A king room at Nobu Ryokan Malibu overlooking the ocean PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Look to these seaside properties for your next local escape.
In its over 100 years, this oceanside Santa Monica hotel beloved for its breezy elegance has hosted notables from Marilyn Monroe to the Beatles. Set on a sprawling 5 acres, it’s a prime resort located near the Santa Monica Pier. Stay in one of 297 luxurious guest rooms—including 31 beach bungalows—and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine at FIG Restaurant, pampering at Exhale Spa and, come summer, relaxation at Miramar Beach Club. After redesigning its lobby lounge and introducing sushi chef Masa Shimakawa’s eight-seat restaurant Soko, the hotel will debut Georgina’s cocktail lounge in the library this spring. Santa Monica, fairmont-miramar.com
FIG Restaurant at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows serves farm-to-table cuisine. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
This serene boutique hotel is set on a strip of coastline nicknamed “Billionaire’s Beach.” Wake up to sounds of ocean waves in one of 47 coastal-inspired guest rooms and indulge in rejuvenating treatments at CURE Daily Spa or local fare from the seaside terrace at Carbon Beach Club restaurant. Opt for private Fliteboard lessons on a premier electric foiling surfboard; a customized beachside picnic for two, catered by Carbon Beach Club chef David Fricaud and designed by The Picnic Collective; or a sound and energy healing and guided meditation experience by a wellness guru from local meditation studio The Mindry. Malibu, malibubeachinn.com
Venice V Hotel’s historic 1915 building is a backdrop in Hollywood films PHOTO BY: MARK DURLING
Between Carbon Beach and the Pacific Coast Highway sits this tranquil 16-room retreat. Opened in 2017 as the first of Nobu’s Ryokan Collection honoring traditional Japanese Ryokan inns, the sanctuary blends Japanese minimalism and coastal California style with teak soaking tubs, Tatami mats, indoor-outdoor fireplaces, private patios and a natural aesthetic. Guests of the garden, ocean and beachfront rooms can enjoy lush Japanese gardens, food from Nobu Malibu, an on-site gym, and access to CURE Wellness Center and Malibu Racquet Club. Indulge in the new Be Well package from Slip, Be Here + Farm, Detox Market and Malibu Fit Concierge for the ultimate wellness escape. Malibu, noburyokanmalibu.com
Welcome to a looser kind of luxury. Drawing from Santa Monica’s rich history, design visionary Kelly Wearstler curated a clean-lined environment in each of the 271 rooms featuring organic tones, textures of the coastline and commissions from L.A. artists. Stroll to the beach, enjoy the only rooftop pool deck on the west side with a meal at Mediterranean-and Californian-inspired Calabra restaurant and bar, or have a cocktail and bite at Palma lobby lounge. Finally, recharge at the fitness center with outdoor yoga deck or the Eastern-inspired Surya Spa offering custom ayurvedic programs that support all areas of health. Settling for anything else just wouldn’t feel “proper.” Santa Monica, properhotel.com/santa-monica
The Surfrider Malibu is a 20-room boutique hotel across the street from Surfrider Beach. PHOTO BY: MK SADLER
This Santa Monica Beach staple channels the cottages of Cape Cod with shuttered doors that open onto sun-drenched balconies. The 198 guest rooms—including 12 suites—in blues and greens are designed to feel like your own private beachside residence. New executive chef Sean Michael Runyon is helming beachfront 1 Pico restaurant and courtyard; Coast Beach Café and Bar is a casual option; and The Living Room offers light bites. Book the hotel’s curated picnic experience, or indulge at ONE Spa, which features an outdoor heated pool, whirlpool spa and more. Santa Monica, shuttersonthebeach.com
This 20-room boutique beach house lies on the Pacific Coast Highway, across the street from famed Surfrider Beach. Originally built in 1953 and inspired by Malibu surf culture, this oceanside oasis is a homey place to unwind. Fill your days with the insider expertise of the Surfrider’s Guide to Malibu, a “little blue book” given to guests and filled with local vendors. Enjoy nights under the stars by the fire pit at the Roof Deck Bar & Restaurant, serving organic local cuisine. Wellness menus and picnics are available, and rooms come with complimentary surfboards, paddleboards, beach umbrellas and hybrid Mini Coopers for exploring. Malibu, thesurfridermalibu.com
This 102-acre Mediterranean escape along the Palos Verdes Peninsula boasts a natural aesthetic and panoramic seascape views from its position above coastal bluffs—affording guests a front-row seat to observe ocean wildlife. The oceanfront property offers 582 coastal-inspired guest rooms and suites—including bungalows, casitas and villas. Other opulent amenities include nine dining experiences, an award-winning golf course, a full-service spa and fitness center, ecological enrichment programs, four heated swimming pools, and land and sea activities—from archery to horseback riding to hiking. Rancho Palos Verdes, terranea.com
Feel like a Venice Beach local at this hip beachfront lifestyle hotel. Designed in 1915, the historic building—in which Charlie Chaplin once resided—was originally called The Waldorf and used as a backdrop in Hollywood films. Today, the reimagined rooms, suites and seven rooftop bungalows boast original details as well as luxe amenities. No two rooms are alike, and design inspiration comes from beach bohemians, artist studios, and skate and surf culture. From curated art to a lobby mural of Abbot Kinney made of skateboard wheels, the hotel exudes coolness, and guests are immersed into local life through activations like beach yoga, surf and skate lessons, guided bike tours and more. Venice, venicevhotel.com
Photography by:
