I know the beach town of Manhattan Beach very well. I’ve lived there for the past twenty years, after all, but recently I did something very out of the ordinary: I spent a night in our local hotel, Shade Hotel, and boy was I impressed. Shade is the first and only luxury boutique hotel in this upscale beach community and the owners have created something special. BTW: If you aren’t familiar with Manhattan Beach it’s located 15 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Shade Hotel is just three blocks from the Pacific Ocean. Here’s my Manhattan Beach guide.

If you ever have an overnight layover at LAX, or just want to have a beach vacation in one of the best beach communities anywhere, I highly recommend spending a night (or a hundred) at Shade Hotel. Here are my 10 reasons to stay at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, California.

My Room at Shade Hotel
My room at Shade Hotel

1. Beautifully designed rooms with Tempur-Pedic beds
Shade has just 38 rooms, all of which are beautifully designed. How can you not love a hotel that has Tempur-Pedic mattresses wrapped in luxurious Mascioni linens and offers a pillow menu?

Glass of Champagne at Check-In at Shade Hotel
Glass of Champagne at check-in at Shade Hotel

2. Glass of Champagne at check-in
It’s always nice when you check into a hotel and they offer you a free glass of Champagne.

Shade Hotel Cake Pop
Shade Hotel cake pop

3. Cake pops and Fiji water
Twice a day, housekeeping leaves mini bottles of Fiji water and the best homemade cake pops ever.

Shade Hotel Bathroom
Shade Hotel bathroom

4. Two-person spa tub
Each room has a two-person spa tub by Sanijet. And that’s just the beginning of the romance factor. See below.

Shade Hotel Unique Cyclone Fireplace
Shade Hotel unique cyclone fireplace

5. Cyclone fireplaces
With a flip of a switch, a unique cyclone fireplace will turn on to create a warm and romantic atmosphere.

Shade Hotel Has Chromeatherapy
Shade Hotel has chromotherapy

6. Mood lighting that I had to Wikipedia
Above the tub is a panel of lights—with which the hotel offers a chromotherapy color menu. I had never even heard of chromotherapy so I needed to look it up to make sure they weren’t making it up. They weren’t. According to Wikipedia, it “is a complementary medicine method. Trained chromotherapists claim to be able to use light in the form of color to balance “energy” wherever a person’s body be lacking, whether it be on physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental levels. The practice is pseudoscientific, since it does not employ the scientific method.”

Working in Bed at Shade Hotel
Free Wi-Fi and DirecTV

7. DirecTV and free Wi-Fi
Every room has a 32″ TV and DVD/CD player. There’s also DirecTV and cable so you’ll never be bored. On top of that, there’s free Wi-Fi.

Keurig Coffee Machine at Shade Hotel
Keurig Coffee Machine at Shade Hotel

8. Keurig coffee machines
Every room has a Keurig coffee machine so you can quickly make a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate like I did.

Breakfast Buffet at Shade Hotel
Breakfast buffet at Shade Hotel

9. Breakfast is included
I was shocked when I went downstairs, saw the continental breakfast buffet and was told it was free for all guests. Eggs and pancakes are offered for an upcharge.  

10. Complimentary beach bicycles, chairs and towels
Another little thing that the hotel offers is complimentary Strand cruiser bicycles and towels for the beach. There’s nothing like going for a ride along the Strand on a warm summer day. TIP: Bring a sweatshirt because when the sun goes down it gets cold quickly.

I’ve could’ve doubled this list, but I’m running out of time and you’re running out of attention. But I will say that the hotel design had to be created by a traveler as they thought of so many of the small things that matter to us. I didn’t even mention the sliding balcony doors, the bounty of electrical outlets, or the late checkouts. It’s no wonder that Condé Nast Traveler listed Shade as the #6 reason to visit LA.

Glass of Champagne at Check-In at Shade Hotel
Glass of Champagne at Check-In at Shade Hotel
Shade Hotel Courtyard
Shade Hotel Courtyard
My Room at Shade Hotel
My Room at Shade Hotel
Shade Hotel Room
Shade Hotel Room
Shade Hotel Unique Cyclone Fireplace
Shade Hotel Unique Cyclone Fireplace
Keurig Coffee Machine at Shade Hotel
Keurig Coffee Machine at Shade Hotel
Shade Hotel Bathroom
Shade Hotel Bathroom
Shade Hotel Shower
Shade Hotel Shower
Shade Hotel Has Chromeatherapy
Shade Hotel Has Chromeatherapy
Shade Hotel Free Fiji Water
Shade Hotel Free Fiji Water
Shade Hotel Cake Pop
Shade Hotel Cake Pop
Working in Bed at Shade Hotel
Working in Bed at Shade Hotel
Shade Hotel Direct TV
Shade Hotel Direct TV
Shade Hotel Restaurant and Bar
Shade Hotel Restaurant and Bar
Mexican Corn at Zinc Bar in Shade Hotel
Mexican Corn at Zinc Bar in Shade Hotel
Breakfast Buffet at Shade Hotel
Breakfast Buffet at Shade Hotel
Shade Hotel Spa Discount
Shade Hotel Spa Discount
Shade Hotel Beach Bike and Chair
Shade Hotel Beach Bike and Chair
Shade Hotel Plunge Pool
Shade Hotel Plunge Pool

2 Comments On "10 Reasons to Stay at Shade Hotel in Manhattan Beach, California"
  1. Dubai|

    your blog is very nice, i like information which you share, very well written..

  2. CB|

    These information are going to be helpful for us..thanks for sharing.

Leave a Reply

Required fields are marked *

Recent posts