California's SoHo West: trendy yet bohemian, Santa Monica appeals to artisans and...

At a time when business is frequently combined with pleasure, Santa Monica has become the new Southern California hot spot. Just 15 miles west of central Los Angeles and an easy eight miles from LAX airport, this century-old seaside resort has it all: sunshine and beaches; 85 museums and galleries;

Over the past 10 years, Santa Monica has evolved from strictly a beach-and-sun tourist destination to a multipurpose base for businesspeople, especially those in the arts and entertainment industries. "It's a place where people in the business live and do business," explains spokesperson Koleen Hamblin. "It's where insiders come to work and play because they can combine the two."

If Beverly Hills is old guard Hollywood, Santa Monica is its avant-garde child. It's home to the offices of MGM Studios, Sony West Music Entertainment and independents such as Bill Clinton George Harrison and Steven Spielberg. Many advertising and design firms are also here. In fact, 32% of all visitors come to the city on corporate business. Unlike L.A., Santa Monica is very accessible--and walkable--with hotels, offices and dining close to one another. The spate of restaurants, pubs and cafes in the 8.3-sq.-mile area have made the city popular with businesspeople who want to continue doing business over cocktails and dinner after 5 p.m.

Santa Monica has also become a popular destination for small and mid-size meetings, particularly in the computer, health care, entertainment and legal fields. With 3,200 hotel rooms and a variety of full-service conference facilities, 14% of travelers come to Santa Monica for conventions and meetings.

From October to March, the prime business travel period, hotel rates in Santa Monica drop 25%-30% off the regular rates of $ 55-$350 per night. And there are a range of accommodations, from budget and tourist-class hotels under $ 100 per night to first-class and deluxe properties from $165-$300. The elegant Loew's Santa Monica (800-235-6397) features business-class rooms with an ocean view, a complete business center and fitness facilities. The only Mobil four-star and AAA four-diamond property, Shutters Hotel on the Beach (310-458-0030) offers complete concierge and business services along with a multilingual staff. The Miramar Sheraton (310-576-7777) features a boardroom and patio that can hold 14; its Grille restaurant is the setting for many business dinners. The Radisson Huntley (800-333-3333) features in-room computer hook-up and phone mail, while the Doubletree Guest Suites (800-222-8733) offers nine executive meeting suites, each seating eight.

Unlike many California towns that roll up the sidewalks when the sun goes down, Santa Monica stays awake after dark, so you can enjoy all kinds of attractions, from commercial and art movies to classical and blues music. Santa Monica is often compared to such East Coast artistic centers as Greenwich Village and SoHo in New York City.

But, what has put Santa Monica on the fast track are its restaurants. Featuring celebrity chefs and celebrity owners, these restaurants are the in places to see and be seen doing business. And there is an abundance of dining choices; from Wolfgang Puck Cafe (1323 Montana Ave.; 310-393-0290); to Michael's (1147 Third St.; 310-451-0843), one of the founding restaurants of the California lite cuisine; to the upscale oceanfront Zenzero (310-451-4455). The Border Grill (1445 4th St.; 310-451-1655), with its avant-garde Mexican fare, is considered one of the top 50 restaurants in the region, while Gotham Hall (1431 Third St. Promenade; 310-394-8865) is king for dining with entertainment. For quick budget meals, there are plenty of inexpensive bistros along the Third Street Promenade.

Among the Promenade's many sights and dining attractions is the award-winning Fatburger, a retro diner that cheerfully serves freshly made burgers (including turkey) and rich old-fashioned milkshakes to the tune of old jazz and R&B classics on the Rhino Records jukebox. "I love the neighborhood," says Fatburger manager Bill Carpenter. "It's people-oriented, and it's fun." Just like the City by the Sea.