The Barbie movie is the biggest box office debut of 2023, luring eager theater-goers to rekindle their love affair with the great American summer blockbuster. And while Margot Robbie’s youthful perky ensembles and iconic coiffed blonde locks shine on the silver screen, Barbie is, in fact, a boomer. She made her debut in 1959 as a doll 19 years of age, which today would make Barbie a spritely 83 years old.
“Barbiecore,” the celebrated pretty-in-pink aesthetic that’s permeated seemingly every facet of pop culture, is inspiring people to think pink, from what they wear to where they travel. Here are nine hotels from coast to coast that’ll make you feel like you’re in your own Barbie Dream House.
1. The Beverly Hills Hotel
Los Angeles
You’d be hard-pressed to find a property that better embodies the spirit of both Tinsel Town and Barbiecore than the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. With its unmistakable bespoke font sign, the paparazzi-swarming Polo Lounge, and countless celebrity sightings, it’s hard not to feel like a star on the red carpet while walking the banana-leaf wallpapered halls. Though it first opened in 1912, it wasn’t painted its distinctive pink hue until 1948, a shade chosen to complement the California sunset. It’s been known as the “Pink Palace” ever since.
Guest rooms and suites here typically host Hollywood royalty — plus literal royalty, as Will and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, among others have stayed here — and the rates reflect such standards. Though you’ll find the property pays homage to its heritage throughout, rooms have a classic-meets-modern edge. And while many spaces jockey for the most see-and-be-seen, Barbie would be right at home in one of the pink-swathed poolside cabanas, where guests want for nothing but more time.
2. La Valencia Hotel
San Diego
Although the first Barbie doll debuted at a toy fair in New York City, Barbie and southern California have gone hand in hand from the jump, and it’s hard to imagine a place she’d feel more at home than the majestic La Valencia Hotel. It’s perched on La Jolla’s towering bluffs with an uninterrupted panorama of the Pacific. San Diego’s beloved “Pink Lady” first opened in 1926, instantly creating a head-turning landmark with its Spanish Colonial Revival-style architecture. One might think it earned that nickname from its astounding flamingo-hued exterior, but instead, it’s derived from the nearly century-old tile mural in the garden of a Spanish woman in traditional pink dress.
Today, the towering manse is the pinnacle of luxury; a marriage of classic glamor and contemporary coastal vibe, and many of the 114 spacious rooms and suites enjoy cinematic ocean views. If you’re not staying at La Valencia, soak up its style by enjoying a drink at La Sala Lounge, the iconic lobby bar, or dine at the sophisticated Mediterranean Room, where the California coastal cuisine is best savored on the patio under the palms or the picture-perfect terrace. (And, in true Barbie style, don’t forget your pooch, who you can spoil with selections from the “Bone Appetit” menu and can play catch with a pink La Valencia tennis ball.)
3. The Sands Hotel & Spa
Indian Wells
There’s no doubt present-day Barbie would stay at the 46-room Sands Hotel & Spa when headed to the celeb-packed Coachella music festival. The designer boutique hotel is a pink desert oasis, but the property first opened in the 1950s, when Palm Springs’s popularity was soaring as a retreat for stars of the stage and screen.
The mid-century-modern-meets-Morocco-inspired design throughout the adults-only hotel feels exotic, but it is done in such a way that the Sands never loses its sense of place. This is most evident at the Pink Cabana restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and not-to-be-missed brunch on the weekends. Its vibe is a fresh, modern take on the great tennis and racquet clubs of the ‘50s and ‘60s in Palm Springs and the menu touts Mediterranean cuisine with a Moroccan influence. Outside — with its signature striped cabanas (with misters to keep cool), towering palm trees, and bubble-gum-pink daybeds all surrounded by a dusty pink hue — the pool scene here is peak Barbiecore and offers the ultimate setting to relax and unplug.
4. The Don CeSar
St. Pete Beach
Dubbed the “Pink Palace” for nearly a century, you can be confident The Don CeSar is Barbie-approved. Built in 1928 to resemble a Mediterranean-style castle, the 277-room hotel was a playground for America’s elite during the Jazz Age — hosting guests like novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald — and went on to welcome dignitaries, presidents, rock stars, and A-list celebs throughout the decades. Today, following multiple multi-million-dollar renovations, the hotel impresses even the most modern travelers.
The two-story Beacon Pool Bar begs a refreshing respite with a creative concoction in hand. Or, channel your inner Malibu Barbie and sink your toes in the soft white sands along the emerald waters of Florida’s Gulf Coast. While “The Don” is hands down a luxury property, it’s also family-friendly and offers spacious Beach House Suites ideal for larger families and multigenerational travelers.
5. The Madonna Inn
San Luis Obispo
Plenty of lodging properties claim to be unique, but The Madonna Inn takes the cake — quite literally, as there’s a well-known bakery on site. But it’s the sprawling property’s kitschy 110 rooms and suites, each with individualized themes ranging from “Caveman” to “Yahoo,” where the bed is an authentic “Buckboard” wagon complete with four giant wheels — giddy up! There are more than a half dozen Barbie-esque pink rooms, including the “Love Nest,” featuring a hot pink spiral staircase that leads to a tower with unbelievable views.
But it’s the inn’s dining spaces that feel straight out of the Barbie Dream House. The tufted pink banquettes and pink pleather dining chairs illuminated by golden chandeliers make Liberace pink with envy at the Gold Rush Steak House and make you pull out your camera. Or belly up at the bar and order a Pink Cloud, a strawberry vodka concoction topped with pink sugar dusted whipped cream.
6. Mills House
Charleston
Style, history, and southern charm can be found in every corner of Mills House, a longtime stalwart of hospitality in The Holy City. For more than a century, the towering pink facade at the intersection of Queen and Meeting Streets has been a symbol of elevated style and old-world elegance. Its recent top-to-bottom renovation meets the demands of the most discerning traveler — even Barbie.
She’s likely to choose a Pool Side Room, the property’s most popular, as its private porch on the second-floor Terrace Bar is in the heart of the action. And while many spaces here feel magical, make it a point to unwind or dine in the courtyard flanked by grand pink archways and the likes of a remarkable fountain. On cooler nights, get cozy in front of the fireplace and order from the restaurant, Iron Rose, where you’ll enjoy a menu full of modern twists on southern staples that are too good to pass up.
7. The Trixie Motel
Palm Springs
Famous before it even opened its doors, the Trixie Motel has been the unequivocal queen of the desert. The motel was the creative vision of drag artist Trixie Mattel (Brian Firkus), who charmed viewers when competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, and filmmaker David Silver. Together, they captured the renovation of the property with the help of celebrity guests on the aptly named reality series Trixie Motel on Discovery+.
If Barbie had an Instagram-worthy Palm Springs escape, the Trixie Motel would be it. The Queen of Hearts room, complete with a heart-shaped custom headboard, is a standout, while the beachy Malibu Barbara room is ready for Ken to “beach off” in (if you’ve seen the movie, this makes sense). But the Lilly Pulitzer Barbie vibes (yes, there’s an actual Lilly Pulitzer Barbie) in the Pink Flamingo room, brought to life by the pink and green striped ceiling and preppy pink accents throughout, might be her best bet as it boasts a semi-private outdoor patio. All guests are welcome in the lounge, a floor-to-ceiling celebration of pink right down to the vintage arcade game.
8. Royal Hawaiian
Honolulu
Barbie has been visiting Hawaii since 1963, at least according to the 1963 book Barbie’s Hawaiian Holiday. Today, it seems likely that Wakiki’s Royal Hawaiian, a.k.a. The Pink Palace, would roll out the pink carpet for her. A colorful standout on the crescent-shaped beachfront, rooms here soak up views of the azure sea and enjoy unrivaled panoramic views of the breathtaking volcanic crater, Diamond Head.
While every accommodation here is coveted, a stay in the Historic Wing is extraordinary. Rooms here boast bold pink décor that captures the Hawaiian spirit. At the famous Mai Tai Bar just steps from the beach, nearly everything is Barbiecore, from the fuschia patio umbrellas to the pink seating. And in the morning, you can start your day off thinking pink with an order of the hotel’s famous Pink Palace Pancakes (that are, indeed, pink).
9. The Hotel Bel-Air
Los Angeles
LA might be ground zero for people who want to be discovered, but the Hotel Bel-Air has long been the hideaway for the discovered to fade into the background — if only for a little while. A 12-acre paradise tucked behind gates on a hillside nestled in the canyon, the hotel has served as a stylish sanctuary for the stars through the decades, including Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn.
Today, the property celebrates its California roots, boasting mission-style architecture and a dusty rose facade, and nearly half of the 103 rooms are spacious suites. The Grace Kelly Suite — named for the actress-turned-royal who was a frequent guest, including the night she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 — has a private plunge pool surrounded by pink.
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