Contributor/ Saffron Powell
Best Known For
The Hotel Shangri-La (not to be confused with the hotel chain Shangri-La) is an impressive Art Deco hotel perched atop of the oceanfront bluff of Santa Monica, a five minute walk from the famous boulevard and Baywatch-style beach huts.
The Good Stuff
The views of the ocean from the hotel are worth paying for, the design gives the impression of a luxury cruise ship, especially when on the ‘top deck’ – Suite 700 bar and lounge. The heated pool and decking area, complete with fire pit, is tucked away at the back. There’s a very tempting spa, or Rejuvenation Lounge as they called it, that whispered my name very time I walked by – the tease. Our suite was gigantic, but this is America I guess. It was impossible to make use of all the features – such as the fully kitted out kitchen with a massive American fridge masquerading as a mini bar, there is absolutely nothing mini about it. My favourite thing to do after a day wandering Abbott Kinney and Venice beach was to soak in the sunken jacuzzi bath, the handy window into the bedroom made sure I didn’t miss the sunset.
The Vibe
The Art Deco feel is continued throughout the suite with parquet hardwood floors, lush red leather armchairs and brass wall hung lights. The spacious rooms ooze Hollywood glamour and the hotel boasts the only open air rooftop bar in Santa Monica – although it gets a tad blowy up there and the cocktails are dangerous. Sprawling out in a cabana by the pool is a more favourable option. The hotel staff can’t do enough for you, even fetching me a plaster when I had no time to get to the shop.
Inside the hotel – 8/10
This beautiful Art Deco building is so unique and special, you can tell it’s been around since 1939 but it has every modern touch you could need.
Outside the hotel – 10/10
If you get bored of the beach then a couple of blocks back is a modern shopping mall (Santa Monica Place) with a mix of independent, designer and chain stores. Worth a mention is The Market, up on the 3rd floor Dining Deck. This is definitely not your usual food hall, The Curious Palate should be a destination restaurant – its double pork chilli is unmissable!
Image courtesy of Hotel Shangri-LA
Read our full review here welovefood-itsallweeat.com/shangrila
Read our tips on eating and drinking in LA welovefood-itsallweeat.com/californiadreamin
