Review of Casa Del Mar, by Matthew Barker

Italianate beachfront landmark whose first incarnation was as Roaring Twenties Hollywood hotspot, before wartime closure. Reopened in 1999 and stops just short of in-your-face extravagance (velvet drapes, Venetian glass chandeliers, wicker-chaired hothouse colonialism and cushions for the cushions - actually lets say it stops just after in-your-face extravagance). 127 rooms (three suites). They say: "Come here for afternoon tea or evening cocktails, where the whole of the entertainment industry seems to congregate" (Harpers & Queen)

Hotel Attractions: The Oceanfront restaurant serves gorgeous seafood; the outdoor pool has a Pacific-view terrace and open-air café (you have been dieting haven't you?) Hydrothermal massage tubs in every room; seaweed wrap the big favourite amongst the beauty treatments, jacuzzi and full spa service available.

Local Attractions: Likes to portray itself as a sleepy lil' ole town, but LA's fast creeping up on it. Away from the (fab, of course) beach, local resident Frank Gehry has left his mark on some of the town's more chichi amenities (notably the Edgemar stretch of fashion boutiques). Must visit the Santa Monica Museum of Modern Art, part of the huge Bergamot Station art complex, and the Craftsman Style antique store, which is a good hunting ground for 1920s originals. The Ocean (for seafood); Valentino (for one of the best Italians in the States); Sushi Roku (for a cheaper option than Nobu); Peet's Coffee and Tea (for…) Can't miss the funfair at the end of the pier, either.