CLOCKWISE:SantaMonicapier;
ArtDecovibesatHotel
Shangri-La;Dialogue’shibiscus
andparsleyleaveswithvanilla
icecream,whitesesame
shortbread;beachsidecool;
organicmarkets.OPPOSITE:
dreaming of beach days.glitzyhealth-and-wellnessscene,in the
pastfewyearsSantaMonicahasthrived as
a diningdestination,withsomeof
America’sbestchefscookingherein
restaurantsrangingfromultra-luxeand
exclusive,kitschfamily-friendlyall-
American,tohealthfocused.Amongall
theincrediblebitesthere’stheunmissable
visittotheiconicSantaMonicaPier,
buzzingwithperformers,preachersand
activists,gloriouslycolourfulfarmers’
marketsshowingoffsun-kissedCalifornian
produceandplentyofoutdoor adventure
options,toworkit alloff.
Livelikea localandstartthedayonthe
sandforbeachsidesprints,volleyball,ora
yogaclassbythewaterwithBeachYoga
SoCal guru Vee Gomez, who runs daily
kitchenettesif you’re
planningonself-catering.
Withfourweeklyfarmers’marketsin the
city,spotlocalresidentsandchefsalike
selectingorganicproducefromtheSanta
MonicaFarmers’market(onWednesdays
andSaturdays).Itsfocusis onsmall
producerspeddlingproducesuchas
heirloomtomatoesin exoticvarietieslike
BlackBrandywineandGreenZebra,and
prettybunchesoffloweringbroccoli.
There’salsoanincredibleselectionof
peppers,aswellaswildsaladgreens,and
gardenvegetablesin abundance– think
Frenchbreakfastradishesandfennel.
Whilefarm-to-tablecanbea phrase
that’sthrownaround,it’sa conceptthat
comestolifein thecity’srestaurants.Chef
DaveBeran,ofMichelin-starredDialogue
andhismostrecentventurePasjoli,hasa
chefsolelyresponsibleforselectingthe
perfect market haul, and it shows on theclassesrangingfromflowtomeditation,
witha focusonconnectingwiththe
environmentthrougha meditativeslow
flowclass.Continuethehealthystart
withbreakfastorbrunchat Aussiecafes
LittleRuby(alsoforexcellentcoffee)
orSydneyfavouriteBondiHarvest
(recentlyrelocatedfromSantaMonicato
nearbyCulverCity)forbreakfastburritos
anda vegie-packedbrunchbowlof
cauliflowerrice,pistachiodukkah,
house-madefalafelandhummus.
Wakeupbeachsideat thecharming
ArtDecoHotelShangri-LaonOcean
Avenue;theperfectspotfora low-key,
easygetaway.Builtin 1939and
independentofthehotelchainofthe
samename,thepropertyhasretained
itsoriginalarchitecturalfaçadeand
classicdesign.Thebreezysuitesare
comfortableandguestroomsoverlook
the beach. They also feature fulldelicious.com.au 135POSTCARD.