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Springtime in Santa Monica
As the spring season blooms, the days become longer and the sun warms the sandy shores of Santa Monica.
Now is the perfect time to dive into the latest offerings in this beachside getaway.
Santa Monica offers a quintessential Southern California beach city experience set along 3.5 miles of coastline.
With 40 hotels, over 400 restaurants, and eight neighborhoods, there is no better place to plan a spring vacation.
HOTELS
Sandbourne Santa Monica (Pier/Ocean Ave) – formerly Le Merigot Santa Monica, this reimagined hotel set along Ocean Avenue features chic design by architect Gulla Jónsdóttir. Guests will discover 175 guest rooms and suites and culinary delights at the new restaurant by Chef Raphael Lunetta. This idyllic property just steps from the coastline.
www.lemerigothotel.com
Sonder The Beacon (Downtown/Third Street) – Chef Chris Sayegh brings his Jordanian heritage to life at Layla. His latest restaurant, nestled within the hotel, showcases Middle Eastern flavors and cuisine. Perched atop Sonder The Beacon, The Coco Club is Santa Monica’s only open-air rooftop bar and lounge. Enjoy breathtaking seaside views. www.laylarestaurantsm.com
www.cocorooftop.com
Hotel Casa del Mar (Pier/Ocean Ave) – Now at Hotel Casa del Mar, diners at 1 Pico can enjoy an ocean-view restaurant with a fresh spring menu. Chef Sean Runyon sources local ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market to craft 1 Pico’s seasonal menu.
www.shuttersonthebeach.com/dining/1-pico
FOOD & BEVERAGE
B&T’s Deli (Montana Ave) – nestled along a stretch of chic boutiques and charming eateries, B&T’s Deli creates plant-based subs, aiming to introduce options to a broader audience beyond strict vegans. Unlike many alternatives, they use familiar ingredients like artichokes instead of confusing meat imitations, making plant-based eating more accessible.
www.bandtsdeli.com
Cassia (Downtown/Third Street) – The critically acclaimed Southeast Asian brasserie celebrates the flavors of Chef Bryant Ng’s Chinese-Singapore heritage. These exciting new dishes strike a unique balance of soulful, ancestral cuisine with California style.
www.cassiala.com
SHOPPING
Zona Little Italy (Main Street) –Specializing in gourmet retail, it boasts a selection of authentic, artisanal products directly imported from Italy. Zona Little Italy offers GMO-free, gluten-free, and vegan options.
www.zonalittleitaly.com
CP Shades (Montana Ave) – crafting handmade products in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years. CP Shades products are garment-dyed, sustainable, uncomplicated natural fiber clothing with soul, often becoming cherished “old favorites” that only get better with time.
www.cpshades.com
Adler-Smith Gallery (Ocean Park/Airport) – inspired by surf, skate, art and music culture, the Adler-Smith Gallery brings a colorful perspective to Santa Monica’s ever-growing art scene. Showcasing artwork by artists Russell Crotty, David Lloyd and more.
www.adlersmithgallery.com
Santa Monica Place (Downtown/Third Street) – both locals and visitors can stop by Santa Monica Place every Wednesday through Sunday to enjoy live music in the Center Plaza. Sounds of Santa Monica is a free, family-friendly series including live DJs, acoustic performers, rock bands and more. Twice-daily performances bring joy to any shopping experience.
EVENTS
18th Street Arts Center (Ocean Park/Airport) – art lovers will explore the mind of Karla Diaz in her latest exhibition titled “Karla Diaz: Wait ’til Your Mother Gets Home” at the 18th Street Arts Center Airport Campus. Through the artist’s perspective, Diaz explores the American Mexican identity from the 1970s to the present day. Diaz’s first solo exhibition featuring 37 new and recent works runs through June 22.
www.18thstreet.org
UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica (Downtown/Third Street) – historians and history enthusiasts alike can explore the evolution of Santa Monica’s housing through the captivating exhibition titled “UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica” at the Santa Monica History Museum. From the Tongva people to its contemporary status as a bustling beach town metropolis, the exhibition delves into the heart of Santa Monica’s housing legacy. The exhibit runs until December 15.
www.santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/unhoused
Arte Chicano Hecho En Los Angeles (Main Street) – cultural enthusiasts can view the California Heritage Museum’s latest exhibition, “Arte Chicano Hecho En Los Angeles,” through June 2. This retrospective offers a glimpse into the origins of Chicano artwork in L.A. County, tracing its evolution over the past five decades and highlighting the artists who have shaped its journey. It features over 70 works by artists such as Margaret Garcia and Judy Baca.
www.californiaheritagemuseum.org
Art Bank: Selected Works (Pier/Ocean Ave) – within the Annenberg Community Beach House, visitors will encounter the Art Bank: Selected Works from the City of Santa Monica Art Collection. This exhibition showcases a wide range of artworks by artists from Southern California and beyond, spanning paintings to sculptures, alongside public art project maquettes and preparatory drawings.
www.annenbergbeachhouse.com
Save the Pier! Play (Pier/Ocean Ave) – the Santa Monica Pier is set to host a live reenactment of the play “Save the Pier!” The play will depict the events that took place in the 1970s when two groups of passionate citizens worked diligently to save the iconic Pier. The play will be held for free at the west end of the Pier. Visitors can learn about the Pier’s rich history.
www.santamonicapier.org/save-the-pier
SAMO Pride (Citywide) – Santa Monica opens its arms to all, celebrating diversity in faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and more. During Pride Month and beyond visitors and locals alike will experience the beauty of Santa Monica with its array of LGBTQ+-friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities. Those interested in SAMO Pride festivities should stay tuned for updates on events and happenings across the city throughout June.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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