Loews Hotel Magazine Spring/Summer 2015 | Page 53

and devote an entire day to exploring local retailers. Most make a beeline to Third Street Promenade, essentially three blocks of Third Street that were converted into a pedestrian mall in the 1960s, though it has served as the center of business since the town’s inception. The area includes internationally recognized chains like H&M, Old Navy and American Apparel, and is also home to outdoor events, street performers and a biweekly farmer’s market. Just a short stroll away is Santa Monica Place, a Frank Gehry-designed mall. It features world-famous department stores like Barneys New York, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, as well as designer shops like Burberry, Coach and Emporio Armani. But famous designers are only half the Santa Monica shopping scene, as more independent stores helmed by fashion-industry veterans are opening their doors nearby. “As the demographic proves the TOP LEFT PHOTO BY JOAKIM LLOYD RABOFF; TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY ZACH LIPP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF WATER GRILL; TOP RIGHT PHOTO BY MARIE BUCK Third Street Promenade draws millions to three car-free blocks of stores and restaurants. affluence level has greatly elevated— thanks to the arrival of Google and many other top companies to the beachside Santa Monica community—so has the arrival of great boutiques to shop,” explains Marie Shaffer, former denim buyer at Fred Segal and owner of Hail Mary, a new multibrand boutique and denim bar selling high-end labels like LA-based eis. “We are always refining our niche and trending the up-and-coming designers who don’t have corporate structure. Customers have been coming back to us to see what’s next, and Hail Mary is in constant evolution.” A larger-than-life retail store is Ron Robinson, opened this past winter by its legendary namesake. (The brand first debuted at Fred Segal on Melrose Avenue in 1978.) The massive flagship store is 5,500 square feet and beautifully designed with bleached wood floors, sea-glass accents and modern displays featuring an array of merchandise, from clothing and books to jewelry and gifts. Ron Robinson’s flagship store on Fifth Street The Night Goes On Once upon a time, Santa Monica was a hotbed for older residents who permanently settled in the quaint seaside town for decades. But today, the younger generation is attracted to Santa Monica’s rapid development and growth, which naturally prompted a worthwhile nightlife scene. The Misfit Restaurant + Bar, which opened in 2011, caters to the youthful crowd with its dimly-lit interiors and whimsical brasserie feel, with tall mirrors and velvet curtains, hanging bulb lamps and rotating local art. After hours, the restaurant transforms into a thriving bar scene packed with surf crews, techie hipsters and fashion trendsetters. The craft cocktails served there are innovative and unique, and it’s one of the few places in Santa Monica with a velvet rope for entrance (mind the dress code—no shorts or flip flops). The Bungalow on Wilshire Boulevard is where visitors will really need to dress to impress for entrance: The line often wraps around the building. The sprawling, indoor/outdoor space is elegantly lit with retro-style interiors, but it’s the high-style crowd that really woos. A brilliant new addition to the local bar scene is, well, Brilliantshine. It takes craft cocktail bars to a whole new level with drinks served in bottom-lit bulbs and delicious bites that are paired with the cocktails (rather the traditional reverse). While Brillantshine is something you would expect to debut in downtown LA, it’s a perfect fit for Santa Monica’s burgeoning nightlife. Still, there’s no shame in an early bedtime in a city where the sunrise illuminates already-awake surfers, joggers, cyclists and others taking advantage of every drop of daylight. Early bird or night owl, active body or shopping enthusiast, there is plenty to fill every itinerary in the timeless yet everevolving beach-side Santa Monica. L Book It Notable for its prime location just steps from the Santa Monica Pier, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is a 347-room, oceanfront resort with terrific views, offering modern luxury and pampering amenities including gourmet restaurants, an eco-friendly spa and a variety of fitness classes. It enhanced the guest experience this spring, when it unveiled a brandnew pool and pool deck. “Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel was built on a cliff which lends itself perfectly to being able to capitalize on all that the city of Santa Monica has to offer,” says Chef Concierge Michael Fox. “When you exit our back door, you have the beach right in our backyard. You will see the iconic Santa Monica Pier right to the north and the rest of Santa Monica Beach and Venice to the south. Our lobby is located on the fourth floor so, when you exit our front door, you have the famous Third Street Promenade and the popular shops and restaurants of Main Street right at our doorstep. We are centrally located in Santa Monica … and we are only 8 miles from LAX.” LOEWS MAGAZINE LO5_SantaMonica-eV4-e_v5-e.indd 53 53 4/14/15 12:06 PM