The Casa Del Mar Hotel started out as a beach club in 1926, serving first as a hot spot during Prohibition and later as a recreation center for enlisted men following World War II. It was the founding site of Synanon, a drug rehabilitation program in the 1960s, and served as home to the Pritikin Longevity Center for nearly twenty years. Then, in 1999, the Edward Thomas Hospitality Corporation took over the property, with an eye to restoring it as an elegant, roaring 20s-style hotel.
Today, the Casa Del Mar Hotel's eight-story brick and sandstone facade with iron railings is a testament to the heyday of Santa Monica beach clubs. Its interior reflects the traditional look and feel of the 1920s, with its own balcony-based library overlooking the marble floors, comfortable lounge chairs, and fully stocked bar of the main lobby area. There is even a vintage Zoltar fortune teller machine and photo booth available here.
Among the Casa Del Mar Hotel's 129 guestrooms are four luxury suites with panoramic views of the beach and the ocean, three opulent two-story penthouse suites, and a two-bedroom Presidential Suite with its own fireplace, living room and dining area. This is where the glitterati of an earlier age came to party and hide away from the prying eyes of well-to-do society. Furnishings such as four-post bed frames, ceiling fans, crystal chandeliers and antiqued wood chairs give these rooms a true connection to the past.
Standard guestrooms have large windows facing the ocean with wooden Venetian blinds, marble-finished bathrooms with hydrotherapy tubs, and pillow-top mattresses with Egyptian cotton bedding. There are large chaises, hand-painted armoires, and floor-to-ceiling flowing drapes. Amenities found in each room include iPOD chargers, wireless Internet service, a television with VCR/DVD player and cable/satellite channels, a CD player, phones with voice mail, a refrigerator and a mini-bar. All rooms are non-smoking, pets are not allowed, and rollaway beds are not available.
On the fifth floor of the hotel, the Palm Terrace plunge pool faces the Pacific, complemented by an outdoor Jacuzzi, cabanas, lounge chairs, and a deck made of Italian granite. An al-fresco drink and snack service is provided poolside, too.
At the on-site Sea Wellness Spa, guests may take advantage of customized programs developed by the Spa Director. On offer are classic massages, seaweed body wraps, facials, and even hypnotherapy sessions for deep relaxation. Chinese herbal medicines, body movement and energy work, yoga, Pilates, structured fitness workouts, and other wellness regimens are also available.
Dining on California-American cuisine is the specialty of Catch restaurant, where fresh coastal ingredients add flair to everything on the menu, from Kurobuto Pork Loin to sushi and farmers market salads. Meals are also served in the Veranda of the lobby lounge, featuring light lunch items and cocktails, along with live entertainment each Wednesday through Saturday.
For meetings and events, the Casa Del Mar Hotel offers state-of-the-art technologies within its Santa Monica meeting rooms and conference center. Weddings and special occasions can be catered not only indoors or by the pool, but also on the beach area in front of the hotel.
The Casa Del Mar Hotel is located at 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, California 90405. From Los Angeles International Airport, take Century Boulevard to Sepulveda Boulevard North and then turn right. Follow Sepulveda and go left on Lincoln to Pico. Turn left and continue to the end of Pico until it ends at the Pacific Ocean. Turn left to pull in front of the hotel for valet parking.
Review, comment, or add new information about this topic: