The new Studio Mediterranean restaurant at Montage Laguna Beach. Montage Laguna Beach Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Thanks to new hotels and dining experiences, Laguna Beach has more to offer than ever. The oceanfront enclave is also an idyllic dupe for Hawaii and Cabo - minus the travel delays, headaches, and jetlag. "The overall allure is the under-an-hour escapism," says Zoe Schaeffer, who designs custom travel for high-end industry clients. "Laguna is laid-back, but also very traditional. It feels like it's for everyone, unlike other L.A.-adjacent beach communities that can feel exclusive or insular." Beachside Bliss Related Stories Lifestyle Amazon Drops Nostalgic 'Laguna Beach' Merch on Heels of Upcoming MTV Reality Show Reunion TV 'Laguna Beach' Cast Reunion Set at Roku Blessed with near-perfect weather and Pacific views for days, Laguna has recently lured everyone from Selena Gomez, Keanu Reeves and Renee Zellweger, while Warren Buffett and Ryan Murphy have owned homes in the area. Hotel offerings abound, but a select few steal the spotlight. Perched directly across from Laguna's prized Treasure Island Beach and Goff Cove, Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach (from $337) is the newest luxury boutique hotel to debut. The vibe is a quaint European seaside village. Plaids and florals mingle with potted plants, grass-cloth wall coverings, and pops of green, blue and red throughout the lobby. Anchoring the cozy space is a festive bar where a complimentary daily breakfast is served. The 41 guest rooms come with amenities like T3 hair tools, New Zealand's Antipodes bottled water, Diptyque bath products, and a nightly chocolate chip cookie delivery from Rye Goods, Laguna's go-to organic bakery. The pool, with its green-and-white and coral-striped loungers beckons, and the town's best beach is just a five-minute stroll away. Poolside, guests can nibble on gourmand-approved selects like crudités or tinned fish platters from the on-site menu. When you're ready to hit the sand, the concierge supplies all the beach day essentials - umbrellas by Business & Pleasure, oversized towels, and picnic baskets filled with epicurean nibbles are available by pre-order. Oceanfront Luxury Across the street from Le Petit Pali, the sprawling Montage Laguna Beach (from $995) reigns over the coastline from the neighboring bluff. This industry favorite just got a serious refresh, including a glow-up of the 263 guest accommodations and pool. They're also kicking off the holiday season with an exclusive collaboration with red carpet fixture Christian Louboutin. Starting November 25th, holiday trees will be decked in the French Maison's trademark red, a fashion-centric afternoon tea and a signature cocktail -all infused with the Hollywood-beloved Louboutin flair. And the hotel's new Studio Mediterranean restaurant is now SoCal's newest reservation to score. Formerly known as Studio and parked cliffside, the space has been overhauled - think light airy interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the coast. Newly appointed Chef Dennis Efthymiou brings heaps of his Greek island heritage to the menu, all with dramatic ocean views. Expect platters of shellfish, a knockout mezze spread with edamame hummus, and heaps of fresh seafood. With ocean views, salty air and a plate of their dangerously addictive grilled dates, you'll swear you're in the Mediterranean. The lobby bar at Le Petit Pali Laguna Beach. Le Petit Pali Mosaic Bar & Grille, the property's al-fresco dining spot adjacent to the pool was also nip tucked. And Bouchée, a new French bakery from Executive Pastry Chef Lee Smith is expected in December. Retail and spa therapies had upgrades, too. Whether you forgot a coverup or need to revamp your wardrobe, The Fifth Avenue Club by Saks Fifth Avenue is housed in one of the hotel's suites. Guests and locals can book a private, complimentary session with a seasoned stylist, paying only for merchandise they wish to take home. A new treatment was also introduced at Spa Montage, SoCal's mecca for wellness hounds, which will soon undergo a renovation. The Skin Design London Face Tight Facial by Fatma Shaheen (London's premiere esthetician) delivers a sculpted facelift effect with radio frequency, microcurrent, oxygen blast, and their celebrity-loved Cherry Gloss Peel. Looking for a hotel smack on the shoreline? Surf & Sand Resort Laguna Beach (from $795), the area's O.G. luxury oceanfront property, attracted such Hollywood royalty as Bette Davis, Charlie Chaplin and Judy Garland. After a property-wide renovation earlier this year, the sleek minimalist design of the lobby finally allows for ocean views, and the 165 guest rooms and suites, each with balconies, feature soft ocean hues and modern oak, rattan and woven textiles. Splashes restaurant remai