Viceroy Santa Monica

Whist, the hotel's see-and-be-seen all-day dining restaurant, is named for a classic British card game - but its menu is strictly New American with an emphasis on steak and seafood. Guests enjoy their meals from intimate alcove booths, banquettes or tables illuminated by dangling chandeliers. Glass doors can be pushed back allowing diners to take their meals outdoors as well. Cameo Bar, with its mix of vintage furniture and translucent tables, tops everyone's list as the go-to place for imbibing. The hotel has two pools with private cabanas, a fitness center, and massage therapy administered in-room or poolside. In LA it is all about location, and Viceroy Santa Monica gets high marks for its prime piece of real estate. Nearby is the Third Street Promenade and posh Montana Avenue - both trendy shopping areas with celebrity regulars and chatty sidewalk cafés. Of course, the fabulous beach is just a sandal-toss away too. For city smart by the sea, enjoy Viceroy Santa Monica.