What’s New in Santa Monica – Spring 2024
Santa Monica welcomes spring with a myriad of retail and dining openings, along with exciting local events.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (April 2, 2024) – Visitors to Santa Monica will feel the vibrant energy of the city as the spring season blooms, the days become longer and the sun warms the sandy shores. Now is the perfect time to dive into the latest offerings in this beachside getaway as the city blossoms with excitement.
Santa Monica offers visitors an unforgettable Southern California beach city experience set along 3.5 miles of stunning coastline. With 40 world-class hotels, over 400 celebrated restaurants, and eight neighborhoods across 8.3 square miles, there is no better place to plan a spring vacation.
HOTELS
Sandbourne Santa Monica (Pier/Ocean Ave) – formerly Le Merigot Santa Monica, this reimagined hotel set along the iconic Ocean Avenue promises the utmost in chic design by architect Gulla Jónsdóttir. Guests will discover 175 guest rooms and suites, each a haven of comfort and style, and enjoy culinary delights at the new restaurant by Chef Raphael Lunetta. This idyllic property just steps from the coastline offers business travelers 10,000 square feet of event space.
www.lemerigothotel.com
Sonder The Beacon (Downtown/Third Street) – Chef Chris Sayegh brings his Jordanian heritage to life at Layla. His latest restaurant, nestled within this bespoke hotel, captures the essence of Middle Eastern flavors and cuisine. Guests can savor timeless recipes passed down through generations, infused with a modern twist and influenced by French culinary techniques. Perched atop Sonder The Beacon, The Coco Club is Santa Monica’s only open-air rooftop bar and lounge. The sleek indoor-outdoor lounge awaits guests with breathtaking views of the serene seaside. Patrons can sip on meticulously crafted cocktails that will tantalize taste buds and elevate moods. Whether a local or a visitor, The Coco Club promises an unforgettable time.
www.laylarestaurantsm.com
www.cocorooftop.com
Hotel Casa del Mar (Pier/Ocean Ave) – Now at Hotel Casa del Mar, diners at 1 Pico can enjoy an ocean-view restaurant with a fresh spring menu. Chef Sean Runyon sources local ingredients from the world-famous Santa Monica Farmers Market to craft 1 Pico’s seasonal menu. Located in the stunning Shutters on the Beach resort, it delivers an unforgettable culinary adventure.
www.shuttersonthebeach.com/dining/1-pico
FOOD & BEVERAGE
B&T’s Deli (Montana Ave) – nestled along a stretch of chic boutiques and charming eateries, B&T’s Deli creates plant-based subs for sandwich enthusiasts, aiming to introduce plant-based options to a broader audience beyond strict vegans. Unlike many alternatives, they use familiar ingredients like artichokes instead of confusing meat imitations, making plant-based eating more accessible. This new location is dubbed where “Bay Cities meets Erewhon.”
www.bandtsdeli.com
Cassia (Downtown/Third Street) – The critically acclaimed Southeast Asian brasserie takes its all-new menu to new heights by celebrating the vibrant flavors of Chef Bryant Ng’s Chinese-Singapore heritage. These exciting new dishes strike a unique balance of soulful, ancestral cuisine with California sensibility all while utilizing high-quality locally-farmed ingredients.
www.cassiala.com
SHOPPING/RETAIL
Zona Little Italy (Main Street) – in the realm of Zona Little Italy authenticity, creativity and quality reign supreme. Specializing in gourmet retail, it boasts a selection of authentic, artisanal Italian products directly imported from Italy. Zona Little Italy proudly offers GMO-free, gluten-free, and vegan options within its array of offerings.
www.zonalittleitaly.com
CP Shades (Montana Ave) – crafting handmade products in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years CP Shades. The brand meticulously cut and sewed each item in its own factory located on the waterfront in Sausalito, operating solely on 100% renewable energy. CP Shades products are garment-dyed, sustainable, uncomplicated natural fiber clothing with soul, often becoming cherished “old favorites” that only get better with time.
www.cpshades.com
Adler-Smith Gallery (Ocean Park/Airport) – inspired by surf, skate, art and music culture, the Adler-Smith Gallery brings a colorful perspective to Santa Monica’s ever-growing art scene. Showcasing artwork by artists Russell Crotty, David Lloyd and more, the gallery’s exhibits are a feast for one’s eyes.
www.adlersmithgallery.com
Santa Monica Place (Downtown/Third Street) – both locals and visitors can stop by Santa Monica Place every Wednesday through Sunday to enjoy live music in the Center Plaza. Sounds of Santa Monica is a free, family-friendly series including live DJs, acoustic performers, rock bands and more. The twice-daily performances bring the joy of song and dance to any shopping experience at this beloved location.
EVENTS
18th Street Arts Center (Ocean Park/Airport) – art lovers will explore the mind of Karla Diaz in her latest exhibition titled “Karla Diaz: Wait ‘til Your Mother Gets Home” at the 18th Street Arts Center Airport Campus. Through the artist’s perspective, Diaz explores the American Mexican identity from the 1970s to the present day. Diaz’s first solo exhibition featuring 37 new and recent works runs through June 22.
www.18thstreet.org
Bergamot Comedy Fest (Mid-City) – from April 1-6 the new, week-long Comedy Fest arrives at Bergamot Arts Station Center featuring a diverse lineup of nearly 50 comedians. Guests will indulge in laughter during live performances, panels, workshops and community events that spotlight underrepresented voices and unique perspectives.
www.bergamotcomedyfest.com
The Other Art Fair (Ocean Park/Airport) – on the heels of Frieze Los Angeles, the Santa Monica Airport welcomes back The Other Art Fair from April 4-7. It will feature 140 independent artists with immersive installations, performances and DJs. The art fair is proud to offer original artwork at affordable prices, making it accessible to all art lovers.
www.theotherartfair.com/la
UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica (Downtown/Third Street) – historians and history enthusiasts alike can explore the evolution of Santa Monica’s housing through the captivating exhibition titled “UnHoused: A History of Housing in Santa Monica” at the Santa Monica History Museum. From the Tongva people to its contemporary status as a bustling beach town metropolis, the exhibition delves into the heart of Santa Monica’s housing legacy, offering insights into its policies and development over time. Visitors can immerse themselves in the exhibit until December 15.
www.santamonicahistory.org/exhibitions/unhoused
Arte Chicano Hecho En Los Angeles (Main Street) – cultural enthusiasts can view the California Heritage Museum’s latest exhibition, “Arte Chicano Hecho En Los Angeles,” through June 2. This retrospective offers a glimpse into the origins of Chicano artwork in L.A. County, tracing its evolution over the past five decades and highlighting the artists who have shaped its journey. The collection elucidates the significant link between Chicano art and the struggle for civil and political rights featuring over 70 works by artists such as Margaret Garcia and Judy Baca.
www.californiaheritagemuseum.org
Art Bank: Selected Works (Pier/Ocean Ave) – within the Annenberg Community Beach House, visitors will encounter the Art Bank: Selected Works from the City of Santa Monica Art Collection. This exhibition showcases a wide range of artworks by artists from Southern California and beyond, spanning paintings to sculptures, alongside public art project maquettes and preparatory drawings. Established in 1984, the Art Bank municipal art collection aims to enrich Santa Monica’s public spaces through the City of Santa Monica’s Percent for Art Program, providing funding for the acquisition of these pieces.
www.annenbergbeachhouse.com
Save the Pier! Play (Pier/Ocean Ave) – the Santa Monica Pier is set to host a live reenactment of the play “Save the Pier!” The play will depict the events that took place in the 1970s when two groups of passionate citizens worked diligently to save the iconic Pier. The play will be held for free at the west end of the Pier. Visitors can learn about the Pier’s rich history and also delight in live entertainment at the seaside.
www.santamonicapier.org/save-the-pier
SAMO Pride (Citywide) – Santa Monica opens its arms to all, celebrating diversity in faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and more. During Pride Month and beyond visitors and locals alike will experience the beauty of Santa Monica with its array of LGBTQ+-friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities. Those interested in SAMO Pride festivities should stay tuned for updates on events and happenings across the city throughout June.
Link to images here.
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About Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a travel destination. For more information visit santamonica.com, email info@santamonica.com, or follow SMTT on Instagram (@SeeSantaMonica), Twitter (@GoSantaMonica) or Facebook (@VisitSantaMonica).
Media Contact
Lauren Salisbury
Senior Director of Communications
lsalisbury@santamonica.com
