Shutters on the Beach

California
United States

The Experience

At 15-years-old, Shutters qualifies as nearly ancient by Southern California hotel standards. Calmly impervious to the ever-growing competition nearby, like the trendy Viceroy, Shutters remains popular with those who toil in the fields of show business—and yet has none of the attitude that sometimes attends celebrity venues. Not only is it smack on the beach—albeit one of the busiest, most crowded strips of the beach—but it's conveniently close to the airport, the Santa Monica Freeway and the Pacific Coast Highway.

The Rooms

The better, oceanview rooms do have a certain feel of staying at someone's beach cottage. The 400-square-foot standard "king" rooms are like wonderful nests with hardwood floors, oriental carpets, bookshelves stocked with books, CDs and DVDs and gleaming white shuttered doors that open onto small balconies. All the rooms have wifi, flat-screen TVs and iPod speaker stations, and some have fireplaces. One-bedroom suites (800 square feet) even have fireplaces in the bedrooms. But be careful with room selection, as some look out onto a street or parking lot, and some of the ocean views involve gazing out over an unattractive roof, vents and pipes, with the beach and ocean behind. And noise from the boardwalk can be a problem in the very front rooms.

The Service

The service at Shutters is generally excellent, personal and very friendly. The staff at the concierge desk are knowledgeable and quick to arrange whatever is asked of them, from dinner reservations to theater tickets to surfing lessons. The level of excellence can sometimes slip in the casual eating venue, Pedals, which is usually hectic. It's better in the quiet fine-dining restaurant, One Pico, which has sunset views.

The Highlights

Shutters has a small, attractive pool surrounded by wood pergolas that can become so crowded that—in the era of the cellphone—you can learn rather more about your neighbors than you wish to. It's also frequently taken over for weddings. The lobby is like a large living room, with overstuffed couches and cheerful fireplaces, and if the view from your room is the public parking lot, you can repair to the lobby for a cocktail and a view of one of the usually glorious sunsets. The yacht-themed Ole Henriksen spa includes two wet treatment rooms with Vichy showers for wraps and scrubs. Use the "beach pack" containing chair, umbrella and some sunscreen that the hotel provides (at a fee) to brave the hordes on the sand.

 

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»