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There are few things more delightful than relaxing outside on a sunny day or warm evening, preferably on a rooftop terrace with views for miles — and a well-chilled drink in hand. Of course, there are plenty of glorious rooftop lounges in NorCal, but Southern California’s attitude and latitude keep things toasty even in late fall and winter, when we’re shivering up here.
If you’re heading south for the winter holidays, here are five spots to perch.
Sunny Santa Barbara
The eagerly-awaited and oh-so-glitzy Hotel Californian is up and running at last, and its location near Santa Barbara’s Stearns Wharf makes for some pretty epic seaside views from the rooftop pool and event deck. The views in other directions are superb, too, from the Spanish-style cityscape to the stunning Santa Ynez Mountains. It’s no wonder this booming beach town is known as the American Riviera.
The hotel, which made Conde Nast Traveler’s “hot list” and Travel+Leisure’s “it list” for 2018, spans three separate buildings in this popular part of Santa Barbara’s Funk Zone. The interiors by award-winning designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, who also did Laguna Beach’s historic Casa Laguna. That means you’ll see lots of cool tile work, interesting art pieces and vibrant pops of color throughout the property — if you can ever leave that roof.
Not a Hotel Californian guest, but still want to soak up those views? Head across the street to MOXI, an innovative, experiential, family-friendly museum that offers interactive science and music exhibits, pop-up performances and a Sky Garden. Up on the rooftop, you’ll find a lookout tower with five observation lenses, an interactive water-and-Archimedes screw feature called Whitewater, and a solar, wind and human-powered Weather Orchestra. The clear glass Sky Deck offers views of the room below, as well as 365-degree ocean and mountain vistas.
Details: Hotel Californian, 36 State St., Santa Barbara; www.thehotelcalifornian.com. MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, is open daily at 125 State St.; www.moxi.org
Hollywood heights
Sprawling Los Angeles lies just two hours south of Santa Barbara, with more neighborhoods than you can say in a single breath. It’s a place to get discovered, lost or found. But viewed from above, looking down at the never-ending rumble, there is infinite possibility. And there are plenty of sky-high terraces from which to gaze.
Kimpton’s boutique hotel group has two new rooftop enticements in this part of L.A., including The Everly Hollywood, where a fifth-floor pool and roof deck provide lofty views, and glass walls offer protection from that SoCal breeze. The outdoor lounge hosts a variety of special evening events, from film screenings and live music to chef and mixology demonstrations.
Over in West Hollywood, you can take a yoga class on the luxurious La Peer’s sunny rooftop terrace. As part of the Yoga Wake Up, a rotating roster of local instructors lead classes here ($25 per person, free for hotel guests) on the last Saturday of each month from April through September, complete with plush mats and Supergoop sunscreen mousse. A dramatic mural adorns one side of the space, wide open views entire on the other, and downtempo music blends with the beats of traffic helicopters overhead.
Details: Everly Hollywood, 1800 Argyle Ave., Los Angeles; www.everlyhotelhollywood.com. La Peer 627 N. La Peer Drive, West Hollywood; www.lapeerhotel.com
Glamorous glamping
Fancied-up camping is a whole other thing in L.A., where the city’s first urban glamping tent is set atop the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. The large tent, which sits on the terrace of the 10th floor Veranda Suite, offers a queen-size bed, luxe linens, a crystal chandelier, marble lamps and fur rugs. An over-the-top glamping-themed tasting menu is available, as well, with Ossetra caviar, Wagyu beef and 24-karat gold-leafed s’mores made with smoked Valrhona chocolate. And, of course, Champagne.
Glamping not your thing? Last summer, the hotel opened a Secret Rosé Garden on the Wilshire’s famous rooftop terrace to enjoy everything rosé — sparkling, still, in cocktails, in candies and even in popsicle form — and play rooftop bocce and badminton. The garden pop-up closed for the season in September, but we’re hoping for an encore next spring.
Details: Beverly Wilshire Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills; www.fourseasons.com/beverlywilshire