There are plenty of hotels around Santa Monica, but few are designed to feel as intimately connected to the sand as this one. Shutters on the Beach sits directly on Santa Monica Beach, blending a Cape Cod-inspired beach-house character with oceanfront dining, residential-style rooms, and unobstructed views of the Pacific. Having toured and reviewed numerous coastal California properties, I’d rank its beachfront positioning among the most authentic in the region it’s one of the few LA-area hotels where guests can literally step from the lobby onto the sand.
Located at 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California, the hotel offers a range of accommodations, from approximately 450-square-foot rooms to larger suites with living areas and private balconies. This size range sits well above the 325-350 square foot average typical of upscale coastal hotels, according to hospitality benchmarking data from STR, giving guests noticeably more room to relax after a day at the beach.
Its dining collection includes 1 Pico, known for refined coastal cuisine; Coast Beach Café & Bar, a more casual oceanfront option; and The Living Room & Terrace, ideal for cocktails at sunset. Properties with multiple on-site dining concepts like this typically see higher guest satisfaction and longer average stays, industry studies show, since travelers can experience varied dining without leaving the hotel.
For travelers considering a stay, the real question isn’t whether the property looks like a classic beach hotel it’s how its location, accommodation choices, dining, and amenities actually fit into a Santa Monica trip at Shutters on the Beach.
What Are Shutters on the Beach?
Shutters on the Beach is a beachfront hotel in Santa Monica, California, located directly on Santa Monica Beach. The property is designed around the feeling of a traditional coastal beach house, with oceanfront accommodations, restaurants, lounges, and recreational facilities.
The hotel’s design uses a residential approach rather than the feel of a conventional high-rise hotel. Its official description emphasizes an ageless Cape Cod beach-house style, while guest rooms incorporate details such as hardwood floors, local artwork, reading libraries in selected categories, and coastal color palettes.
That distinction matters because the property is as much about the setting as it is about the room itself. Guests can move from an accommodation to beachfront dining, the pool, fitness facilities, or the surrounding Santa Monica beach environment without making the hotel feel disconnected from its location.
Where Are Shutters on the Beach Located?
Shutters on the Beach is located at 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405, directly on Santa Monica Beach. The hotel’s location places it close to the beach strand, walking and biking routes, and Santa Monica’s well-known pier.
The hotel describes the beach in front of the property as part of a 3.5-mile stretch of Santa Monica Beach, with a paved pathway running along the coast.
Location on Map:
1. Are Shutters on the Beach directly on the beach?
Yes. Shutters on the Beach is directly on Santa Monica Beach. The property’s Ocean Front rooms are located in its Beach House, which sits directly on the sand and faces the Pacific Ocean.
2. Shutters on the Beach near Santa Monica Pier?
Yes. The hotel overlooks or offers views toward the iconic Santa Monica Pier from certain accommodations, and the property describes the pier as a short stroll along the beach strand.
Rooms and Suites at Shutters on the Beach
Accommodation is one of the hotel’s strongest practical features because travelers can choose between different levels of ocean views and room layouts.
The official accommodation collection lists 10 distinct guest-room categories and 5 suites. These range from residential-view rooms to larger oceanfront accommodations with living areas and outdoor spaces.
1. Guest Rooms
Room categories include:
- Ocean Front King Room
- Ocean View Room
- Partial Ocean View Room
- Studio King Room
- Deluxe Room
- Superior Room
- Superior Accessible Room
The main difference between these categories is not simply room size. Views, balconies, positioning within the property, and accessibility features can vary by category.
2. Ocean Front King Room
The Ocean Front King Room is positioned in the Beach House, closest to the beach. The room is approximately 450 square feet (42 square meters) and has unobstructed Pacific Ocean views.
The room includes a handcrafted California King bed, hardwood floors, a personal reading library, Bluetooth speaker, Nespresso machine, and Diptyque bath amenities. Most rooms in this category also have an outdoor or Juliet balcony and a hydrothermal massage tub.
This category makes sense for travelers who consider the view a major part of their hotel stay rather than simply an extra feature.
3. Ocean View Rooms
Ocean View King rooms are approximately 450 square feet and are located in both the Beach and Ocean Houses.
The hotel lists ocean views, two step-out balconies, hardwood floors, a personal reading library, a handcrafted California King bed, and a Nespresso machine among the features. Most rooms also include a hydrothermal massage tub.
4. Partial Ocean View Rooms
Partial Ocean View rooms are also approximately 450 square feet. They combine residential-style interiors with a partial view of the ocean.
Most rooms in this category feature an outdoor balcony, while the listed amenities include a Bluetooth speaker, hydrothermal massage tub, shower, Nespresso machine, and Diptyque amenities.
5. Deluxe and Superior Rooms
The Deluxe and Superior categories focus more on residential views than direct oceanfront positioning.
Both are approximately 450 square feet, with hardwood floors, built-in entertainment centers, coastal colors, and original artwork. Most rooms feature an outdoor balcony, while the listed amenities include Bluetooth speakers, Nespresso machines, showers, and Diptyque bath amenities.
6. Accessible Rooms
Shutters on the Beach also offers accessible accommodation.
The Superior Accessible Room is approximately 450 square feet and includes accessibility features such as a roll-in shower, lowered controls, foldable shower chair, and lowered closet bars. Additional ADA-compliant devices are available upon request.
Travelers who need specific accessibility equipment should confirm their requirements with the hotel before arrival because room configurations and equipment availability can vary.
Suites at Shutters on the Beach
For travelers who want more space, Shutters on the Beach offers five suite categories:
- Pacific View Suite
- Beach House Suite
- Ocean Front Suite
- Ocean View Suite
- Santa Monica Suite
1. Ocean Front Suite
The Ocean Front Suite is approximately 800 square feet (74 square meters) and faces west toward the Pacific.
The suite is located in the Beach House and includes ocean views, a living room, balconies, hardwood floors, a handcrafted California King bed, a hydrothermal massage tub, and Diptyque amenities.
For someone choosing between a standard oceanfront room and a suite, the key difference is the additional living space rather than simply having a larger bedroom.
2. Santa Monica Suite
The Santa Monica Suite is also approximately 800 square feet and includes two balconies with residential views.
Its features include a personal reading library, hardwood floors, a hydrothermal massage tub, a handcrafted California King bed, and a queen-size sofa bed in the living area.
In-Room Amenities at Shutters on the Beach
Across its accommodation collection, the hotel lists amenities such as:
- Smart TVs
- Bluetooth speakers
- Nespresso machines
- Diptyque bath amenities
- Glass-enclosed showers
- Hydrothermal massage tubs in applicable rooms
- Balconies in selected room categories
- California King beds in selected accommodations
Not every room has identical features, so travelers should check the exact category before booking. For example, balcony availability varies by room, while some oceanfront categories specifically advertise balconies or Juliet balconies.
Dining at Shutters on the Beach
Dining is another major part of the property. Shutters on the Beach currently highlights three distinct dining experiences: 1 Pico, Coast Beach Café & Bar, and The Living Room & Terrace.
1 Pico
1 Pico is the hotel’s signature oceanfront restaurant.
Its menu combines coastal California cuisine with Southern Italian influences, and the restaurant offers dinner and weekend brunch. Ocean views add to the setting without requiring guests to leave the property for a separate dining experience.
2. Coast Beach Café & Bar
Coast provides a more casual beachfront dining option.
The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, weekend brunch, and happy hour. Guests can dine indoors or outdoors, while the menu includes seafood, salads, pastas, and other beach-oriented dishes.
3. The Living Room & Terrace
The Living Room is designed as a lounge-style space within the hotel’s beach-house setting.
It offers coffee, food, cocktails, and live entertainment, with the terrace providing an outdoor setting overlooking the ocean. Current published hours list service from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday.
Can Non-Hotel Guests Dine at Shutters on the Beach?
Yes, you don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy dining at Shutters on the Beach. Its restaurants, including Coast and 1 Pico, are open to the public and welcome outside visitors year-round. Since both spots are popular with locals and tourists alike, Shutters recommends booking a reservation in advance, especially during weekends, holidays, or peak sunset hours when demand is highest. Additionally, the hotel notes that its restaurants and room service team are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions, allergies, and other special requests, ensuring every guest hotel visitor or not has a comfortable, enjoyable dining experience by the beach.
Amenities and Experiences at Shutters on the Beach
The hotel provides more than rooms and restaurants. Its current resort information lists an outdoor heated pool, whirlpool spa, private cabanas, chaise lounges, towel service, a 24-hour fitness center, and seasonal bike rentals.
1. Pool
The outdoor heated pool provides an alternative to spending the entire day on the beach. The hotel also lists a whirlpool spa, cabanas, chaise lounges, and towel service.
Pool seating is reserved for registered hotel guests and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis, according to the hotel’s current information.
2. Fitness and Wellness
The hotel’s Fitness Center is listed as open 24 hours and includes TechnoGym and Peloton equipment. Weekend fitness classes on the beach are also offered, while personal trainers, yoga, and meditation instructors are available upon request for an additional cost.
3. Beach Activities
The property’s location makes the beach itself part of the experience. The hotel also lists a Beach Activity Center with seasonal bike rentals.
What Is the Atmosphere Like at Shutters on the Beach?
The easiest way to understand the hotel’s atmosphere is to think of a coastal house rather than a conventional urban hotel.
Shutters describes itself as an ageless Cape Cod beach house on the Pacific. Guest rooms continue that idea through residential-style details, hardwood floors, original artwork, and ocean-inspired colors.
The Living Room reinforces that residential concept. It combines contemporary art, lounge seating, coastal-inspired food and drinks, and live music in a setting intended to feel more like a communal beach house than a formal hotel lobby.
That design approach is one of the property’s clearest distinguishing features.
Things to Do Near Shutters on the Beach
Because the hotel sits directly on Santa Monica Beach, many activities are accessible without treating the hotel as a base far away from the coast.
1. Santa Monica Beach
The beach is immediately outside the property and forms the natural backdrop for walking, cycling, and relaxing by the Pacific. The hotel describes the local beach area as a 3.5-mile stretch with a paved pathway.
2. Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is one of the area’s best-known landmarks. The hotel describes it as a short stroll down the beach strand and highlights its Ferris wheel, Pacific Park attractions, aquarium, and restaurants.
3. Santa Monica Shopping
The hotel’s destination information points visitors toward shopping areas including Main Street, Montana Avenue, Santa Monica Place, and Abbot Kinney.
Are Shutters on the Beach Good for Families, Couples, or Business Travelers?
There is no single room or travel style that fits everyone, but the hotel’s accommodation and facilities make it adaptable to different types of stays.
1. For Families
Families may find connecting rooms useful because the hotel states that connecting accommodations are available, subject to availability. Cribs can also be requested, and rollaway beds are available in rooms and suites subject to availability.
The beachfront location and nearby Santa Monica attractions can also make the property convenient for travelers who want beach activities without lengthy daily transfers.
2. For Couples
Couples may prefer the ocean-facing accommodations or suites, particularly categories with balconies and larger living spaces.
The combination of oceanfront dining and the Living Room’s evening atmosphere also means that a relaxed evening can take place within the property rather than requiring a separate trip into Los Angeles.
3. For Business Travelers
Business travelers can take advantage of the hotel’s meeting and event facilities as well as its accommodation and dining options.
For example, the Promenade Room can accommodate up to 150 guests for a reception, while the property also offers smaller private meeting and dining spaces.
What Makes Shutters on the Beach Different?
The property’s strongest point is the way several features work together.
It is directly on Santa Monica Beach, rather than simply being a hotel in the wider Santa Monica area. Its room collection includes direct oceanfront options, its restaurants provide multiple ways to dine with ocean views, and its interior design intentionally follows a residential beach-house concept.
There is also a practical range of accommodation sizes. Standard rooms are commonly around 450 square feet, while the hotel’s larger suites reach approximately 800 square feet.
That gives travelers a useful choice: prioritize the location and view with an oceanfront room, or choose additional living space with a suite.
Shutters on the Beach: Pros and Considerations
1. Pros
- Direct location on Santa Monica Beach
- Oceanfront room and suite options
- 10 guest-room categories and 5 suite categories
- Three main dining experiences
- Outdoor heated pool
- 24-hour fitness center
- Beach and bike-oriented activities
- Accessible accommodation options
- Family-friendly connecting-room options
- Residential-inspired coastal design
2. Things to Consider
Room categories are meaningfully different, particularly when it comes to views and balconies. An Ocean Front room is not the same experience as a residential-view Superior room, even though both may be around 450 square feet.
Costs can also change depending on dates, room category, availability, and applicable hotel policies. Travelers should check the hotel’s current terms rather than relying on an old quoted rate.
The property also lists valet parking and other hotel charges and policies, so these should be checked before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shutters on the Beach
Q1: Where are Shutters on the Beach located?
Shutters on the Beach is located at 1 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, California, directly on Santa Monica Beach.
Q2: Are Shutters on the Beach directly on the beach?
Yes. The hotel is directly on Santa Monica Beach, and its Ocean Front rooms are located in the Beach House directly on the sand.
Q3: How many rooms and suites do Shutters on the Beach have?
The hotel’s accommodation page currently lists 10 distinct guest-room categories and 5 suites.
Q4: Do Shutters on the Beach have ocean-view rooms?
Yes. The property offers Ocean View, Partial Ocean View, and Ocean Front accommodations, along with several suites offering ocean views.
Q5: Do Shutters on the Beach have rooms with balconies?
Yes. Several room and suite categories include balconies, although balcony availability depends on the accommodation type.
Q6: Do Shutters on the Beach have a pool?
Yes. The hotel lists an outdoor heated pool, whirlpool spa, cabanas, chaise lounges, and towel service.
Q7: What restaurants are at Shutters on the Beach?
The hotel currently features 1 Pico, Coast Beach Café & Bar, and The Living Room & Terrace.
Q8: Can non-hotel guests eat at Shutters on the Beach?
Yes. The hotel’s restaurants welcome outside guests, although reservations are recommended for Coast and 1 Pico.
Q9: Do Shutters on the Beach offer accessible rooms?
Yes. Accessible rooms include features such as roll-in showers, lowered controls, and foldable shower chairs, with additional ADA-compliant devices available upon request.
Q10: Do Shutters on the Beach have a fitness center?
Yes. Its current resort information lists a 24-hour Fitness Center with TechnoGym and Peloton equipment.
Q11: What are the standard check-in and check-out times?
The hotel’s current information lists 4:00 p.m. check-in and 12:00 p.m. check-out. Early check-in or late check-out may be available depending on availability.
Final Thoughts on Shutters on the Beach
Shutters on the Beach stands out primarily because of its relationship with Santa Monica Beach. The property puts the Pacific, the beach strand, and the Santa Monica Pier within the context of a residential-style beach-house hotel rather than treating the coastline as a distant attraction.
Its accommodation collection gives travelers several ways to prioritize their stay, from approximately 450-square-foot guest rooms to approximately 800-square-foot suites. Oceanfront categories focus on direct Pacific views, while other rooms emphasize residential surroundings and the hotel’s coastal design.
Add three dining experiences, an outdoor heated pool, a 24-hour fitness center, beach activities, and accessible accommodation, and the property offers more than simply a place to sleep in Santa Monica.
For travelers researching Shutters on the Beach, the most useful approach is to compare the room categories carefully, decide how important an ocean view is, and check current hotel policies and availability before booking. That gives a clearer picture of what the property actually offers and avoids judging the entire hotel from a single room category or photograph.
