel that resembles the mogul's house in The Godfather, this is your place. Wow. Talk about 50s glam. Awesome.
I was definitely keeping it classy while staying here! Well, until I decided to go drinking in town with a friend. Had a hard time finding my room, but the valet guys were nice enough to assist me (or did they carry me?) They were so kind as I stumbled back to my room. Beautiful hotel. The grounds are beautiful and service is great.
Try and get the club level here.
If you do, you will get access to the club lounge, or as I like to call it, heaven.
Unlimited booze and food, both of which are of high quality. The people who work there remembered us from last year when we stayed there for a day, which was actually a little bit creepy.
We showed up a bit after their last food service, and they found a giant plate of nigiri and rolls for us. The food changes 5 times daily, and you really don't have to eat anywhere else.
The hotel itself is a beautiful building with a great hilltop view. The restaurants are well-reviewed. The buffet is great, and Michelin gave The Dining Room a star, which isn't so common in LA.
It is also dirt-cheap before Christmas, which is why I could afford to stay on the club level, and will try to again in the future.
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We walked into the Langham, checked out the pool, and then got on http://hotels.com to find the cheapest rate. We approached the front desk with our web rate, and they matched it and let us check in early. Nice. We got a lanai room overlooking the pool for $269 (beware, the taxes bumped it up a ton). The room was medium size with a very comfy king size bed. The hotel is pretty ritzy but the pool area feels like an older LA apartment complex. The amenities were great. The gardens were pretty, although the Japanese Garden looked a little thrown together. The only real complaint I have is how they nickel and dime you for EVERYTHING. No coffee in the room, you are forced to order it for $8 a pot plus a 20% service fee. And the restaurants on site are VERY expensive. Room service meals are crazy expensive. Obviously they cater to a wealthy clientele, but the over-the-top prices came off a little desperate.
This place is cool with a couple caveates.
1) the bar doesn't open til 1. WTF?
2) they pipe in perfume to the hotel lobby. Why is this necessary in life? Air smells good enough without the stinky fake smell of flowers.
3) the greens in my salad at the holiday Xmas party seemed less than fresh & had a slightly ammonia taste to them. I will probably die of e-coli here in a few minutes, right after I finish this review.
Other than that, service was top notch, the grounds have retained the beauty I am familiar with from
when the Langham was the Ritz, and the servers at the luncheon poured the wine freely.
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What the...?!? This place does not deserve all of the 3 star ratings, in my opinion. From beginning to end, our stay was amazing. Impecabble service from the valet to room service. The bedding was silky and fluffy and had the best pillows ever!
Sure, I spent $70 on room service breakfast, but I enjoyed it and it was worth staying an hour longer in the plush robe to enjoy my breakfast in our beautiful room overlooking the pool.
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The afternoon tea here was wonderful. The BAR has a beautiful setting with patio seats overlooking lush green in the hotel and nearby mountain. It's neither crowded nor noisy so you can really have a relaxing afternoon here.
Drinks and the desserts were great. The service was awesome. I would recommend this place for afternoon tea over the tea room at the Huntington.
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Great local getaway for tired Mamas.
The Mr. and I just recently stayed the night here for a wedding held in the Japanese Garden on the hotel grounds.
The hotel itself is really pretty- it isn't grand in the spirit of the Waldorf Astoria or the Hotel Del Coronado, but it is a fancy little escape from the noise and dirt of every day suburban life.
The room was small but clean and the linens and were spun out of cloud fluff, I am sure. So soft and cool. Turn down service provided.
The bathroom was lovely white marble, with good lighting. Little things that I noticed - no I-pod dock in the clock radio (come on, you're a 5 diamond hotel); the room could have used a full length mirror somewhere, and there was a lack of privacy (our room faced a parking lot, and I noticed that I was dressing in plain view of someone who resembled Wilfred Brimley, climbing into his Mercedes.) Other than that, no complaints on the room.
The spa was WONDERFUL. I utilized the workout facility, locker room, relaxation room, steam room, sauna, and hot tub. The amenities were plentiful, the place smelled and sounded like a dream (really cool music; spa-ish interpretations of Cold Play and U2!). Very attentive staff, and I had a nice spa experience, without even have any extra services performed.
In the words of The Mr., the spa is "where the other two diamonds went."
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First, this is a review of the bar/restaurant, not of the hotel, which we have not stayed at. And would not, after our dining experience.
We were long-time patrons of the Ritz Carlton before it changed hands. We visited The Bar overlooking the horseshoe gardens on many an occasion. We savored the amazing nut mix--cashew nuts, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts. The fresh bread and european butter. The scenery, snacks, quality of the food service and drinks made it possible to justify and enjoy splurging.
Then it became the Langham. Talk about bait-and-switch! Same prices. Smart and final food. No more brazil nuts. Just a faux nut mix with stale oversalted peanuts. The cheese was waxy, tasteless, and highly unpalatable.
Some corporate management strategist without any real love of food and wine seems to have taken over and figured out how to cut costs and pedal cheap goods to unsuspecting customers from out-of-town who have come to watch the rose bowl.
Sorry, but it was just the worst!
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Okay. I just wrote a very thoughtful (and must I say CHARMING) review on the Langham. But dag nabbit, when I posted it, it got lost somewhere in cyberspace. Grrr. So, here is my review in shorthand...
1. Langham used to be the Ritz Carlton
2. We spent our honeymoon at the Ritz Carlton and loved it.
3. Went here this weekend after we had to evacuate from the Sierra Madre fire
4. Stayed on the Club Level (which is the only way to go!)
5. A little disappointed. Not quite the special feeling we had at the Ritz.
6. Bed was fantastic and cozy
7. There was a dance party out on the big lawn in the evening. Totally annoying. The Ritz Carlton would have never allowed such a thing. If you pay close to $400 for a night, you don't want to hear cheesy music blaring outside your window and then an hour of some guy reading out raffle ticket numbers to geeky convention attendees.
8. Got a surprise tea service in our room with a delicious cookie and chocolate tray. Yum.
9. Drank a lot of free champagne and ate delicious complimentary food in the club lounge .
10. Slept like babies.
Final review:
If hotels were the Brady Bunch,
The Ritz Carlton would be Marsha
and the Langham would be Jan.
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I stayed the weekend during the fires too and there was not dance party....there was a wedding, it was lovely.
also, zero brand recognition? Please!! clearly this person does not often stay in 5 star hotels.
i am suprised by the recent reviews of this charming hotel. maybe they had lower rooms, but when you stay at a 5 star, hopefully you go 5 star. you can't be on a budget at a place like this. and yes, my comments are snobby but come on. they cater to a very specific client base. most do not kiss and tell, so to speak.
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2.16.08: This place is Absolutely Stunning. It wowed me extremely. Just because the place is nice doesn't mean the service is. I came here for an engagement party. My friend rented out a cottage. I went to the front of the hotel and I had to valet. I asked for directions, the valet guy told me, a bell hop will drive me there. What? drive me? So weird... so I asked the information desk and he gave me these long sets of instructions..make a left here, past the hallway, make a right, go outside, make a left, keep walking till you see the place labeled Ford Cottage. What the?
I had to work afterwards so I was dressed up. Wore my cute heels and well cuteness or not, I walked forever looking for the place. I was freaking lost. My fault? No!?! Stupid Ass was suppose to have someone escort me in a golf cart. My friend actually set it up in where all her guests were suppose to be escorted, but apparently their lazy asses was just too busy standing there.
Lost in the biggest place on earth. I was seriously wowed, its hard to describe the beauty of this place. From the outside it looked like a normal hotel with rooms. But when you in there and you walk out the building its like looking at houses and houses on this hugemongo property. The cottages they called it was houses.
After walking for 15 minutes I finally saw someone. A cleaning lady was nice enough to make room for me in her cart. She had a bag of linens, she went to put it away came back and pick me up. She gave me a ride to the cottage. Although I walked around and around apparently I wasn't there yet. She drove me all the way to the front of the place. The lady was sweet, she even told me herself that a bellhop was suppose to drive all the guest there cause the walk is too far.
I was just happy that she was there. Finally arriving at the place I just wanted to sit. The place had a outdoor patio, three rooms and a dining room. The only thing it didn't have was a kitchen. Each room had its own bathroom and closet. It was beautiful and big.
Another problem with their service. The patio heater ran out of propane, my friend told me they ask for another one around 1pm, 2pm, and 4pm, I came at 6pm, still no propane. They ask for more chairs, no chairs came at all, they ask for lighting for the patio, no lighting. They just couldn't deliver. It was horrible.
3 stars for a beautiful place, but that's about it. Beauty sometimes is not everything!
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This review is based entirely on my experience at the bar.
I'm sure this hotel has lots of loveliness. It is a BEAUTIFUL hotel. Absolutely lavishly stunning.
But the crowd was weak. Some loud obnoxious old men and a throng of people wearing badges for some convention. And some weird dude playing the Charlie Brown theme song and then Fur Elise and other oldies-not-goodies on the piano.
A TV over the bar. Make up your mind. Sports bar? Corporate landing pad? Lush local dining room? Which is it?
WEAK beverages. Painfully so. And for the price they charge, all the more offensive. I'm cool with overpaying in L.A. at a really special venue. But to pay out the nose for weak drinks in the 626 just sort of galls me.
A crappy and unimaginative bar menu. There was nothing I wanted to eat, even though I was hungry, so I opted for an overpriced and unimpressive salad.
At the end of the night we threw down our respective credit cards and asked the waitress to split the bill. She came back and informed us she could split it "Exactly evenly" That's fine. We expected someone got the extra penny or two on their tab.
No.
Two of us were on the hook for $30. One guy was on the hook for just under $40. And the our last friend was saddled with nearly $60 on his tab!
What the hell?! Not quite evenly? How about relearning basic math!
So:
BEAUTIFULLY stunning and amazing hotel with lovely and inviting grounds.
And a really lame bar.
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The Langham is a nice getaway from the surrounding city. It's hard to believe, when you're sitting poolside or even just looking out your room window to the pretty grounds, that you're still very close to encroaching, gritty Los Angeles. For this, the staff deserves credit.
The rooms are well above average, with huge beds, tasteful linens and furnishings, and plenty of lounging space... although the TV armoire in our room was strangely placed, making it awkward to watch from both the bed and the sitting area.
Be prepared to spend: A dinner for four with a couple of rounds of drinks can cost around $400, which doesn't include valet service (even staying guests pay), but service is great, and off-menu orders are well-fulfilled. Drinks hover in the $10-15 range, but generally are served with an individual tray of various bar snacks. (Try the homemade lychee-infused rum!)
Beside eating, using the pool, and drinking in one of the lounges (be forewarned that the live music in main piano lounge is a bit loud for conversation, and the sofas are noticeably in need of replacement), there's not much to do other than getting an expensive spa treatments. I am well-aware of spa offerings and costs around the country, and I found these to be on the pricey side.
The hotel has a nice art collection that is worth looking at, if only to laugh at the silly generation that was so into portraits of horses and hunting party landscapes.
This is a great place to go to relax and feel nouveau riche, but I wouldn't recommend it for families or those who need to be entertained to have fun.
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Ritz... Langham... whatever... it's basically the same hotel. Just spent the night there since my parents somehow forgot to tell me that they also had several visiting friends spending the night at their home... so why the f*ck did they insist that I come up for a visit?
Extremely reasonable room rates at $199 for a Saturday night (considering the place)... great with an Amex card to get a free room upgrade, 4pm checkout, 2 complimentary breakfasts and 2 complimentary lunches. Ended up with a "corner" unit overlooking the horseshoe garden... amazing views out all 6 windows.
The upgraded room was large. Nice touch of a complimentary cheese/fruit platter. My dinner date inhaled them as I was on the phone. She said it was good... thanks for sharing. Bed was comfy... with soft sheets. Bulgari bath products reminded me of the penthouse suites at the Mandalay Bay... green tea scent - unusual but addicting scent.... and yes, i took them with me when i checked out.
The best part about this place is the service. Friendly, attentive staff which definitely made the stay stand-out. They even laughed at my stupid jokes... and I'm not funny (guess the tips helped).
Negatives - they charge $25 for overnight parking (even for guests) and there is a fee for internet service... are you f*cking serious? They even break it down so you can pay for 1 hour of service at $4.95. Made me feel like I was renting a motel room by the hour.
The best part was when I was leaving... ~10 beautiful models leaving a fashion show on premises. Chuckled as I saw them all decked out but trying to pay for the $12 parking with lots of change.
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A wonderful hotel and refuge from smoggy L.A. I stayed here on business not too long ago and was impressed from start to finish.
The grounds are inviting, refreshing and engrossing. The Chinese gardens provide a nice stroll and the pool is large but be sure to grab a chair in the early afternoon. It fills up with parents and children quickly. The room was comfortable, delightful and plenty of room to lounge. The bed was big and comfortable.
I didn't have much chance to enjoy the bar or restaurant but I made sure to catch the Sunday Brunch. At $75/person, it was more than I expected but if you're already staying here, it won't break the bank anyways. Simply, the Brunch was fantastic. With an impressive meat and cheese spread, tapas-sized portions of salmon, lamb, chicken and other unique creations, a chocolate fountain and shrimp & crab on ice all in addition to Brunch staples (omlette station, waffles, fresh cut ham, mimosas, etc.), it was worth the price.
All in all, a luxurious, comfortable and enjoyable hotel.
I've mentioned before that we're middle class people, pressing our noses up against the glass that divides us from the rich, sighing with longing. It's been a long time since I felt as low-rent as I did staying at the Langham Huntington Hotel and Spa. This fabulousness is not for the likes of me.
But I wish it were.
While I'm fluent in the hidden middle-class code, the ways of the super rich elude me. Whom are you supposed to tip? Is it crass to not put it in an envelope? Is it super gauche to complain about cold room service hash browns brought to me with no fork to eat them with when they cost $5 plus a 19% service charge AND a $5 service fee?
The staff at this hotel is top notch. They never treated us like the posers who could only afford this place on credit that we are. The grounds are gorgeous. The bar is terrific. I'm a lover of live jazz and blues, and they had some in the bar on Saturday night. It was wonderful. Not as great as my favorite trio at Neomeze on Sunday nights, but a close second. Supremely talented.
The highlight for me was the 50 minute massage I got at the spa. David was wonderful. I'm not weird about having a guy massage me. In fact, I prefer it since they have larger, stronger hands. Their spa facility is just okay. The locker room is small and not very well stocked in terms of products to fix yourself up with after a shower. The sauna was too hot. I couldn't stay in for more than a minute and I felt like I got a sunburn. The steam room, on the other hand was great. I loves me some steam, son!
The rooms were disappointing. No nicer than my room at any 2 star hotel anywhere in the U.S. They had some marble in the bathroom to try to class it up, but they had faux sunflower showerheads (shaped like a sunflower, but the water only comes out from the middle like a regular showerhead), and that same crappy fiberglass tub you'd find in any apartment. The water would get alternately scalding hot and freezing cold when I showered. The bathrooms suck. Our room was $300 after taxes and that was NOT a three hundred dollar bathroom.
We got a room by the pool, but I had no idea what a family destination this hotel is. The kids were screaming and shrieking well into the night. At 9 p.m., we finally had to ask to have our room moved. They moved us, but didn't let us know they were moving us to a smaller room with an even crappier bathroom.
Their specialty is added costs. The nice bellman told us he could send someone to empty our minibar so we could fill it with beer. He didn't mention the $25 cost. Happily, the woman who was going to do it told us before she did, so we narrowly avoided that charge. It cost $25 to park the car overnight, which is absurd. When I saw the Porsches, Mercedes, Lexuses, BMWs, and Bentleys parked on display, I had a feeling our old Accord that still has Joshua Tree sand all over it was not going to get a featured spot. But the valet guys were totally cool and the bellman loaded our plastic grocery bags full of beer and snacks onto his cart just like they were Louis Vuitton luggage. The staff is cool like that. They even complimented us on our choice of beer and joked it might not make it up to the room. That made me feel better about driving our crappy car onto their gorgeous property.
My husband assured me that the food was superb, especially the mini gourmet burgers in the bar. They came with exquisite sweet potato fries. I'm a new vegan (as of March 08) so I pretty much snacked on the raw nuts and oranges we brought, but we only stayed one night. It's not a veggie friendly place at all, unless you're lacto-ovo and like mushrooms. The one veggie entree at The Terrace had both mushrooms and asparagus. My two least favorite edible things. And the food was super expensive. Our meal was one glass of wine ($18), the tuna special ($30), and soup ($9). It all came out to about 80 bucks after tax and tip and coffee. Dinner for one for $80 at the "casual" restaurant? At least we got to eat poolside with those aforementioned shrieking, screaming children keeping up their ear piercing game of Marco Polo without cessation.
Don't rich people always have pools at their homes? Why must they forever take children out in public and ruin things for everyone else?
I wish this hotel had nicer bathrooms with water not affected by what people are doing in other bathrooms. I wish this hotel had a cafe where you could get a meal for two closer to $50 than $100. It just wasn't nice enough to be so ridiculously expensive.
It was a good time, but overall disappointing.
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The air conditioner rattled, the TV & mobile reception were terrible, the Internet cost money, and there was a "delivery fee" for room service.
Otherwise it's a gorgeous hotel with extraordinarily nice employees.
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I like the Ritz to Four transition better than Ritz to zero brand recognition.
This is not a good development and I will do on-site research in a couple weeks
This place totally exceeded my expectations. Just returned from a three day weekend. The service was terrific, from the front desk to the valets. The room was very generous in size. The food at the Terrace Restaurant, while expensive, was very good and served by a very well-trained and polite wait staff. The dining area overlookoing the pool was peaceful and lush. This is a beautiful place for a getaway.
The Baborganic Facial is a MUST TRY! All-natural products. I am in love!
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12/9/2008
One of my new favorite hotels in SoCal! Service was great and prompt, bed was good, grounds are… Read more »
