Sweeping Ocean Views, Summery Cocktails, and Courtyard & Rooftop Dining
Make Tamie Adaya’s Hotel Shangri-La This Summer’s Nexus of Fun.

The Summer of Shangri-La is off to an early start, as the iconic Santa Monica Hotel Shangri-La launches Suite 700, The Courtyard and Ditch Day Fridays. The Hotel Shangri-La, a 71-room, art-deco gem overlooking the Pacific, has fully completed its extensive renovation and is set to welcome the summer sun and a season of relaxation, revelry and rejuvenation. Summer of Shangri-La starts with the grand opening of Santa Monica’s re-branded new rooftop bar and lounge, Suite 700. Designed by famed nightlife entrepreneur and designer Marc Smith (The Edison, Three Clubs), Suite 700 features Nautical Moderne design, matched with sweeping, unobstructed views of the Pacific. The outdoor terraces are cloaked in ocean breezes and glowing sunsets, offering plush lounge seating, a glass enclosure, fire pits and stimulating music and conversation nightly. Inside is a swanky bar and lounge featuring urban flair and beach side chic; walls are swathed in warm gray flannel, etched mirrors and large port viewing windows. Intimate seating is highlighted by a grand scalloped fireplace, glamorous bar and mood-enhancing lighting. Suite 700 serves up signature cocktails and a full menu, and the classic cocktail list harkens back to Hollywood’s golden era; the Ward 8, 700 Rum Punch and Pimms After Dark are served in shiny shakers and tulip martini glasses. Menu items include: Octopus Carpaccio, salted lemon air, smoked paprika; Druken Watermelon, bay shrimp, avocado espuma; Lamb Lion, medjool dates, piquillo liquid. Late night diners will revel, as food is served till 1AM on weekends, midnight weekday.

“The concept of being at the beach while also providing a sophisticated, culturally interesting environment is what I love about this hotel,” says Hotel Shangri-La owner Tamie Adaya. “I see the Shangri-La as the gathering place where Hollywood meets the ocean — a place where you can not only enjoy the ocean paradise, but also where you come to excite your imagination, become engrossed in stimulating conversation while you sip a cocktail poolside, and rejuvenate your soul both culturally and intellectually. The dichotomy of the seaside location and the intellectual spirit is what makes this hotel so unique in a city filled with great hotels.”

Hotel Shangri-La’s outdoor dining room, The Courtyard, is set against the hotel’s shimmering new pool, terraces and inviting cabanas. An extension of the hotel’s famed restaurant, The Dining Room, The Courtyard gives diners a relaxed and friendly environment, coupled with exceptional cuisine under the culinary expertise of the hotel’s Executive Chef, Dakota Weiss. “I’m constantly creating and adding new things to the menu based on the great finds I discover at the farmers market each week,” notes Weiss. “We are creating a menu that fits the relaxed, yet sophisticated nature of the property and utilizing all of the fresh and seasonal ingredients that are at our fingertips.”

The So Cal Farm Fresh cuisine changes weekly. The well rounded menu features raw bar items like Market Fresh Oysters with serrano pepper puree and Grilled Octopus Ceviche with smoked paprika toast points. Small plate entries include the House made Grilled Lamb Merguez Sausage with slaw harissa mustard; Truffled Egg Toast with Fontina. Entrée highlights are the Crispy Orrata, Oregon bay shrimp and creamed corn cannelloni; Jidori Chicken with hedgehog mushroom mashed potatoes/ grilled spring onion. The menu also features an array of salads, sandwiches and three different tantalizing flatbreads, a signature item. The Pool at the Hotel Shangri-La is sun-soaked, warm and inviting. Surrounded by the beautiful art-deco landmark architecture, the pool is the central gathering place for the hotel guests. Whether looking for a quiet reprieve or a chance to spark up a conversation with a nearby sunbather, the pool atmosphere matches the do-as-you-please atmosphere of the entire property. On weekends, the pool heats-up and becomes the place to both party and unwind from Friday to Sunday all season long. Ditch Day Fridays now takes place weekly from 1pm-7pm and offers $5 cocktails and live entertainment. Poolside noshes are a standout at the Hotel Shangri-La. Specialty items include ‘Fancy Dogs’ and ‘Sharable Plates’ like the Deviled Eggs Platter featuring 3 different kinds: Curry, Chipotle, Black Truffle. With its perfect setting, one-of-a-kind pool sanctuary, al fresco dining, spacious cabanas and proximity to some of the best shopping, most beautiful beaches and an array of outdoor activities, the hotel provides the perfect setting and all the amenities; the rest is up to you. For reservations call (877) 999-1300 or go to http://www.shangrila-hotel.com/. Also visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Tamie Adaya Blog:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Santa-Monica-CA/Hotel-Shangri-La/47531116563?ref=ts  www.twitter.com/hotelshangrila and at www.tamieadaya.com