What it is

A classic hotel on a prime stretch of Santa Monica beach.

What it isn't

Sleek and sexy.

What we think

Right next door to Shutters on the Beach, its sister hotel, Casa del Mar is a 1926 Renaissance Revival–style edifice that still evokes a feeling of silent-era Hollywood glamour. The grand lobby is a riot of rattan furniture, mosaic floor, fruitwood paneling and potted palm trees. Upstairs, the 129 rooms and suites are more like an old-school East Coast beach club, with arched floor-to-ceiling windows, four-poster beds, silvered mirrors and walls painted in shades of sea foam and sky blue. The fifth-floor terrace is a plus with its small pool, lounge chairs and unbroken view of the Pacific. Catch, the dinner-only restaurant, serves modern seafood, while the Terrazza Lounge, located on the upper level of the lobby, serves light Med-Cal dishes all day. At night it’s the spot to go for a cocktail, live music and a bit of a scene.

You're here because

You want to be directly on the beach and want something more formal than the young-skewing Shutters and less corporate than the Fairmont.

The Moment

Sitting by one of the curved floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge, you sip on your shaken Mercadito, the bite of the tequila and jalapeño softened by a whiff of cucumber. Watching the sky turn from blazing blue to a myriad of pinks and oranges over the Pacific, you remember the biggest perk of the West Coast: the sun sets over the ocean here.

Restaurants & Bars

Catch - Raw bar, crudo, sushi and simply grilled fish.

Terrazza Lounge - Coastal Italian cuisine. Enjoy 180 degree view of the Pacific while eating breakfast, lunch or late night cocktails.

The Lounge - Live music serving small plates and craft cocktails.

Location

On the beach in Santa Monica, a 10-minute walk down to the Santa Monica Pier, a 35-minute ride to MOCA and roughly 30 minutes by car to LAX.