L.A.'s Newest -- And Classiest -- Night Spot

In our Oscar party wanderings this weekend, the Hollywood Thoughts team has uncovered L.A.'s newest hot spot:

The always impressive Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel has created an outdoor cocktail lounge alongside their rooftop pool. They've built a cozy fire pit and done a makeover of the dining area (now covered by oversized umbrellas that form a canopy over the tables-- perfect for LA's hot, sunny days). There's even a new powder blue color scheme to tie everything together. The cocktail service is currently undergoing a 'soft opening' to work out the bugs, but we can tell you that the service was, as expected, up to the Peninsula's rigorous standards. Our server, Jack, was friendly and never gave an eye roll to our many requests. Our party sat in one of the cozy cabanas (with the heater turned-on to keep the night chill off the ladies), and enjoyed the shrimp ceasar salad, crab cakes, and Thai chicken wings. All were great. The chicken soup had a bit of a bite, and was especially good.

The word on the street is that the Peninsula will soon begin to publicize the outdoor cocktail service-- a bit of marketing I've rarely seen from a hotel that trades on its exclusivity. The whole affair is understated elegance-- just like the rest of the hotel. Expect positive buzz to quickly spread, and table availability to become sparse. The revamped rooftop is certain to be a hit-- especially when the warmer nights are upon us.

The Peninsula is located at 9882 South Santa Monica Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Phone: 310.551.2888.