New Hotel Hits the Beach in Santa Monica

A storied Santa Monica beachfront building has reopened as a 129-room luxury hotel, part of a revival along the sandy strip.

The Italian Renaissance Revival building that is now Hotel Casa Del Mar originally opened in 1926 as Club Casa Del Mar, hosting swinging parties, dinner dances and gambling for the elite. It did a stint as military housing in World War II, and in recent years was home to the Synanon drug therapy program and the Pritikin Longevity Center. In 1997, Beverly Hills-based Edward Thomas Hospitality Corp., owners of the adjacent Shutters on the Beach hotel, bought it and began a $60-million renovation.

The hotel, at 1910 Ocean Front Walk, steps from the beach, has a plunge pool, Jacuzzi, spa and health club, 4,000-square-foot ballroom, a restaurant called Oceanfront and terrace dining. The rooms have marble baths. All facilities were expected to be operating by today except three two-story suites and a three-bedroom suite, which will open later. Room rates start at $335; suites go for $1,300 and up. Reservations: telephone (800) 898-6999.

A few blocks away, at 1740 Ocean Ave., another luxury hotel, this one new from the ground up, is being built next to Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. The 175-room Le Merigot Santa Monica Beach Hotel was supposed to open in September but has been delayed due to construction and staffing delays, a spokeswoman said; as of last week a new opening date had not been set. Room rates will start at $299. Reservations are being accepted for stays starting Dec. 1 at (800) 926-9524.

The Casa Del Mar and Le Merigot are being billed as the last hotels to open on the historic beachfront, which is undergoing an $8-million refurbishment that includes repaving the bike path, bringing back Muscle Beach and renovating the pergola.