Minus images of glamorous movie stars and the dreaded thought of being stuck for two hours in L.A. traffic on the I-405, nothing evokes “California Dreaming” quite like the epic beaches of Los Angeles. They make the area a magnet for sun worshippers, who flock to its soft, warm sand and swaying palms.
While most holidaymakers seek out Venice, Santa Monica or Malibu for a beach vacation, locals remain faithful to the off-the-beaten-path beaches of South Los Angeles, along the Strand boardwalk.
Recently, new boutique hotels have begun popping up in the three adjacent towns along the L.A. coast: Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.
The luxe-boutique brand Shade Hotel personifies modern L.A. beach culture. While most of the Beach Boys were not surfers, they embraced what surf culture means to Los Angeles. Along with surf rock godfather Dick Dale, they would have enjoyed a welcoming stay at the Shade Hotel’s two fashionable and swanky haunts in Manhattan Beach and resurgent Redondo Beach.
Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach
The stylish 38-room Shade Hotel Manhattan Beach has three unique suites for families, groups of friends, or wedding parties. Each suite flaunts creature comforts to enhance one’s stay, including king-sized Tempur-Pedic beds with goose-down comforters, a personal pillow library, Keurig coffee machines, Heat & Gio Cyclone tubular fireplaces, and Sani jet Hydrotherapy bathtubs where two people may rejuvenate in contentment from long days at the beach.
Keeping with its maritime theme, the hotel flows with porthole lighting, seafoam fabrics in blue-green colors created to mimic the colors of the ocean, and sea urchin shells incorporated into its chandeliers.
Guests have access to the nearby Equinox Fitness Center and can zip along the promenade on groovy cruiser bikes. The Strand connects the laid-back beach towns of south Los Angeles. Saunter up to the rooftop Skydeck for sweeping views of the coast including nearby Catalina Island or order from the substantial menu at zinc@shade. A catchy happy hour at the adjacent craft kitchen and lounge, dubbed “Shade Hour” (3 to 6 p.m.), includes crispy calamari, Margherita pizza, spicy tuna, and carnitas street tacos, while talented mixologists whip up tasty elixirs.
Don’t miss the European town square-themed shopping area at Mexlox, a one-of-a-kind destination for upscale shopping and fine dining in an artist’s landscape. You’ll experience refined California cuisine at Nick’s Manhattan Beach.
Shade Hotel Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, long considered in need of a makeover, received just that when the three-story, environmentally friendly 54-room Shade Hotel opened in October 2016, revamping an aging waterfront infrastructure.
Guests at the Redondo Beach Shade property overlook swaying boats: The hotel is right on the harbor, three blocks from Redondo and Hermosa piers, immersed in a chill California coastal aesthetic.
Rooms include Deluxe King and Queen Suites with Tempur-Pedic beds, sleeper sofa beds, balconies with refreshing and relaxing soaking tubs. Second and third-floor suites come with views of boats docked in the marina.
Locals and guests alike enjoy waterfront dining at the on-site Sea Level Restaurant. Satisfying meals include tasty burgers, delicious wood-grilled steaks, lobster mac-and-cheese, and a selection of pizzas. The day begins with breakfast (served 7 to 11 a.m.), including eggs Benedict, crispy chicken and waffles, breakfast burritos and champagne by the glass. Lunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) culminates with the reduced prices of food and drinks during Shade Hour. There is also brunch on the weekends.
Start your day on a spin bike for a workout, and bring on the night with orange palette sunsets high atop the property on the rooftop terrace Aquadeck and soaking pool.
Couples traveling after the busy summer season can reawaken romance with the extraordinary “Fall in Love” package. Rose petals are scattered throughout rooms and suites, along with complimentary Prosecco and chocolate-covered strawberries.
Don’t miss a chance to meander King Harbor, nearby restaurants and bars on Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach, and Manhattan Village Mall. For live entertainment, visit the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach.
The surf is always up at the trendsetting Shade Hotels. The properties are curated to perfection for weddings, large gatherings or wellness weekends. Guests are thrilled by both beaches’ easy access to Los Angeles International Airport, only about 20 minutes distant. For the quintessential Los Angeles beach encounter, the level of comfort at both Shade lodgings is consistent with its beautifully maintained South Los Angeles shoreline.
