Or a hydrotherapy spa on the Riviera Maya where high-tech treatments abound?
Words by JENNY MURRAY and DAVID NASH
A Pair of Sky-High Suites Are Back in Action
Experience life on the A-list by booking one — or both — of the newly reimagined penthouse suites at the HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL, which opened in 1927. Conceived by Los Angeles firm Kevin Klein Design, the two sky-high spaces were once again made resplendent with rich Italian marble, luscious wood paneling, ornate plaster detailing, and a stylish mix of furnishings. With its panoramic views, the 2,100-sq.-ft., two-bedroom, three-bathroom Gable Lombard Penthouse includes a sunken living room with a bar and a state-of-the-art entertainment system. The 2,875 -sq.-ft. Johnny Grant Apartment offers a spacious bedroom, three bathrooms, a living room, a private office, a fully equipped kitchen, a private outdoor terrace, and a dining room. Both have access to a shared 3,000-sq.-ft. rooftop for entertaining. 7000 Hollywood Blvd., L.A., 323-785-7000; thehollywoodroosevelt.com. D.N.
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A Beachy Sanctuary Set on Monterey’s Dunes Gets an Update
Set on 19 pristine Pacific shoreline acres of the stunning Marina Dunes Preserve in Monterey, THE SANCTUARY BEACH RESORT has unveiled 60 reimagined rooms and suites set within its charming beachfront cottages. Designed with a coastal cabin aesthetic by architecture and interiors firm Farouki Farouki, each lodging type has its own fireplace and dedicated beach-facing terrace and is outfitted with handmade furnishings, locally crafted artwork, and plenty of seaside charm. The resort is also home to Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette, where executive chef Nestor Marin serves up coastal cuisine that celebrates the region’s agricultural abundance. And for an ideal way to begin or end your day, visit the property’s new Renewal Studio & Spa. 3295 Dunes Dr., Marina; thesanctuarybeachresort.com. D.N.
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SHA-Ha Moments Along the Riviera Maya
In Mexico’s Riviera Maya, the newest SHA clinic is a sleek temple of wellness that sits among the mangroves along the Caribbean Sea. When you arrive, don SHA’s finest terry cloth robe and prepare to detox your mind, body, soul. Pre-arrival you’ll select among the five programs, the minimum being four days, standard being seven, and surrender to total immersion — a personal reset through diet, cutting-edge medical treatments, and natural therapies. Spanish real estate developer Alfredo Bataller Parietti was inspired to open SHA 15 years ago, along with his wife and two sons, after recovering from his own health problems through these practices. Mexico, which opened in March of this year, is the second location, and SHA Island Emirates is scheduled to follow in 2026.
An itinerary beginning with diagnostic tests and a diet consultation informs the doctors, specialists, and clinicians on how to tailor your treatments (weight, sleep, and stress are the most common issues). You’ll then bounce between analysis (neurocognitive assessment), fitness (VR core training), therapies (transcranial electrical stimulation), and consultations (sexual health). Stem cell treatment is available only at SHA Mexico.
Treatments are intense and will tax you, so to provide comfort and nourishment three times a day, the SHAmadi restaurant is a stunning light-filled room, lush with foliage overlooking the second largest barrier reef in the world. From the three menus, your nutritionist will select and supplement the one that best fits your caloric goals. Breakfast begins with miso soup (no coffee) and each meal ends with tea (no alcohol). The dishes are primarily plant-based, with occasional seafood. But you won’t go hungry, as each course is perfectly balanced, beautifully presented, and full of flavor.
A reason of its own to visit SHA Mexico is to take the waters in the hydrotherapy spa. Guests are welcome to use the whirlpools, steam, and sauna whenever they please. And with celeb fans such as Lake Bell, Liev Schreiber, Monica Bellucci, and Marisa Tomei, don’t be surprised to brush robes with one of them in the infrared. Program and accommodations starting at $5,500 for four days; shawellness.com. J.M.
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This Updated Central Coast B&B Exudes Gallic Charm
With its close proximity to glorious stretches of beaches, coastal wineries, and the stunning Santa Lucia Mountains, San Luis Obispo has been a favorite weekend getaway destination for decades. Adding a bit of European charm, the newly renovated PETIT SOLEIL is an ideal spot to escape for a few days. Located in downtown SLO, the 17-room boutique bed-and-breakfast has been completely remodeled — and rebranded — by award-winning Santa Barbara–based Good Lion Hospitality. Designed by NM Studios, each room’s look and feel varies in color, pattern, and texture, but all include amenities like an elevated minibar stocked with house-made bottled cocktails and local wines, Bellino Fine Linens, Sangre de Fruta bath products, and custom furnishings. Guests can also enjoy a cozy Parisian-style courtyard, a cocktail garden, firepits, scrumptious complimentary breakfasts, and even a curated aperitif hour. Just a 10-minute walk to the town’s best shops, restaurants, and watering holes, this charming oasis carries on a tradition of small-town hospitality that began when its original owners first opened the doors to vacationers in 1952. Nightly rates start around $209. 1473 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo; petitsoleilslo.com. D.N.
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With Two New Spa Cottages, This Cabin-Style Resort Just Went Full Zen
Set along the Russian River, about an hour-and-a-half north of San Francisco in picturesque western Sonoma County, Guerneville is one of the region’s most popular vacation destinations, and for good reason. The former logging community’s proximity to wineries and the Armstrong Redwoods Natural Reserve — as well as its public beach access that allows for fishing, swimming, and rafting — offer a little something for everyone. And now one of the town’s most beloved retreats, the 22-acre DAWN RANCH, has just debuted two new Spa Cottages on the idyllic property. With a mix of rustic charm and contemporary styling, each bespoke cottage offers an outdoor redwood ofuro-style soaking tub, a private enclosed patio with a firepit, a spacious living room with a wet bar and powder room, and a double-sided gas fireplace separating the living room and king bedroom. Guests can further relax by strolling along the riverfront, in the apple orchard, and through the meadow, or take part in activities like scent making, flower pressing, and bird watching. If doing absolutely nothing is more your speed, enjoy any number of customized spa experiences that require very little movement. Nightly rates for the Spa Cottages start around $470. 16467 California-116, Guerneville; dawnranch.com. D.N.
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Luxury Among the Giant Oak and Ponderosa Pine Trees
After spending your days exploring one of the country’s most majestic national parks, relax at FIREFALL RANCH in one of its cozy well-appointed private cottages or villas. Located just outside Yosemite’s northwest entrance, the 300-acre resort property includes 55 stand-alone accommodations, including one- and two-bedroom cottages and three-bedroom villas surrounded by forested hills and meadows. Each dwelling includes a spacious living room, a double-sided fireplace, private deck, heated bathroom floors, and all the creature comforts of home. An on-site restaurant offers a fine dining dinner experience, and the adjoining tavern offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as craft cocktails, beer, and wine. There’s also a general store stocked with sundry items, snacks, and plenty of merch, as well as a coffee bar to kick-start your day. If you’re unsure how to spend your time away, the resort has an array of guided experiences, including hiking, river rafting, snowshoeing, and fly fishing, depending on the season. Rates for a one-bedroom cottages start around $450. 24025 Hwy. 120, Groveland; firefallranch.com. D.N.
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Reimagined Rooms With a View in Laguna Beach
CASA LOMA BEACH HOTEL, perched on Laguna Beach’s iconic craggy coastline overlooking Main Beach, is now open. Designed by Electric Bowery and LAND, the property is a tribute to the area’s history, from its counterculture days to its current status as a haven for artists, surfers, and bohemians. Rooms offer unparalleled views over the cascading cliffs, a showstopping Pacific Terrace that’s one of the best gathering places on Main Beach, and prime access to the beach and the ocean beyond — all within five-minute walk to the bustling cultural, culinary, and arts scene downtown. casalomalagunabeach.com. D.N.
Portions of this story originally appeared in the Fall, Men’s, and Fashionable Living 2024 issues of C Magazine.
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