The Spa at Shutters on the Beach

The Spa at Shutters on the Beach is the spa of the Shutters on the Beach hotel, at 1 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. It sits directly on the beachfront, with ocean views, which gives it a relaxed coastal character distinct from the more formal hotel spas of Beverly Hills. The mood is light, airy and seaside, in keeping with the Santa Monica setting a short walk from the pier and the beach path.

The treatment menu includes massage, facials and body wraps. Massages start at about $230 and usually last 60 to 90 minutes, which is slightly below the top-tier Beverly Hills spas. The spa's reputation is tied to its oceanfront position and to the hotel's relaxed, high-end beach-house style rather than to a specific regional treatment tradition. Visitors choose treatments by type and length when booking.

Facilities include private treatment rooms and supporting relaxation and changing areas. The main feature is the ocean outlook, and many visitors pair a treatment with a stroll on the beach, a meal at the hotel or time in Santa Monica's shops and promenade. Visitors who are not staying at the hotel should confirm what hotel amenities are included with a treatment when booking.

The spa operates daily by appointment. Reservations can be made by phone at 310-458-0030 or through the hotel's website, and advance booking is advisable for weekends and summer holidays, when the beachfront area is busiest. Arriving early allows time to change and relax. Gratuities are left at the guest's discretion, following common American spa practice.

The spa suits travelers who want a restorative treatment by the sea in Santa Monica. Its location makes it easy to combine with a day at the beach, a visit to the pier or an evening in the surrounding neighborhood, though parking in the area can be limited and expensive at busy times.