Where to Stay
If your old pal David Geffen’s pad is occupied for the weekend, retreat to the next best place on Billionaire’s Beach. Malibu Beach Inn (22878 Pacific Coast Highway; 310.456.6444) captures the Malibu moment with scenic views of Carbon Beach, in-room fireplaces, and contemporary furnishings made from exotic wenge wood. The tranquility of Cure Spa, the property’s intimate on-site spa, boasts an impressive menu of treatments, while Malibu Beach Inn’s terrace offers signature dining in sun-kissed ambiance, perfect for a casual breakfast or lunch overlooking stunning views of the Pacific’s tumbling surf and golden sands.
Just a 20-minute Porsche-charged drive down Pacific Coast Highway and you’ve arrived at another ritzy seaside ZIP code, Santa Monica. Prolong your respite on the sands of Santa Monica Bay near the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Main Street, upscale shopping, fine dining, and majestic views at Shutters on the Beach or Hotel Casa Del Mar, both members of the Leading Hotels of the World. If your soul is seeking residential charm with worldly attributes, then Shutters on the Beach (One Pico Blvd.; 310.458.0030) resembles an impressive, nautically twisted shabby-chic beach cottage with inviting touches such as flower-covered trellises, cabana-striped awnings, and a notable artwork collection. Hotel Casa del Mar (1910 Ocean Way; 310.581.5533) is a historic 1920s manor for the elite with traditional opulence and stately accommodations.
Malibu’s Blue & Green
Beach Clubs
You’ll find the most powerfully connected social and power elite at the nation’s top-secret societies. Here three-martini lunches and aristocracy rule. For the privileged few who gain access into the members- and by invitation-only beach clubs of the West Coast, more than bragging rights are at stake. L.A.’s finest form these hush-hush enclaves. Lawyers, hedge fund titans, and politicians of status are granted private access to networking, world-class service, and breathtaking ocean views.
Work on your backhand and catch the most spectacular red-gold sunsets at Bel-Air Bay Club (16801 Pacific Coast Highway; 310.230.4700) in Pacific Palisades overlooking Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island. Neighboring its plush manicured lawns is The Jonathan Beach Club (850 Palisades Beach Rd.; 310.393.9245), where the well-bred mingle behind legendary walls. Leave your flip-flops and denim at home, this is the place to seen, and accordingly, a strict dress code stands. Embrace frivolity at The Beach Club in Santa Monica (201 Palisades Beach Rd.; 310.395.3254) where Gatsby types ponder decisions of influence and cut deals over cigars and Scotch.
Golfing
If you would rather talk about the green on the golf course, you’ll want to check out the championship course, drive range, and immaculate clubhouse at Sherwood Country Club (320 W. Stafford Rd.; 805.496.4946) in Thousand Oaks. Known as one of the most prestigious venues in the country set against the Santa Monica Mountains, the club’s 18-hole Jack Nicklaus signature golf course is as private as the beach clubs above, so you’ll want to snag a membership.
Cover Story
July 14, 2010The Winning Legacy of World Champions
