The Penthouse at the Huntley Santa Monica Beach Hotel

In a suburb comprising mostly low-level shops and two-story homes, this ultramodern 18th-floor hotel bar is an unexpected gem. Here, guests and locals murmur to one another along the silver bar, share small globally inspired appetizers, and—if they arrive early enough for window-side seats—watch the sun set over the Pacific. After dark, lounging on the oversize club chairs in front of the fireplace is cozy; chef Seth Greenburg’s contemporary American cuisine (Wellington-style filet mignon) is delicious.