New hotel opens Tuesday

Downtown will welcome the opening of its first — and long-awaited — boutique hotel Tuesday with the debut of the 157-room Shorebreak Hotel at 500 Pacific Coast Hwy. in the new Strand development.

Part of the Joie de Vivre collection of hotels, the pet-friendly Shorebreak features ocean, city and courtyard views, modern furnishings, an on-site fitness center and yoga studio equipped with Wii Fit, surf-inspired art and flat-screen HDTVs.

Each guest room is a blend of cheeky and refined, with furnishings such as tropical-print beanbag recliners, iPod docks, Reed Diffusers, “Surfer” magazine photography and pristine white linens.

“When you come into our hotel, you should have that relaxed feeling, whether you’re in a business suit or a wetsuit,” Donald Chock, director of sales and marketing, said.

Some suites feature large terraces; one suite comes with a perfect pier view and an outdoor living room that’s larger than many of the guest rooms and has already attracted a lot of attention from action sports organizers and fans.

A 3,000-square-foot ballroom with 25-foot ceilings can be divided into thirds to be used as a meeting space; the rooms open directly onto the property’s central, open-air courtyard, which boasts three fire pits and a sand-filled area.

The sleek on-site restaurant and bar, Zimzala, will serve a coastal Mediterranean menu of small plates that reflects the many countries that encircle the sea, from Spain to Morocco to Israel, and a wine list maintained by an advanced sommelier.

“Our executive chef is an amazing, creative guy,” Chock said.

The hotel said “zimzala” is a surfing culture term defining a free-spirited person who finds peace with the sand between their toes.

A private dining room in Zimzala can host about 50 people, or there is the option of a wraparound terrace for more intimate dinner parties.

The new property employs about 165 people, staff said.

The Shorebreak is billing itself as the only hotel close to the intersection of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, and its staff hopes patrons will be inclined to walk to Main Street shops, entertainment and restaurants, as well as the adjacent beach.

Each Joie de Vivre property donates at least $200 per guest room per year to organizations in their communities; Shorebreak has selected the Surfrider Foundation as its local beneficiary.

Company employees have already participated in beach cleanups and other activities, and also are working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley and other organizations, Chock said.

The hotel is offering several opening specials, including a summer City Centennial special that offers 100 deck- or city-view rooms per week for $100 each for patrons who live within 100 miles of Huntington Beach; residency will be verified. The offer’s promotion code is SBK100.

In another centennial offer, a $100 prix-fixe menu for two includes an amuse-bouche, a crab cake appetizer, choice of ribeye steak or asparagus risotto and scallops, and a dessert tasting.

An introductory offer of $129 per person per night through June 30, based on double occupancy, which includes a $25 food and beverage credit at Zimzala, also is available. To take advantage of the offer, use promotion code TASTE09.

Bay Area-based Joie de Vivre is known for its many landmark, novel properties such as the Petite Auberge in San Francisco, Gaige House in Sonoma and the Ventana Inn & Spa in Big Sur.

For more information on the Shorebreak, call (714) 861-4470 or visit shorebreakhotel.com.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at [email protected].