What’s New in Santa Monica–Winter 2024
Santa Monica kicks off 2024 with a slew of retail, dining openings and pop-up events
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (January 19, 2024) – Sunny days, rolling waves and comfortable temperatures set the scene to explore all that’s new in Santa Monica this winter. A shopping, dining and all-around unforgettable destination, this city by the sea should be at the top of everyone’s list.
Situated on a sprawling 3.5 mile stretch of Los Angeles County coastline, the premier beach city offers over 400 restaurants, 41 hotels from uber luxury to budget-friendly, over 20 miles of protected bike lanes, easy access to public transportation and 28 museums and galleries.
Here’s a peek into what’s new and exciting in Santa Monica:
HOTELS
The Georgian Hotel (Pier/Ocean Ave) – after a massive renovation and re-opening in 2023, the “first lady” of Santa Monica has a new lineup of winter entertainment. Offerings at the chic, art-deco hotel include several weekly music gatherings including two exciting nights of bass & sax. Every Wednesday and Thursday, guests can catch “All That Jazz” shows at the Restaurant at The Georgian, as well as enjoy international tunes all weekend long with its “Sound Sessions,” happening Friday-Sunday.
www.thegeorgian.com
The Pierside Hotel Santa Monica (Downtown/Third Street) – one of the newest hotels on Ocean Ave, The Pierside’s restaurant The Surfing Fox, lights up the Colorado Esplanade with live music every Friday night spanning genres like jazz, hip-hop and R&B. Following a night of music, guests of the hotel can unwind with free beachside yoga on Saturday mornings – did we mention it comes with a free pint of beer?
www.thepiersidehotel.com
Santa Monica Proper Hotel (Wilshire) – Evenings of guilt-free indulgence will be a breeze at Palma Lounge inside Santa Monica Proper Hotel, the 267-room luxury hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler. Palma Lounge has launched its “Conscious Consumption” menu with zero-proof cocktail options featuring more than 10 concoctions. Beverage highlights include The Cosmo, TropiCali and Prickly Bear.
www.properhotel.com/santa-monica
Chef’s Table at Sugar Palm (Pier/Ocean Ave) – February 16-17, Sugar Palm at the Viceroy Santa Monica will offer an elevated evening of culinary excellence and exploration with its executive chef as he leads a six-course chef’s table tasting. The intimate dining experience will occur monthly.
www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/santa-monica/sugar-palm-santa-monica
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Burgette (Downtown/Third Street) – sister restaurant to Santa Monica newcomer Bar Monette, this Parisian-inspired hamburger eatery from Toronto chef Sean Macdonald offers small plates of cured meats, cheeses and more.
www.burgettesantamonica.com
Sweet Maple (Pier/Ocean Ave) – renownedrestauranteur Hoyul Steven Choi opened his first Los Angeles location of Sweet Maple on December 8. The Northern California restaurant brings its Asian-inspired brunch dishes to Santa Monica, including the wildly popular dish of thick, sweet and slightly spicy candied bacon dubbed ‘millionaire’s bacon.’
www.sweetmaplesf.com
Modern Bread & Bagel (Montana Ave) – the trendy eatery specializes in delicious breads including its famous organic and gluten-free bagels, in addition to a menu full of bagel sandwiches, salads/bowls, and classic dishes with a modern and health-forward approach.
www.modernbreadandbagel.com
Impasta (Downtown/Third Street) – offers healthy pasta dishes made with vegetable noodles, including zucchini, hearts of palm and spaghetti squash. All the dishes are thoughtfully curated using low-calorie, low-carb and 100% gluten-free ingredients.
www.impastacompany.com
SHOPPING/RETAIL
Pieces Los Angeles (Downtown/Third Street) – the retailer opened its flagship store at Santa Monica Place late last year. The luxury store offers stylish shoppers designer collections from leading brands like Bottega Veneta, Dior and Marni. Additionally, streetwear enthusiasts will find rare items from sought-after brands including Anti Social Club, Supreme and more.
pieceslosangeles.com
Cleo Centric (Downtown/Third Street) – recently opened at Santa Monica Place, the fashion boutique prides itself on supplying the trendiest women’s wear in Los Angeles. Explore an array of dresses, skirts and more to effortlessly update any wardrobe.
cleocentric.com
El Husuba (Downtown/Third Street) – new to the Third Street Promenade, El Husuba sells 100% authentic collector and secondhand luxury bags from high-end designers. Brands include Chanel, Prada, Gucci and more.
elhusuba.com
Bandit Bikes (Downtown/Third Street) – Santa Monica boasts 30 miles of protected bike lanes, and is thrilled to welcome Bandit Bikes, an electric bike company that offers a variety of e-bikes. Additionally, the store provides bike maintenance and repair services.
EVENTS
Santa Monica Place Chinese Lunar New Year (Downtown/Third Street) – discover Santa Monica Place and its three levels of sophisticated retail, dining, and Lunar New Year festivities. Guests will experience the awe-inspiring red and gold lanterns adorning Center Plaza which create a vibrant atmosphere of celebration. The Year of the Dragon entertainment continues February 17 with captivating lion dance performances, the presence of a Chinese dough artist and more exciting surprises.
www.santamonicaplace.com
Cayton Children’s Museum Lunar New Year (Downtown/Third Street) – celebrate the year of the dragon at Cayton Children’s Museum. Kids will enjoy a special performance by UCLA’s ACA Lion Dance group and partake in a lively parade throughout the museum. Additionally, arts and crafts such as lion puppet making, lantern decorating, Chinese pellet drum crafting and more will be available.
www.caytonmuseum.org
Frieze Los Angeles (Ocean Park/Airport) – the Santa Monica Airport will host this year’s Frieze Los Angeles from February 29-March 3. The famous art fair will feature over 95 galleries from 21 countries and will include major world-leading galleries. Returning to Santa Monica for its second year, the fair offers collaborations with local nonprofit organizations, several activations and pop-ups from some of Los Angeles’ most loved restaurants.
www.frieze.com
Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival (Pier/Ocean Ave) – there’s a new way to celebrate Santa Monica’s reputation as a world-class culinary destination this spring. The Los Angeles Wine & Food Festival will debut from March 1-3 at the Santa Monica Pier in conjunction with Frieze Los Angeles. Headlining chefs include Adam Perry Lang, Adam Richman, Alex Guarnaschelli, Alvin Cailan, Andrew Zimmern, Ben Ford, Claudette Zepeda, Duff Goldman, Geoffrey Zakarian, Jeff Mauro, Justin Pichetrungsi, Natalia Vallejo, Stephanie Izard and Timothy Hollingsworth.
www.lawineandfood.com
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 Contacts
Kim Mulder
PR Coordinator
kmulder@santamonica.com
Lauren Salisbury
Senior Director of Communications
lsalisbury@santamonica.com
