Hotels in Santa Monica, CA

“Huge rooms compared to other motels I have stayed in.
Location was fantastic. So close to the beach.
Could borrow chairs & beach towels at reception.
Free parking.

Really enjoyed our 2 nights there.”

“One of the warmest and most heart-touching experiences I’ve had at a hotel.
I came here all the way from Toronto to attend a workshop and decided to stay a few extra days to continue writing a book I’ve been working on for several months.
The room I received was full of inspiration, and the overall atmosphere in the hotel was incredibly welcoming — it gave me a true sense of belonging.
The breakfasts and afternoon snacks made me feel like someone was always there, quietly caring for my well-being.

Highly recommended!”

“Always a pleasure to eat at 1 Pico : service with experienced and customer focused team always very smooth (including front desk), food fresh and nicely presented (my wife had the egg Benedict and I had the spaghetti carbonara), good selection of wines and cocktail. Above all, we love the airy (table ms not too close from one another) and bright (large windows) setting with great view of the beach/ocean.”

“The aesthetics of this outstandingly beautiful and strikingly designed hotel are well known, but, for me, the deepest gratification (and surprise) were the staff.

I was staying for a weekend’s peaceful, de-stress staycation. And every single staff member I came into contact with was professional, warm, friendly and keen to help. Anything could be arranged. Anything could be fixed. I felt like I mattered as a guest and that my choosing to stay with them was appreciated.

The most significant member of staff, during my stay, was Guest Experience Manager Matthew Hamilton Ross. His thoughtfulness, warmth and attention to detail made my stay particularly memorable. He is a true credit to the hotel.

I also greatly appreciated the healing, healthy food menu with vegan and gluten free options (more please!). And the Ayurvedic teas were delicious. The spa was also outstanding, especially masseuse ZenZi.

I have traveled extensively. I have high standards. And I will be returning to the Proper as soon as possible.

THANK YOU and well done.”

“This is an iconic but quirky hotel. It doesn’t come with all the modern amenities but it has a soul and an excellent service. The hotel seems to be frequented by rather upscale locals as well as tourists, who come to have drinks as well as dine in. We stayed a full week and appreciated its unique style a bit more every day. Good room service breakfast and walking distance from Santa Monica pier as well as shopping mall

Rooms: Not the biggest but stylish and comfortable. The hotel is old and consequently the bathrooms are too

Nearby activities: Near the Santa Monica pier, restaurants, shopping mall

Safety: The shocking and disturbing part is the amount of homeless ppl that almost exceeds the visitors of this upscale place. It is very difficult to stay indifferent towards such a misery

Walkability: Perfect location. Everything can be reached on foot

Food & drinks: In room breakfast is delicious. Some dishes in the hotel’s restaurant are good too. Nice bar and drinks but the stay, the dining and the bar come at a high price

Noteworthy details: It has a very particular style for mostly upscale crowd”

“My husband and I stayed there for our 10th anniversary and we could not have been more pleased. Upon arrival the reception clerk not only upgraded us (due to our anniversary) but also sent up a bottle of bubbly that was waiting for us when we walked in to our room. When he heard we had three kids he gave us fun sand toys for them and when we arrived at dinner that night (at the hotel restaurant) he had noted that it was our anniversary and they made the whole night special. We felt like the entire staff went out of their way to make our stay exceptional and it is still one of our favorite memories. I would highly recommend to anyone who wants an excellent and memorable vacation to stay here. You will not be disappointed! You will be wowed.”

“A little away from the hustle and bustle, but still within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier etc., the Oceana is a quiet pearl with large, well-designed rooms and incredibly friendly and courteous staff. You can relax by the pool and you can also end the evening outside in the adjacent restaurant. Bike rental is free and definitely recommended, as Santa Monica has bike paths everywhere, in the city and on the beach.”

“I think ALL hotels for the most part are pretty expensive but I guess it's the location. This is a very charming and cozy place. Nice to snuggle up to your favorite ? and REST!”

“The first time here Service: The front desk staff was nice but had trouble finding our reservation in their system. The valet and bell hop were also great at providing great service and were so nice welcoming us to the hotel. Food: We ate at the hotel at the penthouse restaurant located on the top level of the hotel. The views of the beach and the city are great. It's a big space with a big bar. During the day, it's bright and light with plenty of sun coming through the windows. At night, it's dim lighting and accent lighting that makes it feel like a totally different place. The food is great and high-end. I have to say it was a joy tasting good quality food. The drinks were a little weak but not too bad. Atmosphere: The atmosphere is great throughout the hotel. The spaces are nicely decorated and well designed. They offer free golf carts to get around the city, and the gym is free for the first 4 hours. The other guests were great, and we had no issues. Location: It's located in Santa Monica, CA, near the beach Room: We got the Malibu suite, which was amazing, and it was big with a separate living room space. The bed was comfortable, and the closet was a walk-in, and the bathro was huge with a separate shower, toilet roo, and tub. The tub was missing the stopper, so we could use it, and the refrigerator wasn't getting cold, so we couldn't store things in it. The entry door is digital and allows you to use different lighting to determine your status. The furniture was really nice and the room was so nice aesthetically. The view was amazing with the ocean, mountains, and the city in your view. Price: It was on the high end. The Malibu Suite room was $1,000 for one night, and they charge $25 an hour for a late checkout. The restaurant was also pricey but worth it. And there is a separate fee for valet when you checkout. Just heads up.”

“Great hotel. Super clean and smelled luxurious. There was a nightly free drinks time from 5-7. It’s across the street from the yummiest restaurant for breakfast called Tartine.”

“There is definitely pros on cons to this place.
More pros i would say. It’s in an excellent location minutes from the beach. Lots of good good food near by. The rooms are dated with a musty smell. But overall you get what you pay for. Comfortable beds on Santa Monica blvd at an affordable price. Works for me!

Rooms: Rooms could use a remodel. Maybe some new carpet

Nearby activities: minutes from the beach”

“Rooms were decent and came with on suite bathrooms stocked with shampoos and gels, hotel itself has a decent lobby with parking directly outside the hotel, so bags are easily moved in and out of the hotel. Staff were extremely kind and helpful and offered an immediate room change on the first night as we weren’t satisfied with the room initially. Upon leaving the staff also waived the early departure fee which was also extremely helpful. Overall I would recommend to those looking to stay in the Santa Monica area.”

“We typically don’t stay at the same hotel twice cause we like to experience as much as possible. However this is our 2nd time staying at the hotel. Rooms are average but the staff is amazing. Sometimes the employees make the difference and i will say the employees here are awesome! The gentleman at the concierge desk seems to keep the flow and was impressed with his ability to keep calm and treat everyone like family. Not the Taj Mahal but employees will take care of you. Looking forward to coming back”

“My son and I were on a trip for his birthday and we had the pleasure of staying here. Loved our room and view of the ocean. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful across the board. They loaned us bikes to go to the beach. It was a great experience all around. Will definitely be back.”

“My favorite place in the world - I've been around the world and I have to say my dream place is the Seaview in sweet Santa Monica. Rosa and owner John are two of the nicest people I've ever met. Best located hotel for the price in the country. Places next door cost 4X more, but 4X less soul. Why is it temp closed? I was ready to book for a winter vacay.”

“Last summer I went to L.A and after I left Santa Barbara here’s where I went. It’s perfect to stay. I got room 500 and that’s one of the luxury rooms so I paid extra to get it done. Wi-Fi was actually ok because in the hotels I’ve been to it’s not good apart from this. I had a bath in the bath and I managed to turn round the tv so I could watch it. I went to Burger Lounge, 5 minutes away and it was an amazing stay.It was a very good experience and I’m going to try my best to try American language so the sea view I had was good. The pull-out couch *sofa was very comfortable and I always have loads of energy so that was relaxing. I recommend here. 5 stars.”

“This review is to acknowledge the excellence of Emil, our server, who enhanced my visit with my dear friend I hadn’t seen in a year. His attention and advice for wines and food took our time to the next level. He was always there to refill our glass with a smile and ask if there was anything more required. Also, replacing our delicious cucumbers and potato chips.Bravo! He is an incredible brand ambassador that makes me not only want to return but recommend the Fairmont lobby to everyone.Plus, we are tough critics who have lived in LA for 36 years and been in the film and tv industry for decades, it takes a lot to impress.We were just thinking of have a drink or two but when he brought the wine list there was a joy to him that made us feel more celebratory so we ordered a good bottle of champagne.We thought we would have a drink and move to a local restaurant but we just kept wanting to staying and ordered food since we were so well taken care of we couldn’t think of a place that would be better, so what could have been a small tab turned into a much larger one because we felt so well taken care of and having the best time not wanting to leave and even ordering more champagne after we finished the bottle. That is exceptional.Emil enhanced our reunion and he is the gold standard.”

“Super convenient location, can walk to much of Santa Monica (very close to pier and 3rd street). Room and lobby were clean, room was quite comfortable. Valet parking was pricey but allowed unlimited in and out privileges and an easy way to request your car in advance via text.”

“We stayed here for our final hotel during a 10 day Route 66 trip. For that purpose, it is a great option. Once we finished the route, we wanted to be on the beach with the ability to walk to the pier. The room was simple but clean. There was some ambiguity on if we could check-in early or not, which caused some confusion, but they were nice enough to give us their last parking spot earlier in the day before we checked-in, so we didn't have to worry about finding parking for our car after the long drive.”

“The owner, Bob, made the experience very easy. I arrived to my room earlier than reserved and he made accommodations for me to be able to check in earlier. He also tried to help with parking as much as he could but unfortunately couldn’t find any and recommended a parking garage nearby since I was only staying for the night. All and all the room was good and the communication was great. Will book again!”

“I had a great view of the water from my room. Service was a little slow--ie. room wasn't ready, housekeeping took a long time to bring things up--but overall it was a really good stay. Front desk service was very attentive. The restaurant on site was pretty good too!! I would definitely stay again as it's so close to the boardwalk and to all things in Santa Monica.”