The Sandbourne Santa Monica , part of the Autograph Collection, opened earlier this summer on Ocean Avenue overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Formerly Le Merigot Santa Monica, the luxury hostelry features 175 guest rooms (starting at $459 per night) and suites designed in beachy tones and textures inspired by the sand and the sea. Famed Icelandic architect Gulla Jónsdóttir, known for her work with the restaurants Esperanza in Manhattan Beach and Palmilla in Newport Beach, has created a ceramic- and teak-filled oasis, focusing on the five senses, perfumed with a signature scent by Bio Alchemy.
The Sandbourne also features an extensive art program, with a mural by Guerin Swing, and opportunities for guests to be part of the creative process. “Art and creation are a big part of the ethos at Sandbourne,” says managing director Jessica Rincon. “We have an ‘Artist in Residency’ program featuring ceramics artists in our lobby and, separately, our complimentary weekly pinch-pot clay class every Saturday, exclusively for our hotel guests.”
There are also a number of offerings more akin to luxury condo living than a vacation destination. Practical amenities include an indoor/outdoor fitness center, EV chargers and ever popular fire pits on the lush, expansive patio. And there is also an on-site dog park, a nightly incense ritual and, most intriguingly, a honeybee hive.
“Sandbourne is designed to welcome a wide array of guests, offering a unique blend of coastal tranquility and a lively city life,” Rincon says. “Whether you’re a traveler looking for thoughtfully designed spaces, an art enthusiast who appreciates our artful aesthetics and sensory-rich experiences, or someone seeking direct beach access and upscale amenities like a heated pool and a state-of-the-art fitness center, Sandbourne has something for everyone.” A new full-service wellness spa will open in 2025 as well.
The Sandbourne Santa Monica’s Marelle restaurant is headed by chef Raphael Lunetta.
The Sandbourne ’s in house-restaurant Marelle was also designed by Jónsdóttir. It continues the ceramics theme, with handmade pendant lamps designed by Jónsdóttir and L’Aviva Home, and produced in Oaxaca, Mexico. Featuring coastal California cuisine, Marelle is headed by Santa Monica native chef Raphael Lunetta of Santa Monica’s Lunetta restaurant. Dishes include hamachi crudo with jalapeño kaffir lime ponzu, Jidori chicken over stone-ground polenta with roasted peppers, summer peaches, and shishito peppers and California sea bass grilled in banana leaves.
The bar program, curated by beverage director Amanda Fewster, highlight spirits from local BIPOC-owned and women-owned brands. Cocktails are whimsical and bright, perfectly illustrated with “La Vie En Rosé,” a twist on the classic paloma, served in a bespoke clay cup with a pair of rose-colored glasses for guests to wear. But in the serene fantasy world of the Sandbourne, it seems there is no need for mood enhancing shades.
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