The restored 1920s classic Casa Del Mar Hotel is a great place to have a drink (specialties, $12), and a light lunch (salads, sandwiches and entrees, $16-$28). The Veranda Lounge's 20-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows offer a panoramic view of the beach and ocean. The rattan seats are comfy, and there's no heavy hotel guest traffic to interrupt your conversation -- or reverie. Between 3 and 5 p.m., it's High Tide, what the hotel's Web site calls "a playful, delicious and decidedly different twist on the tradition of High Tea...featuring tea fare expertly prepared." http://www.hotelcasadelmar.com/dining.html
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