Los Angeles

Concierge.com's insider take:

Shutters feels like a rambling seaside villa that's been plucked from Martha's Vineyard and dropped onto the boardwalk below Santa Monica Pier. Though the beachfront location is matched by that of its next-door sister, Hotel Casa del Mar, Shutters has a much breezier, more casual vibe. The lobby is like an oversized living room, with comfy couches around a fireplace for evening drinks, reading, and sunset-watching. The 186 rooms, while certainly plush—all have Oriental carpets; high, pillow-top beds; flat-screen TVs; and iPod docking stations—also have a sort of beachy aesthetic, with blue-and-white upholstery and white shuttered French doors you can open to the salt air. Some of the dozen one-bedroom suites have their own fireplaces. The bathrooms are large, with whirlpool tubs and a fun assortment of toiletries (available for a price), including rubber duckies. The downsides: Some ocean-view rooms actually look over an ugly rooftop before the Pacific comes into focus; a few others overlook the street or a parking lot. And the small, charming pool area on the third floor is always crowded. A better bet: Head to the beach and people-watch at Pedals Café instead.