The trend of reclusive hideaways doesn’t stop with the reopening of Santa Monica’s Shangri-La in February. Painstakingly restored to the tune of $30 million, the Art Deco gem—originally built in 1939—takes exclusivity to the next level with an aggressive eco-agenda and classic luxury.

The hotel’s environmentally friendly ethos includes Natura Bottled Water (filtered on site and in reused glass bottles), Dual Flush low-flow toilets and waterless urinals, a partnership with Midway Car Rentals to provide guests with a fleet of hybrid cars, compact flourescent lighting, a solar heated pool, double layered windows and recycled paper products throughout the hotel (including the stationary).

Look for other perks such as $5 off your valet when you drive a hybrid as well as bath amenities from Natura Green, which is derived from a cornstarch-based product rather than Sodium Laureth Sulfate. With 36 rooms, and 36 suites fully wired for laptops and iPods, a lush courtyard with an elevated pool and cabanas, a rooftop bar and an extraordinary view of the Pacific, the Shangri-La has reinvented itself as a luxurious hideaway for the 21st century.

For more information, see www.shangrila-hotel.com/.

—Meghan Cleary