I went here with a group of friends and basically to get a drink since we were walking around in the area.
The best area to sit is outside or in their enclosed area near the fire. I didn't see anyone coming around to pick up the glasses that were left on the tables except when we left so it seems like they don't clean any of the areas often.
The only good thing here is probably the view and just to drink and chat with friends.
One of my all-time favorite places in Santa Monica!
A perfect place to go if you are a tourist or have friends visiting from out-of-town. Very California-esque. The cocktails here are pretty fabulous too. There is a lavender-infused vodka drink that I love. Their happy hour food is tasty too.
I highly recommend coming here during the summer to watch the sunset. The view is one of the best in the city. Go, go, go!
I love Shangri-La's roof! The view is just the best, and as long as it's not too windy is a fun place to lean and drink and talk and have fun. I love the corner fire pit if you're there at night, but it's best right around dusk. The drinks are decent, the food is suprisingly good. The crowd is also surprisingly fun. I've never had an encounter with anyone who was rude, unlike every other bar in town. It skews older, but if you come with a fun group you'll meet fun people.
Review Source:My date suggested that we go to suite 700 because he must have thought it was romantic.
We sat at the bar. The service is great, I was facing the ocean and right away noticed some of the dirty windows. They should have been spotless but the l looked like they have been through some staff from the previous Friday (we went on Tuesday) the music is Bluh I ordered the Lobster Sliders ($18) that were highly recommended by the bar tender. There were below average. The buns were dry on the inside and the taste was over all very disappointing, I was just biting into some fish and a random sauce and to charge  $18 for this it's a good way to explain the word Chuzpah.
How many nights have I spent here, watching the sunset and sipping a glass of wine? Many!
Great place to go at sunset to enjoy a nice drink and meet new people. I love sitting around the fire outside and making new friends. There are gorgeous views of the Santa Monica Pier and of course, the ocean.
Very fun place in Santa Monica to go pre-festivities. Â Oh and when it gets too cool to sit outside, go in for a more intimate setting near the fire. Snuggle up next to your loved one or just meet new people.
The key reason to come here is to check out the view with the sunset in the northwest and the pier to the southwest. The place was busiest at sundown. So busy, they were understaffed. The patrons were mostly hotel guests on work trips.
The view comes at a price with mostly $14 cocktails. The "Ward 8" with Rittenhouse Rye had a pretty color, but was like a sloppy cocktail I'd make at home when I don't measure because the flavors were muddled. The cucumber gimlet was like drinking liquid cucumber and needed other balancing flavors. Thankfully, we ordered the "Berry Apropos with Belvedere Black Razz, St. Germain, dry ice, berries, and Champagne" which was bright, fruity, and bubbly (in more ways than one) fun.
The pot pie arancini immediately jumped out at me from the bar food menu. I love pot pie. And I've been on a hot streak with arancinis with the bleu cheese arancini at Terra in Napa Valley and an arancini filled with butternut squash and cheese at Trattoria Neapolis in Pasadena. A deep fried pot pie should be bliss. It wasn't. The chicken and vegetable pot pie filling wasn't homey and the gravy wasn't lusciously fatty. Too bad. The arancini streak ends.
The receipt called this place "Royal Lush" instead of "Suite 700".
I was born in LA and my dad has lived there my entire life, but this is one of the places that I love to pretend to be a tourist at! It's definitely all about the view, including the people watching.
I had a friend in town for the Hollywood Half Marathon and we spent a few days on the beach, to round out her trip. This was the last place I took her and it didn't disappoint! Although it was mad windy, we were able to sit protected on the outside patio and eventually scored a seat by the fire pit in the corner that overlooks the boardwalk.
A drink in hand, with that view, a fire and the sound of the waves crashing at night is a wonderful way to spend some time with a friend or loved one. There's not a bad time of day to go - just depends on your mood and how crowded it is. Great reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city below you. I highly recommend it!
I love this bar! Gorgeous (think, string lighting & a view of santa monica) with a laid-back vibe, I'd say this is quite the hidden gem. Located on the top floor of the Shangri-La, you really wouldn't 'stumble' upon this place unless you'd heard about it.
It is relatively small (with an indoor and outdoor space) but not too small whereby it's claustrophobic. It attracts an older yet laid-back crowd, perfect if you want a break from the whole hollywood scene. It also isn't too loud, making it perfect for going with a group of friends to catch up over drinks or to take a date.
Atmosphere aside, the service is also excellent. I'm usually a grey goose on the rocks kinda girl, though, I did have a cocktail here once (which I actually didn't like because it had Jalapeños it in) - However, they gladly took it back and made me a different one (which I did end up liking)
Definitely worth popping by if you're looking to unwind over a cocktail and fresh air!
Best view in Santa Monica (other than The Huntley).
This is a great place to come for a post-work cocktail with colleagues. Â Also, it's a great place to come for sunset. Â I've not been here late at night when they have DJs. Â I still to this place for happy hour.
Don't half step. Â Check out the ceiling in the bar downstairs before you leave.
We went to catch the sunset. We grab the fire pit facing the ocean. We didn't have any service so I went to the bar to grab some cocktails for the group. It was fairly busy; I don't understand why they didn't have cocktail server for the outside section. I asked them to fire up the pit many time, but it never happen.
I ordered some happy hour food for the table. Their happy hour menu is really simple. Just wings, chips salsa, and fries. They've 2 food runners bringing us food, but no server or anyone to check up on us. We left before the sunset because it was too cold to sit out there.
The view is spectacular!
good drink selection but the bar tenders make standard well drinks and nothing that stands out. Â The view on outside is second to none in Santa Monica. Â Come in the winter and dress warm sitting next to a fire. Â Summer gets a little busy. Â If you are staying at the hotel do not miss this location and if you are in the area catch the sunset
Review Source:Had a large group of about 50 people for an engagement party. They didn't give us any restrictions, and were very accommodating. Prices are what you would expect out of a Santa Monica hotel's bar, but the drinks are great! The crowd was good too, good mix of tourists and locals and the attitude wasn't really there.
I've got to make a special mention to the bartenders too, i think her name was Lindsay and she was just great. Very polite, very knowledgeable, and so sweet!
What a VIEW! Â Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Â You could see almost a 360 degree view from Suite 700. Â The apps were delicious! -- the Guacamole was perfect, the fries were nice and crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. Â The wings were great too!
This is a nice place to get together with great company, to talk about your day and to begin a fantastic evening in Santa Monica!
Next time around, I'm gonna make sure to ask them to light up the coals because... it did smell a little like gas/fuel in the area that we were sitting!
Service was great and the drinks were tasty!
We arrived around 4:30 on a Friday and it was already pretty busy. This place is not very big.
It had been very windy so no one was sitting outside. The view was amazing, they have a fire pit, and seating, along with more seating that was in a 4 walls, no roof area.
They have some good happy hour deals. I ended up getting a glass of champagne that is normally $22, for $11. The food looked pretty good as well. The prices here are not cheap. The one thing I didn't like was when my guy ordered a scotch, neat and they failed to mention there was no 12 year, therefore just charged him for the 15 year, which can be quite a difference depending on where you go.
Overall, this place is a nice place to come to, just to enjoy a drink and the view. However, if you try and come here at night time, you might have a wait, there were people downstairs having to wait at least 30 minutes to go up.
Every time I go here I wonder if I should have gone elsewhere.
Last time they were at capacity so I had to wait a few minutes until people left. Â I was dressed casually so at first I thought the bouncer was on a power trip. Â Alas it was a fire safety and numbers issue but still I was miffed since my friend who was already up there said it wasn't crowded at all. Â I only waited about 10 minutes which isn't bad considering it could have been 30.
The food and drinks are good quality but the last visit proved disappointing service wise. Â The bartenders (female ones) were snippy and rude and looked like they had a giant stick up their derriere's. Â It's one thing to be annoyed but to convey that to a customer who has done nothing but ask for a drink politely is not good for business. Â
A round or so was $ 39. Â As I get older I prefer to go to low key places where the bartenders are friendly.
As long as I work in Santa Monica I bet I'll be back here but honestly I would prefer to try the many other establishments than pay as much for drinks just for the rooftop sunset vistas.
Not my favorite place but I love the view. Happy hour is a bit on the pricey side. The chain link fence gives the ambiance of ghetto-fabulous which makes me feel more at home. Kinda that, 80's - mid-90's feel of Santa Monica before it became super yippie. A good place for eavesdropping on first dates too. My favorite? The girl asked the guy what he did for a living. He responded with, professional game show contestant. Hmmm...
Review Source:Santa Monica Locals-
I am sad to say that this place has a bit of an identity crisis. I see this place as one of two rooftop bars in Santa Monica. Â It has an amazing view of the ocean. Mediocre drinks and service.
Suite 700 sees itself as a very exclusive lounge with the most exotic drinks you've ever had. If you're hanging out here, you must be a pretty glamorous person.
I have been here numerous times for different events and have had good times and bad- The good times had help from the drinks consumed before I arrived, and the bad times make me wonder why I've gone back.
THE STORY BEGINS:
We went last Friday night with a group of 15 and were told it would be a 30 minute wait because they were at capacity. Ok cool - we will just hang out at the downstairs bar and spend 15$ on average drinks. 4 girls from our group walk in a little later and BOOM they are directed upstairs where they proceed to take pictures of the empty Suite 700.
They come back down and ask the bouncer why he is "being told" it is at capacity from " the man upstairs" when clearly it is not. He responds that he doesn't know and he's just listening to his manager.
Ok Cccccccccccc-ya we are heading to Makai for good music good drinks lots of room.
SUMMARY:
Not the " Ideal venue to take in Hollywood glamour at the ocean."
If you want to have brunch here ( not on the rooftop) stop and go to The Huntley. ( better view and better service )
Your best bet is to go here on a random sunny weekend for some bloodies or mimosas or during their weekday happy hour
If you want to go with a big group on a Fri or Sat night, go somewhere else for drinks after work and then head over here around 9.
Rooftop bar? Check!
View of the ocean? Check!
Decently priced drinks that also taste good? Check!
I haven't really been bar hopping in Santa Monica, let alone checked out something in a hotel. The Shangri La doesn't seem too super from the outside, but it's a neat little side that looks over the oceanside.
The bar is set up like a lounge and there's seating outside as well. I guess you can also rent out a "private" room outside. At night, they also light up their heaters and a fire pit (which is totally cool). I came after work, so it was around 6pm ish and it wasn't too busy, but I guess it gets poppin' later in the night.
There's no cover, but I asked the bouncer and he said that there's usually a line after a while. Parking is alright since you're near the promenade (lots of structures). I think this is definitely a cool joint to check out again.
Suite 700 was in fact  an actual suite at the historical Shangri-La Hotel on Santa Monica beach. It was later turned into a roof top bar with sweeping views of the beach as well as gorgeous sunsets. Everything about this place screams old Hollywood.
A couple of small historical tit bits about this Art-Deco space: Hotel was originally built in 1939 and in recent years underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, very specific structural items remained the same, which gives this place a very nostalgic feel. Madonna used to live here and Sean Penn would sneak in through the back door.
Suite 700 is not a large bar, but there is plenty of seating on the outdoor roof-top deck. A portion of the deck is enclosed in glass to protect you from chilly evening winds. The inside glows at night from dim lighting and candles. Music is not too loud so you can still enjoy conversations. Suite 700 menu offers a nice variety of small plates with a few full fare items. My recommendations would include: Hamachi Crudo, Smoked Chicken Empanadas and Cheese Plate.
House Cocktails, although hand crafted and creative, lacked flavor or more accurately - good flavor. I tried a few and just wasn't into them. But don't fret, the bartender is very skilled at making your any old favorite.
Happy Hour pricies during the week are awesome!
Even if you do not come here for the cocktails, you have to come for the view!
I don't get to come out to the Westside often but every time I do it's always a good time.
The space is a little small and it's probably more akin to a dive bar than your typical rooftop affair, but you can't help but to have a good time.
The pours and are generous and that's always a winner in my book. Also you get beautiful views of the city and ocean. Top 10 summer night bars in Santa Monica if you ask me.
I'm reading all these not-so-great reviews, and I'm realizing that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Â I did not notice the drab and broken down furniture, or the odd waiters. Â I walked in to what felt like a nice lounge, overlooking an amazing view of the ocean, sunlight streaming in from every direction. Â The dirty martini's were awesome! Sitting outside on the balcony was super fun. Â I guess it all depends on your state of mind, the people you're with, and your outlook on life (making lemons with lemonade). Of course, being drunk also helps. Point is, you'll have fun, you'll love it if you just bring a positive attitude. Will most definitely go there again!
Review Source:The crowd is a funky mix of Westside hipsters and sugar daddies/sugar babies.
Almost uncomfortable to be there, really. I heard it used to be all the rage ~5 years ago, but not so much anymore. The furniture and decor was tired: ripped, broken, or not functioning.
The saving graces: kick-ass female DJ and the beach view.
The view is gorgeous. You're overlooking the colorful pier against a seemingly endless black ocean.
So why the 3 stars? Well, besides the awesome view.. everything else seemed pretty average. The lounge was quite small. Inside is a bar with seats and tables. Outside is an open patio. Drinks are the usual prices you'd see anywhere else on a Saturday night. Music was okay. It's perf for couples on a date.. chat it up a bit with some drinks on hand and you've set the mood.. (only if you're lucky gentlemen *wink).
Overall, Shangri-La gave super chill vibes but wasn't anything mind-blowing. We left within the next hour ready to kick it up a notch!
If you hate amazing drinks (The Cucumber Gimlet), Friendly bartenders (Chris), Beautiful views of the ocean and picture perfect sunsets... Then stay the hell away from this place.
For the rest of us who don't have America, Apple pie & Puppies you need to check this place out. Yes the drinks are seriously over priced if you have 2-12 like I normally do. This isn't a place you spend all night at though.
This is where you start your night off at when you have friends in town or if you need to unwind after spending 2 hours in traffic and were only traveling 13 miles, this place will remind you why you live in LA... Not that you need a reminder!
So... Don't make a night of it just start your night off right. You won't be disappointed.
Cheers,
Hager
When the rooftop bar opened two years ago - I held a large birthday event there; it was a great hangout with friendly staff. Now that it has become popular, the staff seems to have forgotten the meaning of customer service and border on rudeness. We were skipped in line by several parties and waited for about 2 hours and never made it upstairs.
I went to attend a going away party - arrived at 10:15 to be told "at capacity, would be a 30 minute wait" we were told to go to the lobby and our name would be called. Went to check after 45 minutes, where my name can't be found on anywhere on the list - and their only suggestion despite our wait, was to put us at the bottom.
Luckily we found someone else who was going to the party and joined their waiting list at the top. Again, we were told 30 minutes. Cut to an hour later where we go up again, and are told that our group of 5 is at the top of the list but they are still "at capacity".
Here's  the best part.
We decide not to go back to the bar - but to stand near the door man to see what was going on and could not believe what we witnessed. We saw several small groups (1-3 people at a time) leaving the rooftop and the doorman calling groups that were way behind us on the list of that same # ... SKIPPING OUR GROUP. When we asked why our group was being passed up to let others way down the list come up, we were told "well we only have space for three, so I am letting up a group of 3"
This doorman was saying only way we were going up was if a group of exactly 5 decided to leave?????????????
Besides that we saw several friends of the doorman attempt to go up, only to be stopped when they realized we were standing there watching.
We waited to midnight and left without ever making it up to the going away party. SO DISAPPOINTED with this place. I used to recommend it but now I will never return.
on a side note: I was told by the party host that they tried to reserve tables because of the large amount attending, and was told 'we do not take reservations ' - only to arrive and be told by management "you should have called us and made a reservation"
From the bottom up the stupidity of this hotel is unbelievable.
I wish I had something nice to say about the rooftop bar at Shangri-La but, unfortunately, I don't - and I've even given the place several chances. The idea of a rooftop bar with views and a trendy vibe are very appealing and definitely characteristics to leverage, but all the negatives from my experiences completely overshadow them.
The first time I went was with eight girls. We were made to wait downstairs for almost an hour before we were let up the elevator to the bar. Not to sound cocky, but a group of attractive girls hardly ever waits to get into a club or bar. (We only stuck around that long because we had friends already up there.)
The rooftop bar and corresponding patio are small and cramped. The doorway and walkway out to the patio are narrow and get congested easily. The bartenders are rude and very inattentive. The drinks are outrageously priced, even for LA - nearly $10 for a bottled beer!
Needless to say, after that visit, I wasn't a fan. But I gave it another chance when some friends were in town visiting. On a Thursday night the place was dead, so obviously we didn't have to wait and the small space wasn't crowded. The bartenders were still rude, though, and the drinks were still overpriced. What made this visit especially bad was when I leaned up against the wall outside while talking to a friend. My leg briefly touched one of the floor lights (a light bulb encased in a metal cover, lighting the walkway), and it was scalding hot. I cried out and told my friends what happened.
I didn't realize the severity of the burn until the next day, when I noticed a 3-inch long red burn on my shin. The light had given me a second-degree burn that blistered over and took a couple weeks to heal with Neosporin and Mederma. Today, I have a light-colored scar on my leg. I went back to Shangri-La after seeing how bad it was, and spoke to the bar manager. He was very apologetic, but all he offered was "Do you need some ointment?" Seriously?! He also said I could file a report with security if I wanted, but by then it seemed more like a hassle that would lead to nothing.
I told him to have maintenance fix the light since it's a huge safety hazard and liability, and then went on my way. He's lucky I'm not the type of person to pursue legal action. I just hope they fix it for the sake of other visitors.
I've been reluctant to Yelp about this place because I want to keep it all to myself... but the secret is out. The rooftop bar at the Shangri-La is amazing. Great views of the SM beach, fire pits... they even brought us blankets when (in passing) I mentioned "I'm chilly!" to some friends!
The cocktails are very well-crafted. I recommend the Santa Fe, NM for an unexpected combination of apricot and jalapeño. The music is cool (whether it's DJ or no DJ), and the vibe is upscale yet laid-back - but it is a bit dressy. Think Miami deco with a little bit of LA Noir. Great seating areas. Heated smoking patio. There's a mix of tourists and locals (um, it is at a HOTEL), but everyone is fairly friendly. A great go-to-spot to chill and end the week!
It's a nice place, but the staff (and my guess is management as well) don't seem to know what they're doing.
I arrived with a group of friend and we were told they were at capacity, which I understand. We could have left but they told us it would be 30 minute wait, so we thought "hey why not, it's not that long" and the bar downstairs was pretty nice to wait also.
First problem: we waited about 20 minutes to get somebody to come over to get our drinks order (the place was packed with people waiting to get to the roof).
Then, 20 minutes after that, we still haven't gotten our drinks and the place is now empty. I go ask the hostess who put my name on the waiting list and she replies "oh, sorry, I forgot about you". Seriously? I mean it's already bad that she did, but she could have lied to make it sound better...
But we waited this long, now that we got the ok to go upstairs, we won't leave.
The actual rooftop is nice but it was very, very far from capacity. Our little group of 5 could have easily be cleared earlier since I didn't notice a crowd leaving just before we got the ok.
Drinks a bit pricey, but hey, that was expected.
The only plus is for a security guard who was really friendly and tried to get one of the heat lamps to work for our little group when it started getting chilly.
Sure, the drinks are a bit pricey, but not THAT expensive, considering it's in such a high-rent district. They cost what you'd expect them to.
The great thing about this place is I felt as though I could be anywhere in the world. It has such a cosmopolitan vibe, without even trying. It's nice, but nothing particularly fancy nor obviously special, really. Yet there is something about it that made it easy to imagine that I was in a rooftop bar in Tokyo. And Amsterdam. And Hong Kong. And New York. And Barcelona. And Santa Monica/Los Angeles. That was kind of cool.
Review is long over due but I had a fabulous joint birthday party here with hottie Amy C and around 25 of our friends. I really didn't know what to expect since I didn't get a chance to visit the rooftop bar before the event but I really couldn't ask for more in a venue:
- an outdoor heated patio plus an indoor lounge/bar with a fireplace
- panoramic view of the ocean and the pier
- friendly and fast bartenders
- friendly bouncers
- dinner/bar menu
- awesome event manager (ask for Jess Park if you're planning an event)
- dj, who refused to play Lady Gaga...
- no cover but do expect to wait in line if you get there around 10pm on a Saturday (5-10 min wait) Â
- the venue isn't that big but we booked early so there was plenty of seating for all our guests
This is such an ideal spot to get together with friends, a date or those visiting from out of town. I had a very memorable birthday with great drinks, delicious Enjoy cupcakes, close friends and family and many lovely photos by Kwiri to prove it! ;) I heart you all for making it such a special day!
OMG! Ninja waited in line to get in somewhere NAGL SMH =(
The friends we came to meet were already inside and the lounge was at capacity so we had to wait a bit before we could get in. Â But there's no cover and we didn't have to wait too long so it was okay.
View is amazing, nice intimate glow within, drinks are decent, bar is fast, and bartenders are nice eye candy as well as most of the people that came that night.
Good times and new friends...just what I was looking for in my first night out down here. =)
I'm a little conflicted by this place. Â On one hand I love love love the location and view, but on the other it seems like they are still working out the kinks on the bar and food side. Â The rooftop bar has the best view, but the bar selection is limited mostly to ingredients in their expensive specialty drinks, so you can't get some of the basics you would usually expect (but they do have everything down at the pool bar). Â Their mixologists definitely know their stuff, but several of them are moody and dour, and seem uninterested in being helpful. Â I just felt they were annoyed by my questions.
You are probably wondering why I still go there, and it is definitely due to the location and view. Â Overall I prefer the pool bar which has better service, drink selections and menu (the two locations offer different food as well). Â So if you don't mind not seeing the ocean, go there instead. Â It is also more roomy, has great music and fire pits and heat lamps make it very comfortable at night.
Admittedly, I did not expect to like this place. Â Perhaps that's why I've avoided it up until last weekend. Â But I do try and force myself to try venues that superficially appear to exist outside my comfort level; so on Saturday I found myself on an elevator up to the rooftop lounge at Shangri-La.
The space is a bit more intimate than I had envisioned, with the main bar enclosed in a penthouse lounge; exterior to that is an outdoor patio area with two fire pits and a killer view of the Pacific Ocean (provided the marine layer hasn't set in).
At the bar, my friend and I were greeted by the bartender Alex.  He is not what I would have expected at all for the Shangri-La bartender.  Alex possessed a  warm, welcoming demeanor that seemed more in place at a local neighborhood dive bar than a Santa Monica rooftop lounge. Â
He asked me what my favorite spirit was, and I said a bit condescendingly, "I doubt you would have it here." Â He challenged me to try him, and I revealed to him that absinthe was my spirit of choice.
"Yeah, we have absinthe here!" Â Slightly surprised, I immediately assumed the absinthe they carried was the promotional case of Le Tourment bars usually have on hand. Â Again, he surprised me by saying that St. George was the brand they carried.
At this point, I was done being condescending, and opened my mind to the possibility that Alex knew a little something about something. Â He offered to make me an absinthe cocktail, which I normally am very much against; but in this case, Alex had earned my trust enough to follow his recommendation of a Death in the Afternoon. Â It was, quite surprisingly, phenomenal. Â Champagne, absinthe, and and, I want to say blackberry juice...I had two that night (with a glass of traditionally prepared absinthe inbetween). Â
Other cocktails I enjoyed included his version of a Manhattan, a cucumber based drink and something exceptionally spicy that burned on the lips just long enough to be pleasant at my level of intoxication.
I don't know if my experience is typical, but I seriously doubt that, as long as Alex is behind the bar, it will be my last visit to the rooftop bar at Shangri-La.
*** I really like this joint, I do. Â I just wish ... ***
Well, I wish it wasn't in SaMo. (muhahahaha)
This place is special! Â You take the ole styled
elevator to the penthouse level ... you step out
into an art deco lounge ... dimly lit (mostly with
red accent lighting) ... completely stocked bar ...
one waitress who serves from an alluring menu ...
fireplace near the DJ spinning smooth tunes ... and
a rooftop deck with obscenely beautiful ocean views.
*** But I am sorry, SaMo @ night is boring. (urgh) ***
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