Looking for a comfortable yet classy location to meet up with friends in Santa Monica and watch the sun go down behind the crashing waves? 

Your search can stop because Suite 700 is your answer, the perfect blend of elegance and comfort to suit your needs and a view to match.

Shangri-la is a word often used to describe a paradise, and Suite 700 lives up to the title. The Shangri-la hotel is located on the corner of Arizona and Ocean, within walking distance of the beach and the 3^rd street promenade. Suite 700, the swanky bar located in the penthouse of the hotel does the perfect job of combining luxury with the more laid-back casual vibe one would expect to find at a rooftop bar. When you enter the Shangri-La hotel you walk through a small lobby area to the main elevators, which take occupants up to the penthouse. Suite 700 combines both an indoor and outdoor area as well as fire pits and heaters that keep you warm on windy nights. 

Once it gets dark, the indoor area is filled with warm light and the outdoor area is filled with twinkling strings of lights overhead creating the perfect ambiance. Their doors open at 4pm so it is a great place to go and grab a few drinks before getting a start on your night out or to relax after a long day at school or work. There is a full-service bar that has an extensive selection of beers, wines as well as a menu including food and specialty cocktails. 

Shaida Primm, a UCLA senior at Suite 700, raved about the bar’s Bloody Mary mix saying, “It’s the perfect amount of spicy and altogether delicious.” 

The drinks are delicious, but what really stands out about this place is their outdoor seating area. Plush couches and chairs are sprawled across the rooftop and the area primarily overlooks the crashing waves and to the left the Santa Monica pier can be spotted in the distance. There are plenty of comfortable areas to sit or stand and watch the sun set over the beautiful Pacific Ocean—perfect for a date, drinks with friends and ideal for the ultimate photo-op, especially if it’s been a while since you posted an instagram! 

True to the typical nightlife in Santa Monica the place will be a lot more crowded and a bit more lively Thursday through Saturday nights than it is on the other weekdays. During the week, the vibe has a much lower energy and the outdoor area consists of casual get-togethers or business professionals unwinding after work. However on the weekends the bar has a DJ that plays upbeat music and the place turns into a hangout for a much younger and more trendy crowd. 

The location and the vibe are what draws most people to this bar, and in my experience, it never disappoints. The dress code is very loose and anything from your clubbing outfit for later in the evening to jeans and sandals is acceptable attire. 

If you do arrive during the weeknights be sure to check out the amazing happy hour they offer Monday through Thursday between 5P.M. and 7P.M. which includes a selection of food items from their menu as well as discounted beers, wines, and well cocktails for just five or six dollars each. This bar is the ideal place to watch the sun go down at the end of a day and the semi-posh vibe makes it the perfect place to find your inner boushy bruin.