All jokes aside, upon arrival at Casa Del Mar, every inch of air left my lungs and I was completely frozen and flabbergasted in a moment of shock by its sheer opulence and poetic beauty – cue the jaw and bag drop. L.A., I was dragged and dropped into another reality. Transported back to the Roaring Twenties, the entrance opened up to a warm, two-storey lobby lounge framed by a double staircase with potted palm trees, Venetian chandeliers and Spanish tilework. A perfect mélange of the luxurious romantic Mediterranean with the relaxed elite savoir-faire of Southern California, this unique regal gem is truly any dreamer’s ‘home by the sea.’

Built in 1926 with a then inconceivable investment sum of two million dollars, Club Casa Del Mar was considered the grandest, high regency beach club in Los Angeles where Hollywood’s A-list silver screeners indulged in good ol’ fashioned law-breaking fun. A time when President Calvin Coolidge was adulated by many for his taxation policy, or more lack thereof, America’s economy was in full swing and everyone was lapping up luxury like there was no tomorrow. The West Coast was a fresh new hub of exclusive lavish beach clubs but Club Casa Del Mar on 1910 Ocean Way was the place to preen and be seen.

In the grip of Prohibition, scandalous swinging parties, sunday-night operas, classical music concerts, grand balls, banquets and all other festive affairs were well oiled with top-notch hooch while free-flowing fortunes exchanged hands on the gambling tables and fed through the slot machines, an income that paid off better than Las Vegas. Having friendly relations with the right people, a practiced warning system to signal approaching policemen and thwarting publicity in the papers, Casa Del Mar operated successfully with a continuous stream of supplemental income from the hotel rooms and slot machines as the owners had no capital debt. Holding Santa Monica’s fort as the haven of escapism, Casa Del Mar had its final flourishing stage during The Great Depression before hundreds of naval personnel took over the rooms and thousands of soldiers made the coast their home during World War II.

Rehabilitated in 1999 with a hefty $50 million renovation by the owners of Shutters on the Beach, Casa Del Mar’s name and reputation was restored as one of the most sophisticated and high-end properties serving SoCal’s most elite on the West Coast. The two sister hotels, tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac, are the only properties that serve a genuine oceanside villa stay with direct beach access in the entire L.A. area. Despite its buzzing location in Santa Monica, these two hotels possess a distinct boutique resort-esque vibe that makes you feel like you’re on vacation away from the city.

Offering 129 rooms and suites, most of them with unobstructed views of the Pacific and Santa Monica Pier, the owners sure as hell spared no expense in their interior decor. Carefully picked sea-themed books line the built-in bookcases and lavish lamps next to comfortable armchairs make it ever so easy to have a low-key night in. Shades of calming ocean-tones matched with muted neutrals adorn the walls and intricately carved furniture; and the rich walnut four-poster bed with patterned high-end John Robshaw linen create an upscale Mediterranean beach-house ambience that is fit for a Queen. So much so, that on my first night in the outrageously vast city that is Los Angeles, I stayed in the plush, high thread-count King bed with 2 bags of bright red, toxic Cheetos and Fritos and last but not least, a 6-pack of Lagunitas – happiness had never come to me at such a low price. It truly is the little things that count.

The bathroom, no doubt, is the main highlight of the room with their insane cream of the crop fitout – never have I ever been in a room where the walls and floor are lined with Italian Calacatta marble – the light reflects off the marble in a way that makes one look super selfie-worthy, I ended up spending a lot of time just dancing in front of the mirror to Beyonce and Rihanna. Chuck in a jaw-droppingly gorgeous, deep hydrothermal massage tub with 42 jets into the mix, you’ll probably want to take the savings from your spa appointment cancellations and splurge on a bottle of Armand de Brignac a.k.a Ace of Spades to reenact Beyonce’s sassy pouring in that historic Nicki Minaj music video. Even the showers are designed in a way that makes you want to film a sensual, narcissistic music video – the bathroom’s peekaboo window that looks out to the beach via the room seems to make this creative idea plausible for production.

For those who love the feeling of wading through expensive air, Casa Del Mar boasts downright glorious hedonism in a way so unapologetic, you’ll just float and gloat around like Daisy Buchanan in her stupidly extravagant home. A paradise retreat showcasing the pinnacle of luxury, Casa Del Mar is the unquestionable lodging destination when it comes to cloud-nine relaxation. Why go anywhere else when you can unwind to the view of the Pacific while dissolving all your stresses away in the jacuzzi? I’ve already started planning a fabulous return to hold my wildest dream wedding in their ballroom…