Santa Monica is my favorite Los Angeles metropolis. Sure metropolis, as a result of LA really encompasses over 80 cities!
I’ve stayed right here in beachfront West LA, greater than a dozen occasions at numerous boutique lodges dotted alongside the coast and listed here are my ideas on a couple of of them that can assist you determine the place is the very best place to remain in Santa Monica.
When you haven’t been to Santa Monica earlier than, it has every part a stopover in Los Angeles requires: it’s not too removed from LAX airport, has procuring on the pedestrianised third Avenue Promenade (and extra within the surrounding streets).
Its meals scene can also be scrumptious, it has wonderful Pacific Ocean sunsets and in the event you fancy a cocktail at a fab bar, ideally with sea views have a learn of my favourite bars right here>
You’ll recognise Santa Monica by its iconic pier with a Ferris Wheel, a Bubba Gump restaurant, and the tip of Santa Monica Pier is the official finish of Route 66 – (for you Forrest Gump followers).There are many enjoyable actions, cycle rent and touristy retailers all the way in which alongside because it reaches over the broad sandy seashore and into the ocean.
It’s a little bit of a must-do really: to promenade oneself alongside the pier, and even rent a motorbike or stroll down onto the seashore and stroll the 2km stretch alongside to Venice Seashore, through all of the buff our bodies strutting their stuff on Muscle Seashore, or seize a driverless Waymo automobile and go a bit of additional.
When you solely have 1 day in Santa Monica, I’ve received an awesome little itinerary right here in my new website Day Tripping USA.
Listed below are the very best Santa Monica lodges, that I’ve stayed in and LOVED:
The Georgian Lodge
This historic Santa Monica resort sits proper on Ocean Ave and is a really quick stroll from the retailers. It’s one of many closest lodges you will get to the thrill of Santa Monica’s coronary heart with fabulous views of the seashore, the pier and the beautiful sunsets.
However step inside and the Artwork Deco decor will trigger 1930 followers to have broad, shiny eyes and twirl in circles.
We stayed right here for a pair nights on our honeymoon and actually liked the roadside veranda for breakfast or a glass of wine. An incredible people-watching location – once we weren’t staring into one another’s eyes, that’s!
Regent Santa Monica Seashore
Previously Loews, a multi-million greenback makeover has ensured this seashore entrance magnificence will final for a lot of extra years to come back. I stayed right here a couple of years in the past and the views haven’t modified, trying over Muscle Seashore throughout to the Santa Monica Pier.
However the different day I popped in to take a look at the brand new foyer area and eating choices. The contemporary flowers that greet you on the primary doorways set the tone for the class of this complete floor ground hospitality area.
There’s a cafe on the entrance, Candy July, for pastries and baked items if you want a fast snack together with your espresso. However I walked by means of to Orla, the restaurant over a few ranges with ground to ceiling home windows exhibiting off that view. It was breakfast time, so I ordered the bagel with lox and a latte. It was so beneficiant, it beat me!
The pool cabanas are just for in-house company, however I grabbed a sneaky pic for you!
Pierside Santa Monica
Previously Vacation Inn, the Pierside is a hidden gem of a resort in plain sight. It’s situated instantly reverse the Santa Monica Pier and has essentially the most wonderful six-story mural painted on its west-facing facet.
The bottom ground foyer restaurant and bar, The Browsing Fox, is a superb spot for a drink outdoors on their streetfront patio, or inside on the central bar or take a desk. They serve a tremendous lobster roll and fries too!
There’s a small pool, sandwiched towards the wall bordering the freeway. Nonetheless on scorching LA day, this can be a pretty respite. The rooms are spacious and the mattress was tremendous snug, but it surely was the bathe that had me at howdy. It’s an enormous walk-in, tiled bathe with a bench seat and rainforest or wall bathe heads. It’s like a spa!
As a substitute of offering an iron and board, they’ve thoughtfully added an iron steamer, for these us with delicate garments which have baggage crinkles. You’re throughout the highway from Santa Monica Place for procuring and rooftop eating, or two blocks from Third Avenue Promenade for extra procuring.
Shutters on the Seashore
When you’re in search of a premium Santa Monica Seashore resort, you possibly can’t get any extra seashore entrance than Shutters on the Seashore!
The sand is actually out the entrance door and since the resort is U-shaped a lot of the rooms afford views throughout the pool to the sweeping Santa Monica Seashore and the Pier, which is about 200m away.
It’s designed like I think about a Cape Cod vacation house can be. Picket shutters (good contact) in your home windows, white picket furnishings in your room, cozy chairs and beds which are so excessive it’s possible you’ll want the stool from the closet to climb in (I did!) and a toilet that opens onto the bed room for romantic moments. A shower with a view!
You’re additionally inside simple strolling distance of the procuring and leisure on Third Avenue Promenade.
Shore Lodge
This resort is up on Ocean Drive with solely the highway between you and the clifftop above sandy Santa Monica seashore under.
It’s all glass and smooth design. Very styly and a pool is smack in entrance but it surely’s hidden behind discrete frosted glass from the highway. It additionally lights up blue at night time.
This resort location is fabulous for procuring as you’re actually across the nook from Nordstrom and solely two blocks from Third Avenue Promenade with its pedestrianised procuring road.
The place to eat right here is the Mexican Blue Plate Taco proper in entrance of the resort on the road. The proper spot to plonk your self with a margarita and bowl of tortilla chips and simply folks watch.
Viceroy Santa Monica
In a 1960’s former workplace constructing, which from the highway is blocked by excessive hedges that appear to wish to conceal the box-shape resort behind them, that is essentially the most understated constructing on the town.
The Viceroy Lodge seems lifeless boring, however step into the Kelly Wearstler designed foyer with its shabby-chic antiqued mirrors lining the wall behind reception that leads your eyes by means of to the pool and cabanas and also you’ll say wow at this boutique resort.
Even in the event you’re not staying right here, come for a poolside drink or guide for dinner. If you’re staying right here, you’ll adore the little further touches within the rooms and the epic views.
It’s a bit additional away from Third Avenue for procuring than the opposite lodges, however nothing a brisk stroll received’t repair!
Fairmont Miramar Lodge
Behind the 100-year outdated fig tree, rumoured to have been planted in lieu of paying for the resort room, is the elegant Fairmont Lodge.
There are two very totally different lodging choices right here: the backyard villas which you get to by means of the foyer and by strolling across the pool and backyard, and the resort suites in the principle constructing. I’ve stayed in each and the extent of luxurious is opulent.
The previous boardroom, housed within the bungalow (on the left in my pic), has been reworked into one of the crucial in style bars on the town, the Bungalow. See my publish on my favorite bars in Santa Monica.
The Eden
Previously Shangri La after I stayed, this artwork deco resort (really Streamline Moderne), has been not too long ago taken over by Eden and renamed. Painted blazing white and located enviably on the nook of Ocean Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard, it conjures up the texture of an ocean liner from the road.
Inside, the unique 1939 options have been respectfully redecorated and the rooms present wonderful views of the ocean.
The rooftop bar is present process a full refurbishment and will probably be open on the finish of summer time 2025. Keep tuned.
Learn my high picks for the Greatest Bars in Santa Monica that includes a few these lodges and a few fabulous bars with views, fireplaces, craft beer…
You probably have the time, decide one in all these fast highway journeys from this listing of 12 marvelous day journeys from LA!
