Playful Seaside Style Meets Effortless Elegance at the Newly Opened westdrift Manhattan Beach Hotel in the Heart of the South Bay
From the hotel’s moniker, which is influenced by the westerly winds that famously swept dunes of sugary sand over the Manhattan Beach boardwalk, to the name of the signature indoor-outdoor restaurant, Jute Coastal Bar + Kitchen, that references the strong, raw fiber often used for making nautical-style ropes.
Adding flair? A sun-washed beach palette with an East Coast aesthetic, punctuated throughout with driftwood, pops of navy blue, woven chairs, string flags and water-themed artwork by Sausalito photorealist Eric Zener. A custom Argentine driftwood check-in desk framed by striking wooden columns with metal accents even calls to mind the city’s iconic pier.
Set on 26 acres—near Los Angeles International Airport, the beach and The Point, the area’s top shopping and dining destination—the Autograph Collection’s first L.A. property features 393 guest rooms (including 14 suites) priced from $259 (weekends) to $289 (weekdays) per night.
Expect a mesh of playful seaside style and effortless elegance throughout the open and flowing environs crafted by San Francisco-based EDG Design and local consultant Theresa Fatino Design, including rooms featuring sea glass light fixtures and soft, neutral tones with hints of cool blue, as well as Malin + Goetz bath products.
Look for a communal-focused dining experience led by Executive Chef Octavio Sabado at Jute. Among the most popular items on the bicoastal menu is ahi tuna ceviche (with agua chile, jicama, pecans, pomegranate and plantain); salt roasted beets (with raspberry, herbed boat cheese, pistachio, arugula and meringue); grilled hanger steak (with cipollini confit, oyster mushrooms and mojo verde); and sustainable salmon (with potato confit, braised leek and ash).
Jute also will offer a wide selection of original, seasonal libations, including the Catch Me if You Can (Grand Poppy Amaro, lemon, Beluga Vodka, Bergamot and elderberry spice) and LAX to JFK (Westland American Oak whiskey, Cocchi Americano, Martini & Rossi Bitter, pineapple cordial, Miracle Mile Toasted Pecan Bitters and a dash of sea salt).
Rounding out the property’s offerings is plenty of special amenities and services. Think a CrossFit-type fitness center, outdoor pool flanked by cabanas, beach cruisers from Venice Beach-based Solé Bicycles, a Boards & Brews package including a morning group surf lesson followed by a local brewery tour and tasting, and a 9-hole, par-3 golf course. Not to mention 35,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor event space, including 18 meeting rooms, a traditional ballroom and three industrial-chic venues.
“With the opening of westdrift, Manhattan Beach finally earns a new hotel worthy of its sophisticated surroundings,” says the property’s general manager, Stephanie Bauer.
“The spirit of the Autograph Collection brand reflects a true sense of place, and the mashup of Manhattan Beach between business and beach proves an exciting, enviable muse. Upon arrival, guests will immediately feel that allure.”
westdrift
1400 Parkview Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
310.546.7511 | westdrift.com
Photography Courtesy of westdrift Manhattan Beach