CELEBRATE MOM!
Celebrate MOM this weekend at one of the coolest spots in Santa Monica! Will it be a “MOM & ME” Escape?
Does the whole family want to CELEBRATE? You can do both!
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Whether you decide to treat your MOM to the delicious Mother’s Day Brunch, or stay the weekend, the Shangri-La Hotel in Santa Monica is the perfect destination to show MOM she’s special, loved, and appreciated.
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The hotel has been around since 1939 and has cool art deco interiors and designs throughout. The original elevator from 1939 takes you up and down from the pool area to the Onyx rooftop bar. Located oceanfront, in the heart of Santa Monica Beach, at 1301 Ocean Ave., the hotel has incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Monica Pier, and off in the distance, sunny Malibu. It’s the perfect location to see and do everything Santa Monica has to offer. We live just over two miles away from the Shangri-La Hotel, but staying there felt like we’d somehow escaped the rush and chaos of the outside world. Everything about the hotel is relaxing, which is perfect for MOM, who needs a break every once in a while.
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A SPECIAL PREVIEW
Santa Monica Macaroni Kid was invited to spend this past weekend at the Shangri-La and experience a tasting of the impressive Mother’s Day Brunch, specially prepared by Jessica Bedolla, the Executive Chef. You too can try everything on Sunday with your MOM and family, just by making a reservation. Brunch will be served at the Garden Poolside from 11 am to 2 pm and will include a complimentary glass of champagne and a beautiful rose for Mother’s Day! A live jazz band will set the mood and lift your spirits, while you’re groovin’ and relaxin’ outside on a beautiful Spring day, what could be better. Every year, this Brunch is a favorite Mother’s Day event!
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There will be a carving station with bone-in Prime Rib Eye, an omelet station, and a cold station with fruit, granola, parfait, salads, avocado toast, and gazpacho shooters. The hot buffet will include Eggs Benedict, assortments of pancakes, pan-seared halibut, and stuffed herb chicken. My entire family tried many of these offerings at our tasting and they’re all savory, scrumptious, and so heavenly. Sip champagne or have a Mimosa, using the freshly squeezed oranges they pick up at the farmer’s market. You will finish up the meal with an assortment of desserts and then enjoy the party. We loved every bite!
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For MOM, the celebration doesn’t have to stop there. The hotel offers a day pass for $25/person to enjoy the hotel pool area and amenities from 7 am to 11 pm. Our family will be getting a day pass over the summer for sure; it’s the perfect pool to relax in on a hot day. If you decide to stay the weekend, there are a variety of 70 individual air-conditioned rooms from 200sq. ft. – 1,350sq.ft. that you can choose from, some with ocean view, some with kitchenettes, one and two bedroom suites, and a penthouse if you really want to have a blast. Service pets are always welcome. My favorite L’Occitane bath products, Frette robes, and deep-soaking Carerra marble tubs make me want to stay for days. It’s a full-service hotel, with 24-hour room service, valet, town car and limo service, and a 24-hour fitness room. Call the hotel for rates if you’re planning a staycation or heading to L.A. for a few days.
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PLANNING YOUR MOTHER’S DAY OR MOTHER’S WEEKEND!
If you do decide to stay the weekend, I recommend coming on a Saturday so you can experience what I’m going to call the Onyx Phenomenon, and if you’re someone who is still young at heart, you will love it!
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Every Saturday afternoon, and only Saturday afternoon starting at 3 pm, the hotel transforms from its peaceful, casual existence to an informal summertime party when the rooftop bar ONYX starts pulling in the Saturday crowds. All of a sudden, throngs of people fill in the downstairs bar/restaurant area and everyone is waiting for a spot to open up on the rooftop bar. Don’t worry, there’s security everywhere and everyone really just wants to relax and have a good time. If you’re like me, you’ll love it. I mean, I’m a MOM, but I still like to have fun! My mother and father looked after our daughter at the pool in the afternoon, while my husband and I headed up to the Onyx for an afternoon drink.
I see why it’s such an attraction, the art deco style of the hotel is carried up into the rooftop bar, with a 70’s disco vibe and mid-century modern accents, and it’s one of the chicest places in Santa Monica. I love the little private patio area with fire pit up there, and we’re thinking it would be a great place to host my birthday later in the summer.
If you’re into seclusion, have the hotel book you on the other side and you won’t see a thing. Workout, relax in a private cabana, sit in the oversized hot tub, and chill with a drink if that’s your speed. There’s no right or wrong, it’s just a great place to spend the weekend.
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The hotel courtyard offers a ping-pong table, bean bag toss area, and swimming pool so the kids will be happy too! IF you don't want to leave, you will be entertained the whole weekend and never be bored, and so will your kids. My daughter loved all the fun things to do.
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Just steps away from the hotel is the very popular 3rd Street Promenade, full of shopping and restaurants galore. Main Street and Montana are also within a short drive or BIRD. The Lobster (seafood), Uovo (Italian), Inotheke (Greek), Manchego (Spanish Tapas), and Air Food (Nouveau-French) are some of my favorite restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
Air Food, home of the very 1st water bar in L.A. is one of our FAV Santa Monica restaurants, so we headed over there for dinner on Saturday. So easy to walk to from the hotel; we love both the ambiance and the food.
If you’re looking for fun, kid-friendly activities, Candytopia, and the Pacific Park amusement rides at the Santa Monica Pier will indulge your sweet tooth and your inner child. Besides those destinations, you can check out a couple of beach cruisers and ride along the Strand, schedule a surf lesson, or check out the murals on Pico Blvd. There is also the Museum of Flying nearby and four weekly farmer’s markets next to the hotel. The hotel Concierge can help you book anything your heart desires, especially if it’s for your Mother’s Day pleasure.
We went to Candytopia, of course, as well as some rides at Pacific Park on the Pier. Finished up the day with a treat from Creams & Dreams… WOW! SO MUCH FUN!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
You tend to get a feel for a hotel by the kind of people who make it a special place. Because we spent two nights there, we really got to know the people who work there and everyone couldn’t have been nicer. It was obvious they love their jobs and were very happy to be in this hotel; for them, it really is a Shangri-la.
If you see any of them on your visit, they’ll for sure take good care of you!
Asar, welcoming and personable, will check you in and take care of all your room needs. By the way, that's not wallpaper behind him. It's men's suit material which was the original wallcovering. So many cool design elements are all over the hotel.
Zane, friendly and congenial, will not only make sure you have a great meal in the restaurant, but he will keep your spirits high with his endearing sense of humor.
Kendrick, the bartender at the pool, is so hospitable and literally caters to your every need. Just an incredibly nice guy and always smiling!
Jessica Bedolla, the Executive Chef, grew up loving to cook with her family and obsessed with being a chef. She later trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles and makes the most out-of-this-world delicious food, which you must try on Mother’s Day.
As if you that wasn’t enough, Adrienne Miley, Chief Concierge and Member of Les Clefs D’or USA, was so engaging and amiable. She literally makes sure your every wish is granted on your stay with the hotel and she’s a sweetheart!
Finally, Sven Norrenberg, charming, virtuous and polished, is the Director of Food & Beverage. He gave us a behind-the-scenes tour, exemplifying his expertise at running this hotel perfectly. He’s onsite six-days-a-week, making sure everything happens harmoniously and with style.
Without these people making the Shangri-La such a special place to be, it might be just another cool hotel in Santa Monica. Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”They really are all amazing people and it was a great weekend because of their excellence.
MOTHER’S DAY PLANS… WHAT ARE YOURS?
Whether you would like to come for just the Mother’s Day Brunch ($75 adults, $35 kids), or book a stay for the whole weekend and experience everything the Shangri-La Hotel and Santa Monica has to offer, you can call the hotel at 310.394.2791 or Toll-Free at 855.649.4400. Or call Adrienne, the Chief Concierge directly at ext. 2032, and she will take care of you immediately. You can also go online as well to the SHANGRI-LA HOTEL.
ENJOY YOUR MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!
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Special thanks go to the Shangri-La Hotel for our stay and the tasting, and to Santa Monica Tourism, Candytopia, and Pacific Park for the tickets. I was invited to share in this special experience, but all opinions are my own.
