La Monique will open at Oceana Santa Monica in October. Mark Mediana

Santa Monica’s picturesque shoreline, deep blue ocean hues and swaying palm trees are about as close as Angelenos can get to the French Riviera without hopping on a plane. And on October 12, Oceana Santa Monica and 34th Floor Hospitality are bringing the flavors of the Côte d’Azur to the beach town with La Monique, a swanky eatery dedicated to classic French fare. 

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

“Life is crazy and stressful, so I wanted to create a place where time sort of stops, even if only for a couple of hours,” Olivier Zardoni, CEO of 34th Floor Hospitality, tells Observer. “It’s so rare that people in Los Angeles take a real break with friends over a bottle of wine, without the phones and all of our other distractions. That’s what I want La Monique to be—a place to be present.” Whether for after-work drinks or an elegant sit-down dinner at sunset, La Monique encourages guests to embrace the slow and effortless side of life. 

The restaurant’s prime location on Ocean Avenue offers a naturally beautiful setting, but designer Martin Brudnizki has upped the ante with bold and inviting interiors. Busy patterns extend from the floors to the pillows to the furniture, while a mirrored ceiling creates a funky........

© Observer