Treat yourself to a quiet stay on the beach.
Regent Santa Monica Beach is opening this summer on a coveted sandy Santa Monica beach, bringing with it a restaurant by acclaimed chef Michael Mina, a restaurant and boutique by celebrity/entrepreneur Ayesha Curry, a ten,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa, a pool terrace and an oceanfront beach Butler service.
Regent Hotels & Resorts first opened in Hawaii in 1970. IHG Hotels & Resorts acquired the corporate in 2018 and got down to relaunch it as a contemporary, upscale luxury brand. New features have been introduced resembling Regent Phu Quoc in Vietnam and others like redesigned Regent Hong Kong And Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel. The Santa Monica hotel marks the brand’s return to America and its flagship within the region.
Take a seat within the airy lobby.
The $150 million-plus project takes over the previous Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and channels the glamor and serenity of Beverly Hills beachfront with designs by AvroKO (whose work includes). The Jay Hotel in San Francisco and 1 Hotel Central Park in New York) and Wimberly Interiors (who did). Rosewood Baha Mar within the Bahamas and Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha). Expect an airy lobby bathed in white and rooms decorated in muted colours like cream and blue.
Accommodations – 24 suites and 143 guest rooms – start at 720 square feet. The luxurious bathrooms have bathtubs, rainfall showers, bidets and double sinks. Gaze out to sea from the two,180-square-foot, two-story Atrium Suites on the second and third floors, or curl up in the most important room, the Santa Monica Presidential Suite on the eighth floor, which can feature a game room and front room and 4 French balconies.
Stay in one in all the suites.
Foodies flock to the Santa Monica Hotel to dine on the Mediterranean-focused Orla, a chef-driven restaurant Mina recently debuted in Las Vegas. “Orla is an incredibly personal concept for me, inspired by my childhood,” said Mina, known for spots like Forbes Travel Guide Four-Stars Michael Mina in Las Vegas and Bourbon steak in Orange County. “The earthiness of za’atar, the citrus flavor, and the intricate layers of a perfectly cooked piece of char-grilled fish or meat take me back to the intriguing flavors I grew up with and enjoyed around the table with my family. With sea views and the vibrant energy of the restaurant, guests are immediately transported to the Mediterranean.”
The rooms are decorated in soft tones.
Curry, who collaborated with Mina on his upscale barbecue chain International Smoke, will open an outpost of her Oakland lifestyle boutique Sweet July on the LA hotel. The sage-toned Santa Monica store/café will highlight customized products from Black and women-owned brands and a menu inspired by Curry’s Jamaican roots, in addition to staples like Sweet July’s signature coffee, tea, pastries and desserts.
“I’m excited to expand our Sweet July experience with Regent to the beaches of Santa Monica,” said Curry. “We have created a very special menu that celebrates my Jamaican roots and I am excited to bring it to Santa Monica and the iconic Regent brand.”
Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Orla.
Younes Atallah, the resort’s general manager, said Regent Santa Monica Beach will bring a very different experience to the world. “With our commitment to outstanding, tailored service and an alluring oceanfront location, we want to share this incredibly special property with the world and welcome guests to pamper themselves in a modern evolution of traditional luxury,” said Atalla.
In its previous incarnation, the Regent brand introduced hospitality innovations resembling island reception desks, private pool villas and sunken bathtubs. IHG’s relaunched version features “personal sanctuaries” – bespoke, elegantly designed spaces throughout the properties that invite moments of leisure. At Regent’s Hong Kong Hotel, for instance, you may look out from its tranquil Victoria Harbor rooms from the deep soaking tub or long windowed banquette, and Phu Quoc Resort has tranquil poolside cabanas with loungers nestled among the many palm trees.
Shop and eat at Sweet July.
Regent’s other hallmarks include “with compliments,” a service that showers you with lavish amenities (like a free minibar) and helpful perks (free laundry and ironing services); the Taste Studio, an interactive, multi-sensory culinary experience featuring collaborations between hotel chefs and creatives in art, music, design and fashion; and experience agents who curate your stay in line with your wishes.
Over the following five years, Regent plans to open hotels in Bali; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Kuala Lumpur; Kyoto; Sanya, China; Shenzhen, China; and Jakarta, Indonesia.
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