Descanso Beach Club

The sand sits on the footprint of the St. Catherine Hotel, which opened in 1918 and came down in 1966, a short walk past the Casino through Descanso Canyon. A cabana or a pair of chaise lounges comes with a beach butler carrying food and drinks down to the water; the ocean-view patio is first come, first served. Kayaks and paddleboards go out from the same beach, DJs play Saturdays through the summer, and the lawn behind the cabanas hosts the Catalina Wine Mixer.