For decades, Hollywood’s brightest have slipped quietly out of Los Angeles and headed north along the coast, trading studio lights for ocean air and a little room to breathe. Santa Barbara (and Montecito in particular) has long been the refuge of choice for stars seeking elegance and privacy. That star-studded history set the tone for night two of Engage!25 Santa Barbara: an Old Hollywood–inspired supper club at Rosewood Miramar Beach. Think classic Hollywood polish softened by California ease. A night that rolled out like a perfectly paced film.
Set on the site of the beloved Miramar By The Sea Hotel, Rosewood Miramar Beach is a study in refined nostalgia. The resort honors its past while delivering a thoroughly modern expression of luxury: bungalow-style architecture inspired by Paul Williams (the original “architect to the stars”), rolling lawns, mature landscaping, and the Pacific just steps away. Design details nod to the golden age. The boardwalk invites sunset strolls. Interiors feature a custom Pantone shade of “Miramar blue,” drawn from archival photographs of the property’s glory days. It was the ideal stage for an evening inspired by Hollywood’s glamour.
Cocktails on the Lawn
Cue the opening scene. Guests arrived on the lawns of Rosewood Miramar Beach just as golden hour softened into dusk. Vintage champagne carts stocked with shiny silver coupes dotted the grass. As champagne and conversation flowed, guests posed in their finest black tie finery. This was cocktail hour the Montecito way: polished, social, and unhurried.
Dinner Takes Center Stage
Dinner unfolded inside a striking, clear tent that transformed the lawn into an Old Montecito supper club with a modern edge. The palette was timeless black and white, softened by lush white florals, greenery, and the warm glow of chandeliers beneath the starry night sky. Guests took their seats at mirrored tables, ready for the show to begin. Then the supper club orchestra and cabaret performers by Elan Artists took the stage, and the tent came alive. Music, movement, glamour, and grace. Dinner wasn’t simply served – it was staged.
The menu kept pace with the evening’s tone. It began with hand-pulled burrata and Lolla Rossa baby lettuces, followed by a main course of braised Wagyu short rib. Every course complemented the flow of the evening, offering just enough pause between performances and conversation before the night moved seamlessly into its next act.
The Sweetest Plot Twist
And then came the dramatic finale. After dinner, guests wandered through a chocolate-toned, velvet-draped hallway, a transition that felt like stepping backstage or into a hidden speakeasy. The reveal on the other side was pure Montecito after-hours fantasy. This, our dessert party, was inspired by the legendary Lucky’s Steakhouse, and the space was Gatsby-worthy in every sense. Warm lounge seating, layered draping, crystal lighting, and a statement bar pouring chocolate and espresso martinis by Via Carota Craft Cocktails. Desserts were of course in abundance: gianduja tarts, hazelnut and chocolate sablé Bretons, chocolate macarons, chocolate lollipops, mini tarte tatin, and seasonal truffles. Even the bar menu was made entirely of chocolate, a detail that felt delightfully indulgent.
In the background, a wall of framed black-and-white portraits celebrated Santa Barbara and Montecito’s beloved celebrity residents, echoing Lucky’s own gallery. And while guests indulged their sweet tooth, dueling pianos and cabaret performances kept the energy high. There was even a live chocolate painting moment, for an unexpected artistic flourish.
The Dress Code: Old Montecito Elegance
Of course, fashion is always part of the Engage! fun and the Engage!25 Santa Barbara guests brought all the red carpet glamour! They arrived in classic black tie with vintage flourishes. It was all about sleek silhouettes, polished tailoring, and elegant accessories that nodded to Hollywood’s golden age. Against the monochrome palette of the evening, guests stood out as sparkling, shining stars. Ready for their close-up, indeed.
The Final Cut
Night two of Engage!25 Santa Barbara was anchored by history, elevated by design, and brought to life through music, performance, and impeccable hospitality. It was a cinematic evening that will be remembered long after the credits rolled.
You can see more from this Old Hollywood-inspired dinner at Rosewood Miramar Beach in our galleries.
