Terrazza Of The Sun

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Terrazza
1910 Ocean Way at Pico Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 430-7144
bytheblueseasantamonica.com/restaurants-terrazza.html

Being "far" from home can be scary. Your shows might not be DVR'ing, you have no idea where the closest pizza place is and previous experience with waking up in a strange room has led to Shining-level night terrors.

Ok, so Santa Monica isn't exactly "far" but we can still help make things a bit more familiar by introducing you to Terrazza, a gorgeous beachside lounge that recently opened at Hotel Casa del Mar.

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Practically located on the sands of Santa Monica, you may have trouble telling where the beach ends and the restaurant begins. Sea-glass-colored ceramic floor tiles, blown-glass pendants, a series of Christian Chaize's beach-focused photographs, and a palm-tree-lined wall of open windows all cultivate a breezy, sun-drenched bungalow-in-the-Mediterranean vibe. The floor is even heated to create a year-round beachy feeling.

Scope out the tables of green and blue terrazzo before gliding through the shell-shaped room to park yourself in a pattern-covered rattan chair, the ideal location for throwing back an Old Rasputin Imperial Stout, Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale or a Bourbon Bloom —it's bourbon, St. Germain, lime juice and mint. And just so you know, there's also a menu of barrel-aged cocktails, like the Vieux Carre, a potent mix of rye, brandy, Benedictine, vermouth and bitters.

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But your ultimate aim is to satisfy that empty feeling in your heart belly. To do so, you must fill your table with plates of simple yet inspired Mediterranean-influenced eats: buratta-sage-and-roasted-mushroom-topped pizza, jumbo shrimp cocktails with grapefruit aioli, and American Wagyu sliders with tomato jam and blue cheese. Oh, and if you're feeling fancy, you can (short-term) invest in the Maine lobster crudo with truffles and caviar.

End the night with a kaleidoscope-like sunset and your far-from-home fears will soon dissipate...even if you're pretty sure you forgot to record Scandal.

By Arielle Sachar