Why book?
If I must swap the Atlantic for the Pacific, I stay here. From the cozy lobby fireplaces to the shuttered balconies with breezy ocean views, this iconic Santa Monica address feels like a Cape Cod beach house with all the amenities of a luxury resort. This Nancy Meyers–loving New Englander approves.
Set the scene
The hotel sits right on the sand of Santa Monica Bay; you can see the Pacific from the pool and hot tub, surrounded by chaise lounges and private cabanas. The crowd here is mostly leisure travelers—plus a fair share of entertainment industry people, photographers, ad agency creatives, and anyone on an expense account who wants to pretend they're on vacation at the end of a long work day.
The backstory
The once novel and now iconic Shutters, which first opened in 1993, was the West Coast's idea of an East Coast beach house. The white shingled oceanfront property got a top-to-bottom redo in 2005, led by Michael S. Smith, the interior designer who famously decorated the Obama White House.
In early 2025 the hotel unveiled a new lobby, the first phase of a series of upcoming renovations. Designed by Los Angeles–based design studio Nickey Kehoe, the new look preserves the hotel’s classic coastal elegance, but brightens up the space with a fresh color palette of ivory, cream, and cerulean blues. A reconceptualized seating layout of deep banquettes and cocktail tables invites guests to cozy up and swap stories over cocktails. With two large fireplaces and a grand piano, it truly has a home-away-from-home feel, an ethos that is felt throughout the property. And the art! Around the hotel, you’ll see works by Modern art greats like David Hockney, Robert Motherwell, Claes Oldenburg, and Roy Lichtenstein. Observant patrons will notice three new works on display in the renovated lobby, the centerpiece being a sizable, commissioned “Sky Over Water” by Los Angeles–based artist Grant Levy-Lucero above the reception desk.
The rooms
Shutters is comprised of two buildings: the three-story Beach House, set right on the sand, and the slightly more set back seven-story Ocean House. It’s worth inquiring about your exact view and where your balcony is perched in relation to the pool, as noise levels and privacy will vary accordingly. The smallest of the 186 breezy guest rooms and 12 suites are 450 square feet, and all feel very residential—think hardwood floors with hand-woven Tibetan rugs instead of carpets, built-ins instead of bulky furniture, and dark wood desks. Most are designed with sliding shuttered balcony doors, and room libraries include special edition classics like Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.
Rooms also come with a take-home souvenir: a rubber bath amenity of Shutter’s signature whale—perfect for the kiddos if you left them back at home. Bathrooms are spacious, with hardwood floors, 15-inch LCD televisions (for those who need a TV in the bathroom), and large whirlpool tubs. Open the shutters for outdoor views if you've got them while you’re taking a soak. For more spacious accommodations with multiple balconies, living rooms, and fireplaces galore, book a Pacific View penthouse suite on the seventh floor of the Ocean House building or The Beach House Suite on the third and top floor of the Beach House, with direct views of the water.
Food and drink
Michael S. Smith also designed the 85-seat 1 Pico, which is so-called for its address, and open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. The Italian-influenced and seafood-forward menu (think hamachi tartare with avocado and roasted fish like arctic char and halibut) is solid, if a little passé, and is a bit player in the scheme of the restaurant's ocean views. The indoor-outdoor, all-day Coast Beach Café and Bar is right on the bike path and is a popular brunch reservation among local Angelenos, too. There’s an open kitchen and a self-heating floor (it gets cold by the beach!), and a communal table that gives it a laid-back vibe. Don’t miss the lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast.
The Living Room terrace, a small outdoor balcony with cozy seating and ocean views, serves a simple but hearty menu of afternoon and evening bites. It was my favorite quiet hideaway during my stay—what a place to linger in the afternoon sun over a chicken club and fries, or take in the sunset over oysters and rosé. Nightly in the Living Room lounge, there’s live jazz music and seasonal cocktails. It’s also the go-to spot for afternoon tea.
The spa
Shutters’ award-winning ONE Spa is a local favorite for facials and massage treatments that use products from luxe brands like Omorovicza, Augustinus Bader, Luzern, and Biologique Recherche. The gym is small but functional; workout classes and surf board rentals are also offered on the beach.
The neighborhood/area
If you’re looking for a classic beach vacation without venturing from Los Angeles, Shutters is where you want to be. It’s one of only two hotels in the entire city with direct beach access (the other being Shutters’ sister property Hotel Casa Del Mar, located right next door). The hotel is tucked away in its own quiet bubble but is still walking distance from Santa Monica’s Main Street, which is lined with coffee shops, smoothie joints, and boutiques. One of my favorite meals of the trip was a block away at Cha Cha Chicken, a counter-order eatery that feels like a Caribbean beach shack in the best of ways.
The service
The staff at Shutters are friendly and accommodating. One of the best perks is the rack of courtesy beach cruisers set up directly along the bike path, a lovely option to have in a city where it is easy to find yourself driving and Ubering everywhere. Take them out for a joy ride down to Venice or past the Pier up to Ginger Rogers Beach for a full tour of the LA coast. The concierge can also help organize car rentals, if you do end up needing four wheels.
For families
Shutters is pet- and family-friendly. Cribs are available for rooms upon request. However, the pool does lean more quiet than lively, as many rooms overlook this central deck space—something to keep in mind if you have young children who are spirited swimmers.
Eco effort
As of 2022, the hotel has replaced plastic water bottles with complimentary recycled aluminum bottles.
Accessibility
Accessible rooms are available. Depending on your room’s location, navigating between the multiple elevators and narrow hallways could be difficult for those with mobility challenges, so be sure to inquire beforehand.
Anything left to mention?
There are only a few hotels around the world that make me feel immediately at home, and Shutters is one of them. The upcoming interior renovations of the rooms and suites will have to balance the property’s iconic history with tasteful modern refreshes—and the recently redone lobby is as good a sign as any that they will succeed in doing just that.
This review has been updated with new information since its original publish date. Additional reporting by Brooke Porter Katz and Krista Simmons.
1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California 90405
United States
https://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/
(310) 458-0030