Hotel Erwin at the Heart of the Revitalized Venice Beach
Pigeons greeted me as I started my morning walk at the revitalized Venice Beach. The early-bird surfers from afar took the waves with much aplomb. As I watched spray painters giving a graffiti wall fresh paint and skate boarders practicing in Venice's seaside skate park, I noticed the refreshed vibe at the boardwalk.
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| Morning stroll at the revitalized Venice Beach. |
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| Gawking at the pigeons at the boardwalk. |
The eccentric Venice Beach has gone through a major cleanup rehoming the homeless since last summer. At the Venice Beach Recreation Center, the smell of new, freshly laid out exercise machines permeates-- it was even still wrapped in plastic -- for outdoor workout fanatics.
A few steps away from the boardwalk, the sea-green building of Hotel Erwin has welcomed many guests since 1975 and stands proud as one of the hotels that was able to continue to open its door even throughout the pandemic. The hotel's large king room appointed with pops of orange and silver modern furniture and LA-based Byrd amenities was a perfect base for my weekday remote work.
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| Hotel Erwin has been opened since 1975. |
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| Busy working in the midst of inspiring modern furniture. |
I powered through the day with a piping hot breakfast burrito -- packed with protein in the form of eggs and turkey bacon -- from Hotel Erwin's cafe aptly called Erwin's General. In between zoom meetings, I happily welcomed the fresh air from the room's balcony and watched people down at the beach go about their day. Even though the fog rolled in during my stay at Hotel Erwin, their High Rooftop Lounge was still popping serving specialty cocktails and bar bites to guests who were kept warm with patio heaters.
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| Erwin General's savory breakfast burrito packed with protein. |
While my car was charging at Hotel Erwin's EV charging station (plus points for EV chargers!), I took an afternoon stroll to Abbot Kinney for what I initially planned as a window shopping jaunt of vintage and boutique finds. However, when I spotted Goodr's storefront, I couldn't resist supporting the LA-based eyewear brand. The Instagrammable, 2-month old cabana boasts experiential shopping at its finest. For an eyewear snob, such as myself, Goodr's low-price points, comfortable yet fashion-forward sunnies sealed the deal for my hiking and sailing pursuits.
Tip: Wander to their colorful back patio and ask the sales associate to take photos.
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| Wander to Goodr's back patio for a quick photo op. |
Not to be left out are a blend of older and new trendy food spots in Venice. Across Hotel Erwin is Venice's popular all-day restaurant, Great White, bustling with patrons even during non-peak lunch hours. The breezy indoor/outdoor space with high ceilings matches their approachable, casual menu, including an elevated cesar salad with strips of crispy fried chicken.
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| Expect the unexpected at the Great White, Venice. |
A few minutes away is Dudley Market, a wine bar with emphasis on seasonal seafood tucked away in an unassuming part of Venice Beach. The night drive on the one-way street to Dudley Market was a misadventure at first, but I found a parking spot at the busier Pacific Avenue street. After a safe, short walk to the restaurant, I rewarded myself with their fresh catch of the day, which surprisingly came in a colorful plate of melt-in-your mouth sashimi.
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| High-quality sashimi of the day at Dudley Market. |
Without doubt, the revitalized Venice Beach is eager to welcome back tourists and locals to experience its eccentric, surfing vibes anew.
Disclaimer: Hotel Erwin provided a complimentary stay in exchange of an honest write-up.
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