The Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a stunning and beautifully designed oasis that offers a top-notch hospitality experience. The hotel's aesthetics and stylish rooms, inviting lounges, and dreamy poolside setting have been widely praised. The rooftop bar and restaurant serve delicious food and cocktails in a chic atmosphere, making it a popular destination. The hotel's staff is the highlight of the experience, with reviewers describing them as professional, warm, friendly, and keen to help. The Guest Experience Manager, in particular, is noted for their thoughtfulness, warmth, and attention to detail, making the stay particularly memorable. The hotel's other staff, including the bartender and the events department, have also been praised for their exceptional service. The hotel's amenities, such as the healing and healthy food menu with vegan and gluten-free options, and the outstanding spa, have also received positive reviews. The location of the hotel is great, and guests have expressed their intention to return. Overall, the Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a top-notch establishment that provides a truly exceptional hospitality experience, with its stunning design, excellent amenities, and exceptional staff.
Why we love it: An impeccably designed stay by Kelly Wearstler, just a few blocks from the beachThe HighlightsBeautifully curated common spaces like the lobby and libraryA spacious rooftop deck with a pool and bar overlooking the oceanA forthcoming restaurant from Jessica Koslow of Sqirl and Gabriela Cámara of ContramarThe ReviewSanta Monica is officially on the map with this spectacular property, the second hotel for the Proper brand after its debut in San Francisco in 2017. Like at the first location, celebrity interior designer Kelly Wearstler heads up interiors and has produced an absolute stunner, drawing inspiration from her own Malibu home as well as the hotel's circa-1928 Spanish Colonial Revival building. (The property actually straddles two buildings; the other half is a sleek new construction, connected by a courtyard and sky bridge to the historic part.) The 271 pet-friendly rooms feature original Kelly Wearstler wallpaper, vintage lamps and tables, and custom-made sunburst headboards that remind you you're near the beach. Guests can also look forward to roomy bathrooms, complete with travertine marble, full-size Aesop bath products, and super-soft Parachute for Kelly Wearstler robes. As tempting as it may be to hole up in your room, be sure to check out the gorgeous lobby, which boasts an impressively eclectic collection of designer chairs, both vintage and modern. You'll also want to visit on-site restaurant Palma for some California-by-way-of-the-Mediterranean fare, then sneak away to the Grotto, a nook of a library with knick-knacks and books from Wearstler's own home. If you'd rather not walk the few blocks to the beach, head up to the spacious pool deck, which boasts its own bar and lounge, Calabra. Still to come are an Ayurvedic spa from Surya and the highly anticipated ground-floor restaurant Onda, with a menu by Jessica Koslow of Sqirl and Gabriela Cámara of Contramar in Mexico City.
