Talk about unconventional! Shade, a little, breezy gem of a hotel with just 38-rooms has all the ingredients for a quick, fun get out of town vacay.
Located in Manhattan Beach, just a quick Freeway drive from LA, Shade attracts a privileged, entitled demographic of the Lindsey Lohan degree, along with the new young, restless, and beautiful Hollywood “brat pack,” or what I like to call “the just barely out of puberty crowd.”
Fashioned by the Emmy Award–winning “lifestylist” designer from the Discovery Home Channel, Christopher Lowell, the hotel oozes with over-the-top amenities. Which is exactly what Michael Zislis, the entrepreneurial proprietor, intended. “We’re over the top,” he boasts. “We want to be different. It’s all about having an unforgettable experience with great service.” The raffish décor co-mingles seaside casualness with exaggerated lavishness.
A welcoming lobby hosts a bustling bar that sees nonstop action nightly after 5 PM, and an adjacent outdoor patio where drinks, small bites, and breakfast are served.
The fairly new, amped-up Zinc Restaurant and Lounge offers small bites that’s available from noon to late evening, A local, high-end hangout, the food's surprisingly delicious. There's a pre-fixed, weekday lunch called our Ready Set Lunch that includes a starter, an entrée, a beverage (can include select wine or beer) and a side item for just $16 per person. Weekends draw crowds to Zinc's bountiful brunch.
We love stopping by at cocktail hour. The barkeeps pour generous drinks and the small plates menu features amazing fare. We're talking uptown food in a beachy atmosphere.
Make it a cool trip with breakfast in bed (a full menu's available in your room), cocktails and bites before dinner and then maybe a stroll into town to sample some of the local restaurants. Then head back to Shade for a night cap a the bar or on the terrace.
Amazing gracious accommodations:
Each finely tuned room is designed for utmost comfort with king-size Tempur-Pedic beds covered by 400-thread-count Mascioni linens, feather duvets, a “pillow library” with a choice of options on which to lay your head, and a table that can be rolled up from the foot of the bed.
Naturally, there are flat-screen Panasonic TVs and CD and DVD players (and free movies at the front desk). To further enhance the mood, chromatherapy customized lighting changes color at the touch of a dial (amber, blue, lavender, and green), and a Sanijet spa tub built for two (hidden behind frosted-glass shoji-like screens) complete with color therapy and rain showers complement the bathrooms.
And get this, java junkies can make their own with the in-room Lavazza espresso machines. Some rooms have cyclone gas fireplaces with gas jets that propel flames in spiral tubing.
The nearby beach is very tempting, but if you don't feel like sand under your feet, you can head up to the inviting rooftop Skydeck for a swim in the stainless steel pool, sunbathing, a yoga class, or a session on the spinning bike.
One of our pet perks is the availability of complimentary strand cruiser bicycles that provide a healthy, hassle-free means of transportation to the beach or around town. It’s not easy finding a parking space for cars in this bustling beach community.
Shade is located at 1221 N. Valley Drive, (at Manhattan Beach Blvd), Manhattan Beach. 310/546.4995, 866/98SHADE. www.shadehotel.com
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