This summer and fall, Santa Monica welcomes a wave of hotel renewals, new restaurants and a rich lineup of cultural offerings. From browsing the new Google Store on Third Street Promenade and savoring a leisurely brunch at Orla inside Regent Santa Monica Beach, to picking seasonal fruit at open-air farmers’ markets and discovering fresh exhibitions at Bergamot Station, the city comes alive with the relaxed energy of late summer and the promise of autumn.
© Shutters on the Beach
Shutters on the Beach, a long-standing coastal luxury icon, recently revealed a redesigned lobby created with Nickey Kehoe. Named The Living Room, the space blends the hotel’s classic Cape Cod charm with an open, airy feel that reflects the Pacific breezes. The result is an effortless, timeless coastal elegance that captures Santa Monica’s relaxed luxury.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel introduced Wellness Grand King rooms outfitted with premium fitness equipment and accessories, including a Peloton bike and a Theragun, allowing guests to maintain or elevate their workout routines in privacy. The hotel also offers a restorative in-room Lullaby Sound Bath for travelers seeking deeper relaxation and improved sleep.
Brunch at Orla at Regent Santa Monica Beach, from chef Michael Mina, presents a refined yet approachable weekend meal. The menu emphasizes family-style starters, inventive brunch interpretations and indulgent desserts, all served in an environment designed for unhurried conversation and ocean-scented air.
Cosetta © Shelby Moore Co.
Din Tai Fung has opened at Santa Monica Place, bringing its renowned Taiwanese dumpling tradition to the beachfront shopping center. With patio seating offering ocean glimpses and a bright, beachy atmosphere, the restaurant blends authentic flavors with a distinctly Santa Monica dining vibe.
Seline, the new concept from chef Dave Beran, earned inclusion among the California restaurants listed in the 2025 Michelin Guide shortly after opening. The restaurant’s format encourages interaction between diners and the kitchen, presenting a 15- to 18-course tasting that highlights Southern California ingredients and moments designed to be shared and remembered.
Fogo de Chão expanded to Santa Monica with a seaside location on Ocean Avenue. The Brazilian steakhouse brings its signature churrasco service, classic sides and desserts, and festive cocktails to a setting that complements the city’s coastal lifestyle, offering tableside service and a convivial dining experience.
Seline © Pete Lee
Chef Zach Pollack’s Cosetta brings California-style Italian cuisine to Ocean Park. The menu centers on small plates, house-baked breads, seasonal salads and specialty puffy-crust pizzas. Guests can dine on a spacious alfresco patio or relax indoors with a carefully crafted cocktail or zero-proof beverage in an intimate dining room.
Santa Monica’s farmers’ markets overflow with colorful, seasonal produce sourced from California’s rich agricultural regions. Walking the open-air stalls is a quintessential Southern California pastime—an opportunity to pick up berries and peaches alongside locals, chefs and visitors while enjoying fresh, farm-to-table ingredients.
Bergamot Station Arts Center offers a full calendar of late summer and fall exhibitions, performances and new gallery shows. The creative campus—housed in a repurposed rail and industrial space—hosts more than two dozen galleries and creative venues showcasing painting, photography, sculpture, design and experimental work. Bergamot also operates one of Southern California’s largest artist residency programs, supporting local and visiting artists through exhibitions and public engagement.
© Santa Monica Travel & Tourism
The Third Street Promenade continues to expand its retail mix with the new Google Store Santa Monica—one of a handful of physical Google stores worldwide and the first in Southern California. The store offers a hands-on environment to explore Google’s latest hardware, smart home devices and accessories, with staff on hand to answer questions and demonstrate products.
Fred Fitness opened its first location in Downtown Santa Monica, introducing an A.I.-driven approach to workouts. The 11,500-square-foot facility customizes training plans using member assessments of body composition, metabolic baseline and fitness levels, delivering personalized programming backed by technology.
Embrace fall with complimentary wellness programming at Santa Monica Pier. Each Saturday through Oct. 11, participate in a group run followed by yoga and Pilates classes on the iconic pier—an outdoor wellness series that combines exercise with ocean views for a refreshing way to enjoy this celebrated landmark.