For a city known for its proximity to the beach, we have relatively few oceanside rooftop bars. That number briefly dipped with the closure of Santa Monica’s Onyx earlier this year, but it’s luckily ticked back up as that same space flips into the Coco Club beginning Thursday, April 4.
The new lounge sits atop the Beacon by Sonder, an Airbnb-like hotel service that took over the former Hotel Shangri-La late last month. Now managed by Boulevard Hospitality Group (TCL Chinese Theatre, Adults Only), the seventh-story space has a completely new look and feel, plus a tropical-leaning cocktail menu.
The bar’s name pays homage to two L.A. nightlife destinations from the 20th century: the Cocoanut Grove, which was located in Koreatown’s Ambassador Hotel from 1921 to 1989 (where RFK Community Schools now stands today), and the short-lived Coconut Club inside the Beverly Hilton, which opened its doors in 1998 and closed them in 2002. Inside, birds-of-paradise wallpaper, saffron-colored feathery chandeliers and plenty of Art Deco accents conjure an aura of Old Hollywood glamour. These breezy design elements more than compensate for the space’s otherwise claustrophobic low ceilings and lack of natural lighting during daylight hours.
What everyone actually cares about, however, is the outdoor terrace and lounge, where Boulevard Hospitality has traded Onyx’s outdated black pleather sectionals for lighter blue sofas. A cheery orange-and-white checkered floor adds to the year-round breezy feel, and the lounge now also features a fire pit for chillier evenings. Artisan-crafted rattan stools line the balcony railings, perfect for taking in the sunset and watching Pacific Park’s Ferris wheel light up after dark. Boulevard Hospitality also plans to host late-night weekend DJs who will play house and open-format for a lively, possibly dancefloor-like atmosphere.
In terms of drinks, expect breezy cocktails full of citrus and tropical flavors with names like Coco Killer (rum, coconut, passion fruit, Sriracha agave) and White Lotus (lychee-infused gin, pink peppercorn, lime leaf). The opening menu is designed by Dushan Zaric, the veteran bartender best known for cofounding the New York location of Employees Only. As of writing, the Coco Club is still finalizing the food menu, which will be curated by Chris Sayegh (of now-closed Nostalgia Bar), the chef behind the Beacon’s ground-floor eatery, Layla. Open since last month, the restaurant offers Middle Eastern (specifically Jordanian) cooking with French and Moroccan culinary influences, and—while we have yet to check it out personally—it’s a convenient stop for guests hoping to grab a bite before or after visiting the Coco Club.
The Coco Club is located at 1301 Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Initial hours of operation are Monday to Thursday, 4pm to midnight; Friday, 4pm to 2am; Saturday, noon to 2am; Sunday noon to midnight.