WHAT’S NEW IN SANTA MONICA – WINTER 2025
Santa Monica Remains Open to Serve with New Experiences and Offerings
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (February 6, 2025) – Santa Monica continues welcoming visitors with new experiences and offerings throughout the destination, including world-class events, beautiful hotels and fun-filled attractions. Home to eight unique neighborhoods and 3.5 miles of sunny shores even throughout the winter months, Santa Monica invites travelers to support our hospitality employees and local businesses and experience laid-back luxury in an iconic beach destination.
ACCOLADES
Santa Monica celebrates a year of prestigious awards and honors throughout 2024 recognizing Santa Monica as a world-class destination.
Santa Monica was notably named one of Travel + Leisure’s 50 Best Places to Travel in 2025 in their “For Beach Vibes” category. Carefully selected by the Travel + Leisure team for pushing the envelope and delivering unparalleled travel experiences, Santa Monica was recognized by the travel authority for its host of new offerings including Sandbourne Santa Monica, Regent Santa Monica Beach, Sonder the Beacon’s Layla, Snackville at Pacific Park and more as the city commemorates its 150th anniversary this year. Celebration of Santa Monica continued with Forbes recognizing Santa Monica as a Top 12 Destination for 2025, as well as the United Kingdom’s Sunday Times naming Santa Monica amongst their Best Holiday Destinations for 2025. Santa Monica was also honored as North America’s Leading Beach Destination in 2025 by the World Travel Awards, as well as recognized on the Los Angeles Times’ list of the Best Beaches in Southern California.
HOTELS
Regent Santa Monica Beach (Pier/Ocean Ave.) – Luxury continues to reach new heights in Santa Monica. Following its spectacular debut on October 1, 2024, Regent Santa Monica Beach marks a historic return to North America for the Regent brand. This luxurious coastal oasis boasts a new standard for spaciousness, with accommodations beginning at 720 square feet for a truly luxurious retreat including rainfall showers, double vanities and soaking bathtubs. The property’s design includes elements catered to privacy and personalization, immersing guests in aesthetics reflective of the coastal location.
Regent Santa Monica Beach also features Orla, a restaurant from celebrity chef Michael Mina transporting guests to the Mediterranean. Orla presents thoughtful dishes combining fresh ingredients with bold spices for a memorable meal inspired by Chef Mina’s experiences across Greece and Egypt. For California cuisine and a curation of bespoke products, Sweet July in collaboration with Ayesha Curry offers guests farmers market-inspired dishes and delicious grab-and-go items perfect for enjoying on a beach day.
The luxury resort also welcomes visitors to relax with a Guerlain Wellness Spa
destination, featuring 10,000 square feet of luxurious facilities including a steam room, sauna and lounge spaces. From massages and facials to sculpting treatments and crystal healing, indulge in a truly special spa experience with treatments developed by the renowned French institution Guerlain exclusively for Regent Santa Monica Beach.
santamonica.com/hotels/regent-santa-monica-beach
New Desserts and Seasonal Offerings at Sandbourne Santa Monica’s Marelle (Pier/Ocean Ave.) – Located at the newly renovated Sandbourne Santa Monica, Autograph Collection, Marelle welcomes guests this winter with delicious new dessert offerings and seasonal specials. Helmed by beloved local Chef Raphael Lunetta, Marelle presents vibrant California flavors in a stunning dining space. The restaurant’s delectable new dessert menu includes French Cream Cheesecake, Huckleberry Cobbler, Butterscotch Budino and a Salted Caramel Chocolate Fondue for Two perfect for a romantic evening. Guests of Marelle this season will also cheers to special winter cocktails such as the Chocolate Espresso Martini and Cider del Marelle, or toast with a menu of six elevated mocktails.
santamonica.com/hotels/sandbourne-santa-monica
Bento Boxes at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows’ Soko Sushi (Wilshire) – Celebrated Japanese restaurant Soko Sushi at Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows presents their new bento box meals containing a thoughtful curation of sushi and dishes by Chef Masa Shimakawa. Diners at the intimate eight-seat restaurant will experience a selection of sushi, sashimi, yakitori and more with a lunchtime bento box, or visit at dinnertime to enjoy beef teriyaki, Chilean seabass and much more for a beautifully crafted bento box meal.
santamonica.com/hotels/fairmont-miramar-hotel-bungalows
EVENTS
Sandbourne Community Market (Pier/Ocean Ave.) – Enjoy an afternoon of shopping and creativity in support of local businesses and Palisades rebuilding efforts at the beautiful Sandbourne Santa Monica on February 8. With a thoughtful lineup of local vendors, this event is a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community, enjoy the stunning Sandbourne Santa Monica and shop curated goods and treats.
santamonica.com/event/sandbourne-community-market/
Frieze Los Angeles (Ocean Park) – The internationally celebrated Frieze Los Angeles art fair returns to the Santa Monica Airport for its sixth edition from Thursday, February 20 to Sunday, February 23. Frieze Los Angeles 2025 will feature an expanded program and more than 100 local and global galleries including Shanghai’s Bank, Paris’ galerie frank elbaz, Mexico City’s Proyectors Monclova, New York’s Bortolami Gallery and many more. The fair will be housed in a structure at the Santa Monica Airport designed by Kulapat Yantrasast’s architectural studio WHY, serving as the center of a week of cultural events across the region.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/frieze-la
FOOD & BEVERAGE
SELINE (Main Street) – Santa Monica’s culinary scene continues to grow with SELINE, a dining experience by acclaimed Chef Dave Beran. SELINE is designed to encourage a relationship between diners and the kitchen by removing barriers and implementing a service style that encourages conversation. The restaurant’s 15-18 course menu presents flavors inspired by Southern California through a memorable dining experience.
santamonica.com/restaurants/seline
Luke’s Lobster (Downtown) – Luke’s Lobster now serves its famed New England-style lobster rolls near the Pacific Ocean. The family-owned East Coast chain, founded by Luke Holden in New York City 15 years ago, is known for its commitment to serving the freshest lobster, crab and shrimp. At their new Downtown Santa Monica location, diners are invited to enjoy chilled, buttery seafood rolls made with sustainably caught seafood sourced off the coasts of Maine and Canada.
Ghirardelli (Pier/Ocean Ave.) – Enjoy delectable, premium chocolate treats at the Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop on Ocean Avenue. Just steps from the iconic Santa Monica Pier, the shop serves guests velvety hot cocoa and sweet sundaes including a delectable non-dairy option. The location also sells individual chocolate bars and gift assortments for the perfect souvenir.
santamonica.com/restaurants/ghirardelli
Fitoor (Pier/Ocean Ave.)– Santa Monica welcomes Fitoor, an exciting fine dining concept serving wood-fired Indian dishes. In a stunning dining space just steps from the Pacific, Fitoor serves a menu of contemporary Indian flavors with coastal influences such as Tandoori Green Garlic Prawns and Pulled Jackfruit Ghee Roast accompanied by an inventive collection of cocktails.
santamonica.com/restaurants/fitoor
Odd One Out (Downtown) – Craft milk tea arrives in the Downtown neighborhood with Odd One Out, a Taipei-born tea shop serving specialty beverages including Yuzu Osmanthus, Black Rose Milk Tea and Champion Milk Tea, winner of the 2022 Taiwan Milk Tea Festival. Located on the iconic Third Street Promenade, Odd One Out is the perfect stop for a delicious drink and a stroll amongst the shops.
santamonica.com/restaurants/odd-one-out
Galvin Coffee & Bakery (Montana Ave.) – Savor the latest café on Montana Avenue, Galvin Coffee & Bakery. Galvin welcomes guests with delicious coffees and baked goods with a South American flair, including Dulce de Leche Espresso and Basque Cheesecake served up in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
santamonica.com/restaurants/galvin-bakery
Pacific Catch (Wilshire) – Seafood destination Pacific Catch serves a diverse menu of poke, tacos, seafood and even burgers inspired by the flavors of the Pacific Rim. With an emphasis on responsibly caught seafood and sustainably sourced ingredients, Pacific Catch welcomes diners to enjoy delicious dishes and craft cocktails just steps away from the sands of Santa Monica.
santamonica.com/restaurants/pacific-catch
Desvelados Mexican Cantina (Downtown) – Popular L.A. eatery Desvelados Mexican Cantina opened its newest outpost in the vibrant Downtown neighborhood. Desvelados invites guests to enjoy delicious tacos, burritos, margaritas and more in their lively and welcoming space near the bustling Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place.
santamonica.com/restaurants/desvelados-mexican-cantina
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream (Montana Ave.) – Ice cream phenomenon Van Leeuwen opened its latest California location in the Montana neighborhood serving up scoops of artisan ice cream creations. Van Leeuwen’s menu ranges from classic flavors such as Mint Chip and Cookies & Cream to unique offerings like Marionberry Cheesecake and Honeycomb, with an abundance of vegan options and premium toppings to accompany.
santamonica.com/restaurants/van-leeuwen-ice-cream
ARTS & CULTURE
Roots and Branches: A Tree’s View of Santa Monica at the Santa Monica History Museum (Downtown) – In celebration of Santa Monica’s milestone 150th anniversary, the Santa Monica History Museum presents a groundbreaking exhibition exploring the environmental history of Santa Monica. From January 31 to December 14, 2025, Roots and Branches encourages visitors to explore how nature and humanity coexists, and reflect on how the city has evolved with ecology as a focal point.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/santa-monica-history-museum
Refractions: Contemporary Indigenous Art at the Annenberg Community Beach House (Pier/Ocean Ave.) – Housed at beloved local gathering place, the Annenberg Community Beach House, Refractions: Contemporary Indigenous Art invites visitors to discover pieces by Native and Indigenous artists connected to the Los Angeles region. Now through May 11, 2025, explore the modern Native and Indigenous experience told through inspiring works of art.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/annenberg-community-beach-house
ATTRACTIONS
Holey Moley (Downtown) – The buzz on the Third Street Promenade continues with the opening of Holey Moley Golf Club. This exciting new location offers guests 27 holes of thrilling mini golf madness and private karaoke rooms, as well as signature cocktails and delicious bites. Perfect for parties, date nights or group events, Holey Moley invites all to embrace their inner child with imaginative mini golf challenges and even a hole inspired by the iconic Pacific Park Ferris wheel.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/holey-moley
The Splatter Studio LA (Downtown) – The Splatter Studio LA brings a splash of creativity to Santa Monica with its immersive, interactive art experiences. At this vibrant studio, visitors can unleash their inner artist by splattering paint on canvases and creating colorful masterpieces in a fun, low-key environment all while enjoying a refreshing beer or wine. From neon light nights and Pollock-inspired sessions, The Splatter Studio LA offers a unique and playful way to express yourself and unleash your creativity during a visit to Santa Monica.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/splatter-studio
SHOPPING/RETAIL
JD Sports (Downtown) – Get your kicks at JD Sports’ newest location on Third Street Promenade. Whether travelers are in search of fresh sneakers for a jog on the beach or sleek sportswear for one of Santa Monica’s trending fitness classes, JD Sports offers a selection of gear from top brands including Nike, New Balance, North Face and many more.
santamonica.com/shopping/jd-sports
Outlandish (Downtown) – Step into the new age of e-commerce with Outlandish Digital’s premier content studio and shopping experience on Third Street Promenade. Creators will find a host of editing services, filming spaces and more for elevating the content creation process, while visitors will enjoy an in-store selection of the hottest products and merchandise trending on social platforms.
santamonica.com/things-to-do/outlandish
Unsubscribed (Montana Ave.) – American Eagle Outfitters’ slow-fashion brand Unsubscribed made its West Coast debut in the Montana Avenue neighborhood. The boutique’s design reflects its coastal location, inviting shoppers to browse a consciously made selection of clothing, accessories and home goods.
santamonica.com/shopping/unsubscribed
BRIC’S Milano (Downtown) – Italian travel brand BRIC’S Milano joins Santa Monica Place’s lineup of luxury retailers, carrying high-quality bags, backpacks, luggage and accessories for beautiful pieces marked by Italian craftsmanship.
santamonica.com/shopping/brics
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About Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
Santa Monica Travel & Tourism (SMTT) is a non-profit organization designed to increase visitor expenditures, tourism revenues and local employment opportunities through the promotion of Santa Monica as a travel destination. For more information visit santamonica.com email info@santamonica.com, or follow SMTT on Instagram (@SeeSantaMonica), Twitter (@GoSantaMonica) or Facebook (@VisitSantaMonica).
Media Contact
Emily Ohara
Public Relations Manager
