There is most certainly a reason why when one thinks of Santa Monica, the mind instantly wanders off to Shutters on the Beach. The hotel is a Southern California landmark and deserves every bit of recognition it receives. The four poster beds, the crisp blue and white colour pallette, cozy corner chairs and room length shutters all play a part in distinguishing this hotel as a real lesson in classic and timeless design. Search engines are overflowing with pictures from Shutters that are searchable by the words Hamptons decor, dream beach house, perfect interior design and America's finest. Get the picture? It's a place to see and be seen, a place to study and emulate - in your own home or cottage on the sea. It's also a location where you'll find just as many locals as visiting tourists.
For fourteen years I've been trying to find time to stay at this American legend and finally the time and place came together, with availability in the hotel. Yes, the stars aligned and I found myself watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean just last week from the balcony of my room at Shutters on The Beach. Of course this was after I took a bath in the mega jacuzzi that sits, complete with window, between the bed and the vanity. Arriving fresh off the plane from London, I only wish I was not battling jet lag so that I may have found time to enjoy the experience for every minute that I had. As I lay back on the four poster bed and flipped through the pages of a few coffee table books, that had been piled into the in-room library, I fell fast asleep at 9pm. Hey - that's pretty good considering the time in my head was 5am. I awoke to a beautiful sun streaming into the room as I had forgotten to close the shutters. I couldn't help but feel, as I lay beneath the bone white duvet, that this was exactly how one was meant to feel on their first morning in Southern California. Shutters had delivered, in a fantastic way, what every hotel is meant to - a home away from home. Only in this case, it was my dream home away from home.
It took every ounce of willpower I had to exit my room the next morning, rather than staging a lock-in, and refusing to check out. One does wonder if anyone has done such a thing before? A squatter at Shutters? How glamorous!
Breakfast awaited in Coast, Shutters' beachfront restaurant. When in America's finest, it would be a shame not to order a true American breakfast, right? So pancakes came my way. Not a drop of syrup was left to speak of. The plate was so clean it could have been reused for another serving. Yes, life was good at Shutters. Food, fun and fantastic accommodation. Well worth the visit and a place I will return to again and again, whether I'm looking for breakfast or a bed for the night.
1 Pico Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405
1-310-458-0030
Fashion Foie Gras stayed as a guest of Shutters on The Beach in Santa Monica.
