We first stayed here for for our 1st Wedding anniversary and if I'd have written my review then, I'd have given Shutters 10/10...

3 years on and I wanted to check out after the first night.

We were warned when we booked that the pool and restaurant were out of action due to some work... that should have sent alarm bells! It didn't.

1. We checked in and were not given out free upgrade as promised when we booked.
2. The room we were given overlooked the road and by the lift. NOISE all night!!! If I wanted noise, I'd have checked into a room that cost me $50 a night, not $400 a night! On the 3rd night, we did compain to the manager and we were upgraded to the room we should have had when we checked in.
3. There was a 30 minute wait every morning for breakfast. We skipped it everyday.
4. Another 30 minute wait if you wanted to eat between 1pm and 4pm. We ate on our laps in reception. Service was very very very slow.
5. The maid wasn't very careful when she was in and wrapped some of my belongings in with the sheets... I was passed from pillar to post, no one gave a damn in tracking them down. Eventually, after crying at reception, the deputy manager got involved. As 24 hours had passed, it was too late to find my things. Once I got back to the UK, my things were found and posted back.
6. Parking is a total rip off, especially with all the tipping.

I won't be staying at Shutters again which is a shame as it's a beautiful hotel.

The staff were all very friendly, but for the amount of money this hotel cost my husband and I, it is far too expensive for what you get to make the same mistake again.

Oh, one more thing... if you want an adult environment, go somewhere else, there were kids everywhere!

What a special place! The staff was friendly and helpful from the moment we stepped out of the car. Loved having a relaxing glass of wine at the bar as the sun set and then savoring the afterglow from the balcony of our room. Fabulous view of the beach and ocean-great location. What a treat!

The proximity to the beach makes up for any minor quip about this wonderful hotel. They make it a point to make the place feel warm and luxurious with out it being pretentious. That's probably how they kept the enduring popularity all these years. Celebrity sight seeings are rare but most of us who keep coming back here find that to be a plus.

Shutters is a classic in the L.A. area, and it continues to live up to its reputation. As others have said, it has been going through serious renovations. We stayed there April 16-17, '08, and 1 Pico, the restaurant, was just re-opening. THe pool was not re-opened yet. So clearly those are disruptive things.

The most important thing to know about Shutters, though, is that there is a large difference between the old, original building, which is right on the beach, and the newer building, which is not. If you can, you want to be in the original building on a full ocean view. Otherwise you look over that old building from the new building, and the views and ambiance just aren't the same. When making reservations, be sure to ask for the better rooms in the original building.

One other note: we were in Room 202, and although it is a beautiful suite with an incredible view, etc., right on the beach, the bedroom is over the restaurant porch and thus there is a lot of noise at night. I would recommend a different beachfront room if noise bothers you.