The Regent Santa Monica Beach has officially made its debut on the California coastline, just steps from the iconic Santa Monica Pier.
The opening marks the first flagship property in the Americas for the Regent brand, which part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio.
Overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the resort features 167 guestrooms and suites, a beachfront pool deck, a sprawling 10,000-square-foot spa from Guerlain, and multiple dining destinations.
Designing the Regent Santa Monica Beach
A king bedroom at Regent Santa Monica Beach
Chantell Walsh of Strategic Hotels & Resorts helmed the design direction of the property in collaboration with Wimberly Interiors and AvroKO.
Sea views inspire the overall resort aesthetic, balancing serenity with decadence to achieve harmony through contrasts. Taking cues from a leisurely Mediterranean lifestyle, the team brought together furnishings and fixtures that maintain a relaxed coastal style punctuated by rich, bold colors and patterns.
Wimberly spearheaded the design of the event spaces, pool area, spa and guestrooms, which incorporate the soothing hues of the Pacific Ocean.
AvroKO, meanwhile, crafted public spaces with ocean-inspired details, evoking imagery of boat sails, Mediterranean yacht journeys, and sandy textures. Framed brass archways and detailing enhance the nautical feel, while yacht-style flooring and a palette of green, gold, and cream accents create a bright and airy ambiance.
Dining options at Regent’s new California outpost
Mediterranean restaurant Orla by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Mina
Guests can indulge in epicurean experiences at Orla, a new concept from chef Michael Mina. The 270-seat space is infused with sea-inspired elements, most notably a striking custom fish and octopus mosaic floor in the main dining room. Handcrafted by SICIS, master mosaicists from Ravenna, Italy, the design comprises 300,000 tiny hand-shaped tesserae tiles that reflect true Byzantine craftsmanship.
The private dining room, which seats 24, evokes the mystique of a deep-sea voyage with its darker-toned yacht wood plank flooring, low lighting, muraled wallpaper depicting ship and ocean scenes, and a custom chandelier resembling octopus tentacles.
The Orla Bar, nestled in the resort’s lobby, offers a sumptuous yet approachable ambiance, while the outdoor Azure Bar captures the essence of California’s sun-drenched days and breezy coastal evenings.
The resort has also partnered with Ayesha Curry and her burgeoning lifestyle brand, Sweet July. Resort guests and visitors have access to its curated retail experience, as well as a café inspired by Curry’s love for California’s farmers markets and her Jamaican heritage.
The launch of Regent Santa Monica Beach follows closely behind the debut of Regent Hong Kong and Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel. The brand’s next wave of openings will include Regent Jeddah in 2024 and Regent Kyoto in 2025.
Outdoor terrace seating at Orla
Ayesha Curry’s Sweet July marketplace and café
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