In sunny Los Angeles, rooftop pools are not just for the ultra elite. They are almost the norm. Especially in the Westside and South Bay regions, planners can easily put together a relaxing event under the sun. From Redondo Beach to Beverly Hills, there are numerous opportunities to drink, discuss matters and make deals on the roof.
The only luxury boutique hotel in Manhattan Beach, Shade (310.546.4995; www.shadehotel.com) offers 38 guest rooms, plus several spaces for business meetings and intimate parties, including a sky deck. The hip hangout includes a rooftop pool and can hold up to 80 people for cocktails or up to 50 for a more formal sit-down event.
In Long Beach, the chic AVIA Hotel (562.436.1047; www.aviahotels.com) presents a slew of choices for small meetings, parties and pool-centric revelry. Five meeting and event rooms are available. The 2,600-square-foot rooftop pool terrace can host up to 180 people. With 360-degree views of Long Beach, Rainbow Harbor and the Queen Mary, the setting also includes private cabanas.
Dark, sexy and SoCal celeb in extremis, the Thompson Beverly Hills (310.273.1400; www.thompsonhotels.com) is not for the complacent. It brings a little bit of Manhattan hipsterism to Beverly Hills. Truly a hedonistic Los Angeles venue, the property includes 91 deluxe rooms, 14 one-bedroom suites, a signature Thompson Suite and an eighth-floor Penthouse Suite. The rooftop pool bar presents panoramic views and essentially everything one would expect from a swanky lounge atop the city.
Not too far away, the established L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Hotel (310.278.3344; www.lermitagebh.com) presents a more regal feel. Long renowned for weddings, eclectic gatherings and epicurean celebrations, the pool terrace at L’Ermitage is entirely reserved for guests, unless it’s booked for a private party.
In Redondo, a quick drive from LAX, the Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel (310.318.8888; www.cpredondobeachhotel.com) sits across the parking lot from the pier and the marina. The rooftop deck features a heated pool with ocean views.
