Southern California’s South Bay offers fantastic luxury hotels and vacation rentals that can cater to even the most discerning traveler. Steps from the beach or a cute beach town, these luxury hotels offer guests an inviting upscale environment to relax, rejuvenate, and soak up the sun.
The South Bay starts in Westchester, located on the north side of the Los Angeles International Airport, and runs south along the bay through El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, and neighboring inland cities. These seaside communities each have their own personality and are worth exploring individually.
I have lived in the South Bay for over 15 years and have ridden my bike past the Beach House Hotel at Hermosa countless times. Recently, I was invited to stay at the Beach House Hotel close to Hermosa Pier and my experience far surpassed my expectations. I stayed in a beachfront room which was fantastic.
Guestrooms
Each of the 96 large studio suites offers a divided bedroom and a living space, a king-size bed with Frette linens, a kitchenette, and a fireplace.
The bathrooms include a large soaking tub as well as a shower with some of my favorite Aveda bath products. The rooms are extremely comfortable and feel like a home away from home. Each room has a balcony or patio and the majority of the rooms overlook one of the most popular beaches in Southern California. Plus, you can see the ocean from your bed!
Reasons to Stay
The beachfront balconies at the Beach House literally overlook the beach. You can watch visitors and locals walk, ride their bikes, sunbathe, surf, and play volleyball. About half a block away, Pier Avenue offers numerous bars, mouthwatering restaurants, and local boutique shops.
Guests have access to free beach chairs and towels. Also, you can order a bucket of local beer and relax on your balcony. If you prefer to be part of the action, you can head to the beach!
Guests can also rent a bike at Hermosa Cyclery around the corner at a discount. You can ride a few blocks or take the 26-mile bike path through the South Bay into Santa Monica. The nearby activities are limitless, and the location is perfect.
The location of the Beach House Hotel combined with its luxury accommodations earns it a spot on my list of SoCal’s best luxury hotels.
Other Popular Hotels in Hermosa Beach
In addition to the Beach House, other popular Hermosa Beach hotels include Hotel Hermosa and the Sea Sprite. You can also consider a VRBO in Hermosa Beach.
Shade, the premier luxury boutique hotel in Manhattan Beach, effortlessly blends the South Bay’s beach life with a chic coastal vibe. The natural touches throughout the hotel encourage visitors to find balance, harmony, and spiritual well-being.
Shade Hotel is a go-to Manhattan Beach hotel recommendation for friends and family the South Bay. It’s in the heart of Manhattan Beach, the rooms are luxurious, and it’s just 3 blocks from the pier and ocean!
Guestrooms
Shade has 38 luxurious guestrooms, including five suites. Each guestroom features a California King size TerpurPedicTM bed, linens by Mosconi, a multifunctional rolling desk (for those who have to work on vacation or need a change of scenery), chromatherapy lighting for customizable color settings, and a separate shower and SanijetTM spa tub. The premium toiletries from Anderson Lily have a special scent for Shade Manhattan Beach. Most rooms also include a spacious balcony. Some rooms even have a Heat & Glo Cyclone fireplace.
Reasons to Stay
The open hotel corridors provide a sought-after indoor-outdoor feel. Shade’s rooftop Skydeck is an oasis where guests will find a relaxation pool, bar, and the option for a massage. For those who like to stay fit, Shade Hotel offers free yoga. In addition, it has partnered with a preferred gym in town (Equinox) to meet all of your workout needs.
A range of free special amenities are offered to guests. Guests can take a beach cruiser out for a ride to see more of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.
Plus, Shade Hotel has a pillow library. How cool is that? Pick your perfect pillow and drift off into a peaceful night’s sleep. Shade Hotel is also environmentally conscious. In exchange for guests forgoing housekeeping during their stay, Shade Hotel will arrange for a tree to be planted through Plant with Purpose.
Dining
To top off your experience at Shade Manhattan Beach, head downstairs to Zinc@Shade Lounge & Bar. The trendy restaurant and bar are extremely popular with locals because of the tasty food and upscale bar scene. Or check out these other delicious Manhattan Beach restaurants just a short walk away.
- Pro Tip: Shade Hotel has special offers for their stay packages to meet everyone’s needs. Check out the hotel packages before booking your stay.
Additional Hotels in Manhattan Beach
If you are working with a smaller budget, you can also check out the following hotels in Manhattan Beach: Belmar Hotel, Sea View Inn, or Marriott Westdrift.
Manhattan Beach Vacation Rentals
Short-term vacation rentals in Manhattan Beach are also availalbe. There are several luxurious properties in the area.
For example, there is a terrific rental property in the sand section of Manhattan Beach that features panoramic ocean views from Catalina to Malibu and is a short walk to the beach!
This three-bedroom, 3.5-bath Italian-inspired property sleeps up to six people and has one king bed and two queen beds.
Plus, this property is within walking distance of local shops and restaurants.
If you are looking for a large property, VRBO has several additional luxury listings in all different sizes to fit your needs from Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach.
Terranea Resort is one of the best luxury hotels in SoCal’s South Bay. The resort is located on Palos Verdes Peninsula, one of Southern California’s most scenic coastlines. The resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. The Mediterranean-inspired resort spans 102-acres, with 582 guestrooms and suites (including ocean view casitas, villas and bungalows).
Guestrooms
Many of the guestrooms have ocean and pool views. The guestrooms are large and feature a separate tub and shower, L’Occitane bathroom amenities, and some rooms include premium touches such as hardwood floors, granite countertops, and indoor and outdoor fireplaces.
Reasons to Stay
The resort amenities and services include an award-winning full-service spa with 25 treatment rooms and 25,000 square feet of outdoor space (including a separate pool), an award-winning golf course, a fitness center with yoga and Pilates, three additional swimming pools (one with 140-foot waterslide and two adult pools), and an ecological enrichment program.
Terranea Resort is a destination resort, but also popular with those living in Los Angeles looking for a staycation. There are so many exciting adventures guests can experience at Terranea Resort. To name a few, guests can go ocean kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, explore a tide pool, or hiking in one of the nearby reserves.
Families also flock to Terranea Resort to take advantage of the large variety of activities for kids. Parents often use the opportunity to go on an adventure themselves or just relax by one of the four pools.
Dining at Terranea Resort
The dining experience at Terranea Resort is also another draw for visitors and locals alike. During the summer months, Terranea has a concert series by Nelson’s overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I usually go to at least one concert every summer to listen to live music as the sun goes down and enjoy a drink and dinner with friends. The summer concert series is a unique experience that I highly recommend. For fine dining, Mar’sel provides an elegant environment with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop.
- Pro Tips: I would suggest a room facing the ocean instead of the pool area for optimal views and a quieter experience. In addition, don’t forget to take advantage of some of the resort’s complimentary activities such as seaside yoga or take a drive along the coast with one of the Lexus cars available for a test drive.
Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach provides sweeping views of the Pacific coastline from Palos Verdes to Malibu and seamlessly integrates a relaxed coastal vibe with sophisticated luxury. Located on the Redondo Beach King Harbor waterfront, guests are treated to idyllic scenery overlooking the marina. Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach is so popular with travelers that it won the 2020 Condé Nast Readers Choice Award.
Guestrooms
The hotel offers 54 luxurious and spacious guestrooms with large oversized TerpurPedicTM beds and Mascioni linens. The bathrooms provide a personal spa experience with large spa showers, and some of the rooms even have a soaking tub on the deck. Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach also provides guests with Anderson Lily toiletries.
Reasons to Stay
Guests can take advantage of the marina views and numerous nearby harbor activities. Popular activities include paddle-boarding, whale watching adventures, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, and more. Visitors can borrow a beach cruiser and go for a ride on the Strand or take a short walk to Redondo Beach Pier.
Another terrific feature at Shade Hotel in Redondo Beach is the Aquadeck. The rooftop pool boasts stunning views from Palos Verdes to Malibu, a bar, private cabanas, fire pits, and upscale stylish pool parties in the summer months. For those who enjoy exercising on vacation, Shade offers yoga and spinning on the sun deck and you can even get a spin bike delivered to your hotel room. Talk about fantastic room service!
Dining
The restaurant – Sea Level – offers a wide variety of wonderful cuisine. I’ve had several delicious meals at Sea Level. I suggest eating at one of the firepits outside to take advantage of the ambiance and ocean breeze!
- Pro Tip: As a guest of the hotel, you can enjoy a three-course meal with wine pairing on your deck overlooking the marina at sunset!
Other Popular Redondo Beach Hotels
In addition to Shade Redendo Beach, there are several other hotel options in the area, including the Portofino and the Redondo Beach Hotel, a Hilton Hotel.
Vacation Rentals in Redondo Beach
If you need more space or would prefer a home, there are several Redondo Beach vacation rental options.
I hope you enjoyed this round-up of the best luxury hotels and vacation rentals in Southern California’s South Bay. If you are considering a road trip, check out my tips for planning a road trip and my road trip essentials before hitting the road.
Don’t forget to check out my guide to Manhattan Beach, the best restaurants in Manhattan Beach, and the best things to do in the South Bay.
If you are looking for another road trip destination in California, I recommend visiting La Jolla, driving the Pacific Coast Highway, or staying a couple of days in Yosemite Valley.
Remember to stay safe and healthy!
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I love the look & feel of the Terranea Resort, but that pool at the Shade Hotel is calling my name too! So dreamy.
Amazing properties. Each one looks so beautiful.
These are great recommendations! My son in law is a marine at Camp Pendleton and we are hoping to visit the area later this year.
Wonderful! I thank your son for his service. If you have any questions about the South Bay, feel free to email me.
Looks like great places to stay near the beach. Ready to travel. Great info and pictures.
Thanks!
These are all amazing, it would be hard to choose! I do love the California coast and a beachfront (or view) room is a must!
I totally agree!
These all look so nice! And warm and sunny! I would love to sit out on one of the decks and look out onto the ocean. Thank you for all of the details.
You’re welcome, Denise!
Thanks for sharing these great places. All look wonderful but I have to say I would love to stay at the Shade in Manhattan. My friend use to live in the area and it is so beautiful. Will have to look into the next time we are in So Cal (who knows when that will be right now 🙁 ). Gorgeous pics btw.
Thanks so much! Shade in Manhattan Beach is a wonderful property and conveniently located in downtown Manhattan Beach. I hope everyone gets to travel freely soon and you can enjoy our little slice of heaven here in the South Bay.
As a travel planner (who hasn’t been anywhere since 2019 – thanks Covid!), I’m always looking for unique places to visit or send clients. This looks pretty amazing. Will have to do more research for sure.
The South Bay is a hidden gem! Feel free to e-mail me with any questions.