Shade Hotel – Our readers went for luxury and beach-community style when asked to pick the best hotel from a variety of impressive hotels in the South Bay. Shade Hotel offers a relaxing respite during the day and a hip spot at which to mingle at night. Located in downtown Manhattan Beach’s cushy Metlox Center, guests don’t have very far to go for a shopping spree or a stroll on the beach.
Rooms feature two-person spa tubs, Tempur-Pedic beds, Mascioni linens, goose down duvets, balconies and “chromatherapy” lighting that can adjust from cool blue to hot red or anything in between.
The open-air Skydeck, a poolside retreat perfect for swimsuits during the day and eveningwear after dark, is a guest favorite.
Certainly, locals love to troop to the Zinc Lounge with its distinctive wine and cocktail list, and a menu of “seasonable and reasonable” foods, presided over by executive chef Greg Hozinsky. Style magazine named Zinc one of those that “you won’t want to leave.”
The hotel has been named Best Luxury Hotel and Best Business Hotel by Citysearch, has made Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List for 2007, and has earned praise from the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and California Home & Design and Easy Reader’s readers.
Shade Hotel: 1221 N. Valley Drive, MB. (310) 546-4995. shadehotel.com
Runner-up: Portofino Hotel and Yacht Club, 260 Portofino Way, RB. (310) 379-8481.
