The Fairmont Miramar is handsome enough to make you believe the experience is going to rise to the surroundings. That was the attraction for me: not simply a drink, but the whole thing — the room, the history, the people, the sense that you were somewhere worth being.
The beauty worked. The atmosphere worked. Even years later, that is what I remember more than the aggravation. I could absolutely see using the place to do business, impress a client, or simply enjoy a see-and-be-seen afternoon without pretending the scene itself is the reason to go.
The management moment did not work. We were right there, trying to sort out reserved tables and where ordinary hotel guests were supposed to sit, and the manager seemed remarkably uninterested in the couple standing in front of him. At this level, service is part of what you are buying.
Not completely. When the perceived experience is premium, the actual experience has to keep up. Beauty can buy you some forgiveness. It cannot do the entire job.
Yes. Everyone deserves a second chance, and the Fairmont gave me enough reasons to want one.
Someone looking for a handsome Santa Monica setting, a business meeting, a client drink, or an experience with a little polish — provided you plan ahead.
Go with reservations. And for God’s sake, MAKE a reservation.
THE LAST WORDGO — WITH RESERVATIONS. AND MAKE ONE.