With 75 miles of coastline that stretches from Long Beach to Malibu, it’s easy to consider the sprawling county of Los Angeles for your next beachside check-in. While the best hotels in the city proper are more often found inland — think West Hollywood and Downtown L.A. — iconic Venice Beach represents within the city limits, and Santa Monica, about a 30-minute drive from the center, has some of the best hotels in the state.
In fact, in recent years Santa Monica has become a popular travel hub in its own right, welcoming a number of new luxury hotels just steps from the beach. Here, you’ll find all the picturesque, postcard moments that come to mind when you think Southern California: palm-tree lined streets that border the Pacific Ocean, diners enjoying al fresco lunches under a sherbet-colored sky, and surfers preparing to shred a wave.
Below, seven of the best hotels for sun, sand and beach access in and around Los Angeles — four in Santa Monica, and one each in Venice, Malibu and Huntington Beach.
Santa Monica
Situated on a prime slice of sand in Santa Monica, Shutters on the Beach is a beloved Southern California institution for laid-back luxury and upscale beach escapes: think spa treatments, beachside yoga and a heated pool flanked by private cabanas. First opened in 1993, the hotel is something of a mash-up between the clean aesthetic of a classic Cape Cod retreat and the laidback style of a relaxed California beach house. Scalloped shingles and classic white trim adorns the beach-cottage getaway, with rooms that feature soaking tubs and knickknacks like yo-yos and bookshelves lined with great American novels. Dining on the property includes the casual Coast Beach Café and Bar and One Pico — where enviable views of the Santa Monica Pier are paired with southern Italian coastal dishes.
Just next door to Shutters on the Beach, Casa del Mar shares much of the same DNA as its sister property. The difference comes down to style, with Casa del Mar exuding the sophisticated vibe that comes with its 1920s Italianate pedigree, mosaic tile work, four striped cabana-style sitting areas, beaded chandeliers and long history as a high-end beach club for the Hollywood elite. 129 rooms and 16 suites boast four-poster beds, seashell fixtures and sunken whirlpool tubs (each ornamented, charmingly, with a rubber duckie). At the Terrazza restaurant, fueled by farmers market fare, oceanside views are enjoyed over dishes like wild Alaskan halibut with saffron risotto and kampachi crudo tucked into a citrus miso.
Straight out of a Wes Anderson film, this turquoise-and-gold Art Deco hotel towers above Santa Monica’s popular Ocean Avenue, just across the street from the beach. During its Old Hollywood heyday, the property welcomed notables like Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. These days, guests may rent beach cruiser bikes or spend a curated day aboard a 65-foot-yacht, but many find themselves simply sitting in the lobby, admiring the distinctive peach hibiscus flowers under arched ceilings and a Havana Deco-inspired floor. Rooms are no less glorious, decked out with scalloped velvet headboards, Polaroid cameras, Victrola record players and a gold-plated minibar with a “press for” button concierge service that will deliver everything from champagne to dessert. At the reservations-only Georgian Room, press a discreet button to enter the dimly lit steakhouse and speakeasy, where diners rub shoulders in leather banquettes and the clinking of martini glasses competes with live music.
Designer Kelly Wearstler is well known for her ability to bring California’s coastal charm to life, and the Santa Monica Proper is perhaps the epitome of her talent. Walking into the airy lobby inspires a calming breath of fresh air after a long day of travel. Sandy palettes, organic textures and glossy marble touches are an extension of the scenic ocean — located 10 minutes by foot from the property. The 267 rooms are awash with sand-colored furniture, hemp wall coverings and an emphasis on natural light in every corner. At the rooftop restaurant Calabra, you can’t beat the views of the Pacific Ocean or the variety of Mediterranean dishes. The Santa Monica Proper also boasts a rooftop pool and 3,000-square-foot Surya Spa.
Venice, Malibu and Huntington Beach
Location: Venice Beach
Steps away from the iconic boardwalk, canals and boutique-lined Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the Venice V Hotel is the ideal location from which to enjoy a bustling L.A. neighborhood long known for a vibe that can only be described as eclectic and bohemian. Set in a 1915 landmark building, the beachfront property received a complete restoration that pays homage to this most unique of L.A. spots — including a lobby mural constructed with 4,000 skateboard wheels. Check in for a front-row seat to Venice’s lively boardwalk scene, buzzing with street performers, skaters and bodybuilders — and enjoy beach cruiser bikes, beach yoga and the hotel’s private rooftop.
An hour or so drive from L.A. proper, Malibu is one of California’s most glitzy and exclusive communities — a byword for scenic clifftop views and celebrity hideaways. But at the Surfrider, you have what feels like your very own beach bungalow, set quite literally on America’s most scenic road: the dreamy Pacific Coast Highway. The former 1950s beach house is just removed from Surfrider Beach, and with 20 rooms, a rooftop restaurant exclusive to guests and amenities like surfboards, paddleboards and curated picnic setups, there's no better place for an invigorating pause along the coast.
Another community about an hour or so from L.A. proper, Huntington Beach is known for its long shoreline, endless pier and remarkable surfing. At Kimpton Shorebreak, travelers of all types — we’ll call out families, in particular — enjoy a laid-back retreat steps from that famous pier. The hotel is fun incarnate, with a classic Pac-Man arcade game in the lobby to go with the human-sized chessboard and foosball table. Guests can rent boogie boards and enjoy the climbing wall in the well-equipped gym, or indulge in more stationary pleasures like the do-it-yourself s’mores at the fire pits on the outdoor deck or the Bluetooth-enabled record players. Spacious bathrooms, some with soaking tubs, adorn the 157 guest rooms. Don’t forget to wet your whistle at the daily social happy hour — a Kimpton staple.
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