After an exclusive look inside several top California hotels, I discovered a range of exceptional amenities and thoughtful features that deserve sharing. Below are highlights from several Accor properties in California, showcasing spas, dining, and cocktail programs designed to delight and rejuvenate guests.
Fairmont Spa Century Plaza
The Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles recently completed an extensive restoration that refreshed 400 guestrooms and suites, introduced 63 luxury residences and added a 14,000-square-foot Fairmont Spa Century Plaza. The redesigned spa blends contemporary luxury with thoughtful wellness offerings, including massage therapies, specialized skincare and body treatments.
A few standout features include a rainfall-style shower, a Himalayan salt room and an aromatherapy steam room. These amenities are paired with treatment rituals that emphasize natural ingredients and sensory restoration.
Magdaleena Nikolov, general manager of Spa, Wellness and Retail, explains that the spa’s approach honors the hotel’s history while bringing it forward with modern techniques and global influences. The spa exclusively uses organic and thoughtfully sourced products such as bitter orange toner and prickly pear oil, and applies specialized tools to enhance skin health. Many of the spa’s signature routines center on themes of the sun and nature, encouraging guests to find a calm, restorative balance during their visit.
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
In wine country, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa emphasizes local sourcing, seasonal cuisine and a dedication to culinary craft. The hotel’s 38° North Wine Bar blends elegant plating with thoughtful beverage pairings; Executive Chef Jared Reeves collaborates closely with hotel sommelier Brian Casey to make each dish and pairing memorable.
Caviar is one of Reeves’ favorite luxury ingredients, and the hotel features sustainably farmed caviar from U.S.-based Tsar Nicoulai. Reeves and Casey often pair caviar dishes with sparkling wines to enhance flavor and texture contrasts—an especially festive choice around the New Year.
As guests adopt New Year goals focused on health and renewal, the spa and dining teams offer lighter, health-forward menu options ideal for a restorative day. Reeves ensures that the spa menu includes satisfying, nutrient-focused dishes to complement wellness treatments.
Supporting local farms and vendors is central to the hotel’s philosophy. Many ingredients used across the property come from regional suppliers, reinforcing a balanced approach to hospitality that values provenance and sustainability. The culinary team is also developing a new Pick Your Own menu that will further highlight seasonal, locally sourced produce—details on that initiative will be shared when available.
© Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills showcases a lively beverage program and stylish lounge culture. A recent “Battle of the Bottles” event pitted Mathieu Bruno, Director of Food and Beverage, against Aidan Demarest, Director of Nightlife at Riviera 31, in a friendly mixology competition that celebrated the city’s spirited nightlife. Each created cocktails and mocktails that highlighted creativity and top-quality ingredients.
Riviera 31 offers an extensive cocktail, wine and beer menu designed for guests to relax in an elegant setting. One popular choice is the espresso martini, made with freshly brewed coffee beans to ensure a vivid, aromatic profile. In response to growing interest in alcohol-free options, the bar features two refined mocktails, including a creative take on the classic negroni. Dubbed the “no-groni,” the alcohol-free version recreates the bitter, botanical character of the original by using distilled nonalcoholic spirits that mimic the mouthfeel and flavor of traditional cocktails.
Across these properties, a few consistent themes emerge: an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, wellness-driven food and spa offerings, and beverage programs that balance classic favorites with innovative alcohol-free options. Whether guests are seeking a restorative spa day, fine dining with thoughtful pairings, or a lively lounge experience, these Accor hotels in California deliver elevated, heartfelt hospitality that reflects each location’s character.