Shutters on the Beach

Beach-house elegance directly on the Santa Monica sand

★★★★★📍 Santa Monica$$$$

Shutters on the Beach sits literally on the sand in Santa Monica, one of the very few Los Angeles hotels that can claim a true beachfront position. Its architecture and interiors channel an upscale, East Coast beach-house aesthetic — white clapboard, shutters, and a relaxed, residential elegance — that feels both luxurious and unpretentious, a coastal counterpoint to the city's glitzier hotels.

Rooms are bright and breezy, many with ocean views, balconies, and the signature shutters, and the amenities lean into the beachfront setting: an oceanfront pool, a full spa, and dining and lounge spaces (its restaurants and the cozy lobby bar are local favorites) that make the most of the views and sea air. Service is polished and warm.

The location is the headline. Step out the door and you're on the beach and the famous beachfront bike path, with Santa Monica Pier a short stroll north and the Third Street Promenade shopping a few blocks inland. Venice Beach is a bike ride south. Shutters suits travelers who want a relaxed, refined beach base on the Westside — ideal for families and couples who prioritize the ocean and walkability over a central-city location.