your carry-on bag – when you want to be close enough to the beach to stroll across the street to it and close enough to Third Street Promenade to not need an Uber to shlep your shopping haul back to your room. The hotel’s lobby is best described as “Victorian funky” with a reading room that looks like your parents’ den in the 70s. Eclectic is the décor here, but the real fun happens when you step outside to the poolside restaurant Cast, where

#141 issue - BELLOmag.com

walls of plates, prettily strung tea lights, and cozy cabanas await. This is the perfect place for some intimate bonding over drinks and apps (think: jerk chicken meatball yakitori and wood-charred cauliflower). In the morning, we headed inland a bit to UCLA-adjacent Westwood in pursuit of a unicorn: a great meal at a restaurant attached to a movie theater. Turns out, the unicorn was real, and we found the Most Amazing Brunch Ever at the casual-cool Tuck Room Tavern. General Manager John Yuhico has done a stellar job of creating just

the right vibe – and just the right menu – to make Sundays a reason to say “Hallelujah!”…and maybe catch a flick afterwards. My gang and I tried everything from the glorious Brunch Burger and crispy latke fries to smoked salmon stuffed popovers and monkey bread babka. And let us not forget the crispy chicken waffles and crab cake Eggs Benedict – we proudly ordered a caviar “supplement” as well. The verdict on all of it, including our waiter Eddy: delicious! Beautifully prepared food, fresh ingredients, a lively mix of flavors, and attentive service, all added up to a stellar meal and a stellar experience.

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