Onyx opens as the only open-air rooftop spot in Santa Monica.

Timed to its 80th anniversary, Santa Monica’s glamorous art deco hotel by the beach, Hotel Shangri-La, just opened Terrace at Onyx, a new rooftop restaurant offering stunning views of the ocean and the Pacific coastline. Sitting aside the hotel’s well-known Onyx Bar, Terrace at Onyx is Santa Monica’s only open-air, rooftop cocktail bar. Outside, the sublime sweep of the Pacific Ocean offers the breathtaking nightly spectacle of golden California sunsets.

Inside, a whimsical medley of ‘50s Rat Pack, ‘60s iridescent kitsch, and ‘70s Space Age decor creates an intimate atmosphere set to a soundtrack of lounge, house beats, glam rock and high disco spun by ONYX deejays. Guests at Terrace at Onyx enjoy an elevated al fresco dining experience featuring internationally inspired, California-infused cuisine masterfully prepared in the restaurant’s custom-made wood-fired oven.

“In celebration of 80 fabulous years in Santa Monica, we are thrilled to open Terrace at Onyx, offering our guests an elevated dining experience that takes our culinary program one step further,” says General Manager Armond Khosrovyan. “We’re thrilled to present a completely new offering of pizza and meat dishes baked in our custom-made wood-fired oven, along with signature salads, celebration-worthy desserts, and of course the stunning cocktails that Onyx is known for.”

The menu, created by Executive Chef Jessica Bedolla, features California’s best produce, using seasonal ingredients found locally at the Santa Monica Farmers Market. The main attraction is the handcrafted pizzas made in Santa Monica’s only rooftop wood-fired oven, including the Prosciutto Pizza topped with marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and a citrus arugula salad, the Pork Belly Pizza with hoisin sauce, caramelized shallots, shredded pork belly, mozzarella and topped with a fried egg and the Vegan Margharita Pizza with a cauliflower crust, marinara sauce, vegan cheese and basil. Gluten-free, vegan and paleo diners will take delight in three crust options for their pies, including traditional, cauliflower and chicken, all made in-house from scratch.

“In order to truly stand behind the incredible food we are creating here, it was important that I learn the most authentic way to create the perfect pizza, including how to use the wood-fired oven and how to bake a perfectly balanced crispy yet chewy crust” says Chef Bedolla. “In addition to taking months to fine-tune the classic, cauliflower and chicken crusts, we baked over 100 pizza pies to ensure every combo was nothing short of fabulous.”

Other elevated bar bites include Filet Mignon Tacos, Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Fried Oysters, Kobe Burger, Brussel Sprouts and Hummus Dips. To end the meal with a sweet bang, groups can share the signature Shangri-La Sundae, which features 80 ingredients—in celebration of the hotel’s 80th anniversary, including 24 scoops of ice cream, vanilla sponge cake, slices of strawberries, mango, pineapple, and kiwi, marshmallows, crispy meringue and more.

Cocktails are served tableside, prepared from the vintage martini cart. Onyx’s signature martini vamp, the Tamietini Ketel One Vodka is made with passion fruit juice, Le Cour tâge Brut and fresh basil for a refreshingly sweet sunburst of effervescent fun. An homage to MiMo mid-century modernism and the Hotel Habana Riviera, the Onyx Mojito is made with Don Q Limon Rum, sugar cane juice, fresh lime juice. mint leaves, soda and fresh farmer’s market berries. The Last Tango is the bar’s take on a mezcal margarita made with Montelobos Mezcal, fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, lemon leaf, pomegranate seeds and Fleur De Sel.

The Old Fashioned gets glammed-up in sanguine-and-spice lamé with the Waterloo Sunset made with Old Forester Bourbon, orange bitters, organic blood orange peel and maraschino cherry. Other standout cocktails include the Hendricks Gin based London Calling, the espresso-infused Jean Genie and a take on a pisco sour the Korova Bar Sour. There is also a sinfully rich dessert cocktail known as the Chocolate Kiss made with chocolate vodka, Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico, Godiva and Kahlua, served in a chocolate drizzled glass.

Offering lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Terrace at Onyx is open Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The restaurant will also offer live music on Friday and Saturday evenings from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.