Summer Nights at the Annenberg Beach House (open to the public!)
Summer Nights at the Annenberg Beach House
Did you know there is a secret, Santa Monica beach house, that anyone can go and enjoy its charming amenities such as the heated pool, locker rooms, and outdoor showers?
It’s the former 1920s film star Marion Davie’s old beach house: today known as the Annenberg Beach House, just a skip north of the Santa Monica Pier. Fully renovated and opened to the public in 2009, it was celebrated with grand fanfare. Paid with a generous $27 million dollar grant from Wallis Annenberg, it stands as a shining example of great public parks and facilities available to the public.
Having lived in LA more then a decade, I had never been to the pool (I know-I know, what kind of LA person am I?)! Thus, I had to check it off my Los Angeles bucket list: pretend to be a rich movie star by swimming at a beachside pool house.
Getting There
To get there, take the bike path north, it’s a short 10 minute cycle until you’re next to next lifeguard toward 19. Once you glimpse tall, rectangular pillars poking behind a kids playground and between Back on the Beach Cafe — you’ve arrived.
It’s hard to see the fully enclosed, sunken pool from the oceanside- but look for the glass building —more resembling a conference center then a beach house. And viola!
The Annenberg Beachhouse, from the oceanside
Getting In: Day Passes
Adult day passes start at an affordable $10 bucks. You don’t have to be a member. There are no annual fees; it’s accessible to all. Day passes are available on a first-come, first-serve basis; tickets start selling one hour before the beach house opens. Once sell out, you can are added to a waitlist and they text when a spot becomes available.
The Amenities
When they’re available, make use of the public courtyard, splash pad, and sandy areas (first come, first-serve, and yes include tables, chairs and umbrellas). You do not need a reservation or need to pay money for these public spaces (yay!). The beach volleyball courts and soccer fields have limited first-come, first serve courts, with the remaining available via reservations. Did I mentioned the beach house also has free Santa Monica City Wifi (remote work-life, anyone?).
The Background
While diligently working from home, I received an email from the official Annenberg Beach House team: they were opening up the beach house for sunset summer swims (adults only), 6p - 9p on select Fridays during peak summer months! Hello! This fit perfectly into my schedule; I can leave work a little early on a Friday (drive West, which is against the traffic flow) and manage jump into a headed pool, watch the sunset and soak up the last rays of sunlight to enjoy these long summer days.
I immediately called my former roommate - who generously agreed to join me. Tickets were easily purchased online.
The Experience
When the day finally arrived, it only took 30 minutes to drive from Leimert Park / Culver City to Downtown Santa Monica. The Annenberg Beach House has an official parking lot and there are paid lots next door; it was an affordable $6 for two hours. Easy peasy!
Getting in was quick. Once in, you’ll find the locker rooms by entering the break in the center of the horizontal walkway facade (women’s lockers are to the left, men to the right). Once inside, I found 4 bathroom stalls and sinks/mirrors, an open locker room, and several open showers which were under construction. On the outside, the pool also had three shower heads available (heated water, yasss) - so bring shampoo and soap if you’re like me and like to formally wash off before leaving the pool.
Most importantly, there were tons of sunny orange umbrellas, reclining chaise lounges, and more upright sitting areas with low tables and chairs. We opted for the loungers.
Recommended supplies checklist
Sunscreen
Towel (no towels available for public use)
Hat and sunglasses
Shampoo and soap (in case you want to wash up afterwards)
Flip-flops
Sweater (once the sunsets, it gets chilly on the beach)
Food and drinks (optional, but fun! read up on pool rules before going)
>>> Basically bring everything you want, there were 0 amenities other than the facilities
The Pool itself is very long. To my eye, it looked like 60 feet long and 12 feet wide. One could definitely swim laps in there (if not crowded). The pool has a generous deep end ranging from 7 feet to 8 feet from the middle to the edge - with one section about 4-5 foot deep. It’s definitely not for children under 4’ who cannot swim. I enjoy feeling the buoyancy and treading water; but many other people made use of the pool’s floaties and chatted while happily relaxing in the water.
Did I mentioned the pool is heated? I am a wuss when it comes to entering the freezing Pacific Ocean and a freezing pool - but this one felt like a comfortable bath! I jumped right in (so screams!). Once the sunset was further along, everyone huddled in the pool like a cozy blanket keeping them warm. Opulence at its best, when its approachable!
The pool is gorgeous! The pool bottom (difficult to see without googles) is decorated throughout with handpainted, fish-tiles; stunningly restored (they won a Preservation Design Award in 2021!). The entire pool deck is lined with a a zig-zag rectangular motif and rectangular tiles. As I sauntered to and from the bathrooms, I pretended to be a glamorous, classic movie star with oversized sunnies (I know this is a familiar theme of mine)! I’m so glad they restored these tile details; I’ve never seen anything like it. I was worried the pool water would make the marble deck slippery but I did not slip at all, even in my 0 tread shoes.
The original bridge over the pool, from the 1920s. Photo from the LA Conservancy.
[Fun History Facts]
Did you know the pool used to have a bridge? Look at this photo from the LA Conservancy! Reminds me of Venice bridges and gondolas! I mean, how freakin’ grand can you get?
The same architect that designed the original 1920s beach house also designed the William Hearst Castle! Yes, Cali’s first female architect Julia Morgan did it. So once can only imagine the grandeur!
Do I Recommend It?
5/5 stars
Highly recommend
I 100%, five out of five stars - recommend buying a day-pass and/or these special sunset swim passes! It made my day, my week, my month to swim in perfect waters on a Friday sunset after work. It was the cream on top of my dessert, mwah!
I’m already brainstorming how to fit in other sunset swims this summer and/or just do a full-on day pass! I suspect day-time swimming as a lot more children (so you’ve been warned). But if you’re a sun worshipper, you’ll love the rays and catching a tan.
The quality facilities, and the stunning old-glamor, now fully restored pool is worth bringing a significant other, your bff, and/or beach-love out of town guests! Quite possible my favorite LA pool (as so many hotel pools are just so-so and/or too small).
The best part, is even if you show up to buy passes and it’s booked; the worst that can happen is that you have a beach day! And I’ve never regretting going to the beach. Sometime about the sun, air and beauty that never ceases to fill my heart and soul.
If you go let me know what you think! I’m always looking for what else we can do to enjoy Los Angeles; so feel free to say hi. linhdy@outlook.com
