For movie stars in the 1930s, the elegant Hotel St. Catherine was the place for a romantic rendezvous. Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford were frequent guests. The hotel was demolished in 1966, but its spirit lives on at the Descanso Beach Club, set in the same spot in a quiet cove near the iconic Catalina Casino. Half the beach here resembles a five-star resort where you can pay for a private cabana or chaise longue, with waiter service. The other half is more like a low-key beach party, with an open-air restaurant and bar, wide expanse of white sand, and kayak rental station. Descanso: $$; 1 Descanso Ave.; (310) 510-7408.