Get Laid-Back Beach Life in Hermosa Beach

For your summer stay in Hermosa, make it a truly authentic beach experience by choosing a hotel that feels like your own beach cottage. The Beach House Hermosa Beach is a boutique hotel touching the sand between the busier towns of Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. Dining, nightlife and beachy boutiques are within strolling distance from the hotel on Pier Plaza and Pier  Avenue, making a surfboard more of a necessity than a car during your entire stay.

The hotel offers 96 suites adjacent to the Strand, the 26-mile coastal path that cuts through wide, white-sand beaches with ocean waves lapping just beyond. Most rooms boast full or partial views of the Pacific from private balconies or patios. From the sand-touching terraces, guests look out onto the glistening wide beach expanse that provides non-stop people watching with a parade of bikers, skaters, surfers, volleyball players, dog walkers and sun worshipers. Guest rooms are designed with a private “cottage” feel with separate bedroom and living spaces, fireplaces, wet bars, microwaves, refrigerators, goose down comforters, Frette linens and robes, high- definition flat screen televisions and more.

After a day at the beach, reserve a spa treatment in the room or in the hotel’s intimate Sand Spa, convenient and private to guest rooms. Every morning, slip downstairs for a complimentary hearty continental feast served on the outdoor patio adjacent to the Strand for a front-row seat on the lively beach action revving up, from bicyclists and runners to a parade of dog walkers.

Be a beach dweller

Be a local and plan to spend the day at the beach. Hermosa’s smog-free air combined with stress-free beach access mean that beach-going is a cinch in this friendly, casual spot. Hermosa is an ideal place for water fun with breaks to wander the shops in the nearby plaza at the pier. Grab a complimentary beach chair and towel from the hotel and enjoy the antics of pelicans and dolphins, warm yourself in the sunshine and be sure to find a special spot to view each evening’s spectacular show as the sun makes a tangerine-shade drop into the Pacific.

 

Consider a bike ride along the Strand or simply take a leisurely stroll down the shoreline path lined with beach estates on one side and the wide, white sands on the other.  Hermosa Beach is the training ground for some of the world’s best pro-circuit volleyball players, and the city’s “laid-back” attitude allows the novice and pro to play together at the volleyball courts that lie directly in front of the hotel, which is also a VIP “seat” for the AVP professional tournament held each year. World famous surfing spots are just steps away, as well as yoga on the beach. After some beach fun, soak in the hotel’s hot tub.

Laughs on Sunday with Leno

Along with the “sandy” attractions, this lively beach village offers up ample nighttime entertainment, including The Hermosa Beach Playhouse and the Lighthouse with live music. However, the more than three-decade-old Comedy and Magic Club is a must for anyone craving an evening of astounding magic and comedy from a variety of entertainers. In fact, many famous comedians choose this off-Hollywood club to hone their skills. Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Maher drop by regularly, and Jay Leno often performs here on most Sunday nights. Make it a full evening with dinner and a show; the prices are surprisingly reasonable.

If you are staying at the Beach House on a Sunday night, try a luxe stay with a lot of laughs. For a reasonable additional price, the hotel’s “Laugh Out Loud Sundays” package includes two VIP Comedy & Magic Club tickets on the night you are apt to grab an appearance by Leno himself.

Beach eatery finds

Before or after the show, there are dining options to delight every palate – from seaside bistros around the pier to a lingering dinner by moonlight. On Pier Plaza, steps from your hotel, find the newest hot spot in this lively go-to for surfers and surf-watchers, Tower 12. Located on the second floor, the restaurant with vintage surf culture decor and wooden wraparound patio is comfortable and welcoming right down to the shareable plates of California cuisine by chef Brendan Collins. For some Happy Hour-priced appetizers and drinks with perfect people watching, head to Rebel Republic and linger on the plaza-side outdoor patio.

For a more casual “catch,” head to the Hermosa Beach Fish Shop near the pier. The iconic restaurant first dropped anchor in 2010 and has become a favorite for its family- and dog-friendly ambience.  The formula for your favorite fish dish is novel. Choose one of the restaurant’s daily specials and then pair it with one of the Fish Shop’s eight special seasonings and a serving style—from tucked into a taco, in a salad or sandwich or on a plate. Start with the soup made from scratch and accompany your entre with hand-cut fries or onion rings. Enjoy your fish creation on the heated patio, accompanied by a microbrew and a dash of refreshing sea spray.

Take a stroll around town

Almost as seductive as the waves and sand is the walk ability of Hermosa Beach. Within a few blocks in either direction of the Beach House, you’ll discover not only quaint eateries but also surprising art and shopping. Although known for its beach vibe, the city is also gaining acclaim for its novel boutiques. High on your shopping list should be Gum Tree Shop & Cafe, just a block up from Pier Plaza. It’s hard to miss the century-old Craftsman estate, now gift shop and cafe, filled with unique home decor and gift ideas, from pillows and rugs to picture frames and books. Grab a repast of avocado toast or meat pies in the adjacent cafe to fuel your browsing adventure.

Strolling around Hermosa Beach is also a visit to an outdoor art gallery, thanks to the Hermosa Beach Mural Project, with a goal to beautify the city with 10 murals in a decade. The eight murals now splashing city walls adorn unexpected artist contributions at every turn. The mural that captures the heart of Hermosa Beach best is composed of four giant photographs by photographer Bo Bridges. Bridges unveiled his ode to the beauty and athletic dynamics of volleyball in 2016 with images on the south and west side of Hermosa Beach’s downtown Pier Plaza parking structure.

 

Hotel photos courtesy of The Beach House Hermosa Beach

Other photos courtesy of Truly Hermosa