Santa Monica hotels

If you were dropped inside the Palihouse Santa Monica, you’d probably think you were in a stately library in the English countryside rather than three blocks from the Pacific Ocean. That eccentricity is what makes this one of the best hotels in Santa Monica, where oversized plush furniture, an elk head, and a cosy fireplace give Palihouse a unique ambience.

It’s also delightfully quiet – perfect for when I want a spot that’s not right in the thick of it all, but still close enough to walk to the beach.

The rooms stick to the antique motif, decorated to feel like a late 19th-century country house. The old-school lift is also fun, if a bit of a challenge to manage with its manual door. Breakfast is best enjoyed outside in the front garden, where the California sun reminds you that despite the decor, you’re still squarely in Santa Monica.

After a lengthy renovation and reopening in 2023, this Ocean Avenue gem is once again one of the best hotels in Santa Monica. Supremely glamorous, everything here – from the lobby bar to the nightstands in the rooms – has a little bit of Art Deco flair. Even if I’m not staying here, I love stopping by the Georgian’s restaurant, Sirena, to soak up the ambience and enjoy the views of the Pacific Ocean.

Back in the day, the original Georgian was a big hangout for the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. So, in addition to being one of the best boutique hotels in Santa Monica, it’s also a fun place to pretend you’re a 1930s movie star, gallivanting among arched ceilings and pastel walls and using the beach as your own personal playground.

‘Charming’ is a hard thing to pull off when you’re a resort with 189 rooms. But Shutters on the Beach does just that, somehow maintaining a cute, coastal cabin vibe while taking up nearly an entire city block. The beachside retreat sits at the end of meandering Pico Boulevard, a fitting reward for those who’ve ventured here by traversing one of LA’s most congested roads.

Once you’re at Shutters, you’ll see why it’s consistently named as one of the best hotels in Santa Monica. Every room feels like your own private beach house, with white wood and views over the Pacific Ocean.

I love this hotel because it feels the most like being at the beach of any beachfront hotel in Santa Monica. Others offer more of an urban vibe, but Shutters is the kind of place I feel like I’m on holidays as soon as I arrive.

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel in Santa Monica that’s a little removed from the noise of the beachfront, book a room at the Huntley. Not too long ago, the hotel was a big LA hotspot, thanks mostly to the rooftop bar that drew big crowds of Westside locals.

The bar is still beautiful, and I still think of it as a great happy hour destination to watch the sunset from the rooftop. But because it’s not an ‘it’ place like it was a few years ago, the hotel is way more relaxed now.

This bodes well for families looking for spacious rooms and a little peace and quiet.

The Huntley’s service is always fantastic, and the views are equally impressive, whether you’re looking over Santa Monica to the mountains or into the ocean.

While many of the best hotels in Santa Monica trade on their beachfront locale, the Proper Hotel is a destination unto itself. It’s a spot where locals hang out, the chic design and high-end clientele giving it a definite air of Westside cool.

The hotel is set between a modern structure and an historic 1920s building, so it also offers a nice mix of old and new LA. Guests at the Proper mostly come for the food and the spa, both of which are among the best in Los Angeles even without the 267 rooms.

Palma is a high-energy, see-and-be-seen kind of place, and though I’ve never spotted a celebrity there, it’s allegedly popular with the stars. The rooftop Calabra is better if you want a cocktail in the sun, and though it doesn’t have a view of the ocean, the vibes feel no less LA.

The Viceroy Santa Monica was the first-ever Viceroy Hotel when it opened back in 2000. As the city evolved, so did the Viceroy, and it recently completed a three-year, multi-million-dollar renovation to restore it as one of the best hotels in Santa Monica.

This luxury lifestyle hotel sits right on Ocean Avenue, with rooms that feel like you’re staying on top of the sand. I love the place for its location above all, as it allows you to get to Venice Beach or Santa Monica city centre without having to deal with the notorious LA traffic.

The other great thing about the Viceroy is Sugar Plum, its poolside restaurant that goes way beyond the usual offering. The menu is packed with local ingredients and the wine list is full of California producers, meaning you get a true taste of Southern California without having to leave your lounge chair.

Back in the Roaring Twenties, the Casa del Mar Beach Club was THE place to be on the LA scene. One of the nation’s premiere seaside social hangouts, it was a hotspot for the rich and famous.

Like many such places, it saw a rather dubious turn towards the end of the 20th century, but found new life 25 years ago when it reopened at the beginning of Santa Monica’s new wave of luxury beachfront hotels.

Now, it’s hands down one of the best hotels in Santa Monica, where history meets luxury at the Pacific Ocean’s front door. Like its sister property Shutters, Casa del Mar offers some of the finest beachfront accommodation in Santa Monica. But here, you’ll find more of a retro, Mediterranean-revival motif than Shutters’ elegant beach house vibe.

Years ago, I was jogging down Ocean Avenue and saw this hotel where every room had floor to ceiling windows and a big balcony with two chairs facing the ocean. And I thought, ‘Well, if that isn’t the ultimate in Santa Monica holidaying’. So, I stopped and discovered this little stretch of California oceanfront was the Shore Hotel, which makes exceptional use of its stellar shoreline location.

Not only are the balconies here like your own private beach bungalows, most of the in-room showers also boast ocean views. So, you won’t have to worry about missing sunset if you want to shower up for happy hour after a long day on the beach. The hotel itself is well appointed and modern, but more affordable than most of the other beachfront properties in Santa Monica.

If you’ve been to Santa Monica before, you may remember the Regent as the Loews. After a year-and-a-half-long renovation, it reopens late summer 2024 as the Regent. And though I haven’t had a chance to stay there yet, I’ve toured the place – and it is spectacular.

Each guestroom is a 700-square-foot, two-room suite, with a full living room with banquette and walk-in wardrobe. The sprawling pool deck looks out over the Pacific Ocean, and the reception is a marvel of white marble and ocean views.

Michael Mina helms the kitchen at Orla, a coastal-cuisine restaurant that leans heavily on fresh California produce. Another celebrity chef, Ayesha Curry, brings her fast-casual Sweet July concept to the hotel. Regent’s first foray into North America is an absolute palace, and instantly places itself among the best hotels in Santa Monica.

Much like you’ll often find old motels transformed into cool boutique spots, this old Holiday Inn has been brilliantly restored as a high-rise surf hotel. While that may seem like an odd combination, the Pierside makes it work with a light, beachy motif and boards for hire in the reception area. I love this place for how it fully immerses itself in Santa Monica’s surf culture.

As the name suggests, the Pierside is one of the best hotels in Santa Monica if you’re looking to spend time on the city’s famous pier. The on-site restaurant, The Surfing Fox, is a breezy indoor/outdoor space with a lively bar and Japanese-Mexican fusion cuisine. I’ve found it great for drinks with people from out of town, as the location and cool marine air give it a very LA sense of place.