Best Boutique Hotels in Santa Monica
Looking for an upscale yet intimate stay in Santa Monica? You’re not alone. Boutique hotels in this iconic beachside community are growing in popularity, offering more than just a place to sleep—these hidden gems provide personalized service, stylish design, and unique experiences. In fact, boutique hotels now account for nearly 20% of luxury stays in Los Angeles, a testament to their rising appeal.
If you’re a business traveler seeking quiet luxury or a leisure visitor craving a truly local experience, Santa Monica’s boutique hotels deliver. Think rooftop sunsets over the Pacific, farm-to-table dining that celebrates California’s finest, and exclusive amenities like beachfront yoga or private art tours.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into why these hotels are a smart choice, how they differentiate from large resorts, and the specific perks that elevate your stay. If you’re ready to discover a more thoughtful, curated approach to hospitality, keep reading! We’ve gathered all the details you need to make an informed decision on your next trip.
What Makes a Top Boutique Hotel in Santa Monica?
Here’s what to consider when choosing your ideal boutique hotel in this sunny coastal haven:
Location: Want to be steps away from the iconic Santa Monica Pier? Or maybe you’d prefer the quieter charm of Ocean Park? Santa Monica offers a range of neighborhoods, from the bustling downtown area with shops and restaurants to the tranquil beachside streets perfect for a more peaceful stay. Choose based on your preferred access to attractions like the Third Street Promenade, Venice Beach, or Santa Monica’s buzzing arts district.
Price: Boutique hotels in Santa Monica tend to be on the higher end, but they offer a unique balance of luxury and local character. Expect to pay more for prime ocean views or in-house wellness services. But the personalized service, artistic design, and curated local experiences often make the added cost worth it.
Amenities: Think rooftop terraces with Pacific Ocean views, beachfront lounges, and eco-friendly features. Many Santa Monica boutique hotels offer extras like complimentary bikes for exploring the city, spa treatments that incorporate local ingredients, and even surf lessons or yoga sessions right on the beach. The key is finding the amenities that elevate your stay beyond the standard hotel experience.
Style: From mid-century modern designs that echo California’s rich design history to coastal chic spaces with bohemian touches, Santa Monica’s boutique hotels offer a wide variety of styles. Whether you prefer clean lines and minimalist vibes or something more eclectic and beachy, you’ll find plenty of options that reflect the easygoing elegance of this beachside city.
By focusing on these aspects—location, price, amenities, and style—you’ll be able to choose a boutique hotel that feels like a perfect extension of your Santa Monica adventure. From the moment you check in, it becomes more than just a place to stay; it’s part of the experience.
How to Book Hotels in Santa Monica
You will find in this guide direct links to the biggest hotel booking portal in the world, Booking.com.
Booking.com is the safest way to book your hotel! Once you complete the reservation, you will receive a confirmation email. It’s very simple to use!
Here is our handwritten review on how to use Booking.com.
All Boutique Hotels in Santa Monica in Detail
Below we list all these neat, small, charming, and certainly the best boutique hotels Santa Monica has prepared for you.
Enjoy and happy travels!
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
In a nutshell: A timeless California dream in the city of Angels
The Peninsula Beverly Hills is a classic French château-style hotel nestled in the tropical garden in Beverly Hills. It’s the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star-rated hotel you will find in California.
Aside from this, one thing that makes the hotel different among the other hotels is its classic yet modern style and touch. Right off the lobby, you will find the Living Room. A place where you can catch an afternoon-tea, grab a quick cocktail, or just chill and kill time. You will also find a harpist during teatime and a pianist from Thursday to Saturday.
And if there’s one thing you shouldn’t miss is the hotel’s roof garden. You will have a wonderful view of the city from this part of the hotel. The hotel’s restaurant, outdoor pool, and jacuzzi are also at this part of the property.
Moreover, rooms offer generous proportions and have soft touches of pink and cream giving the room a fresh look. A control panel can be used for the air conditioning and even the lights with one touch. Besides, rooms also feature a minibar, refrigerator, and spa baths.
Rooms and suites also offer lovely balconies where you can enjoy your wonderful breakfast or maybe have a sip of your coffee. The balconies also give you a brighter view of the garden.
And of course, let’s not forget the Mediterranean cuisines made from fresh and locally sourced produce from The Belvedere, the official restaurant of the hotel. And when you visit during the summer, you can catch barbeques, seafood, and cocktails at The Roof Garden.
Good to know: If you're a car enthusiast, you will love it in The Peninsula. The hotel offers luxury vehicles to drive you around the neighborhood. You can choose among a classic Rolls-Royce or their most recent addition to their collection is the customized Mini Cooper S Clubmans. And if you're staying at a suite, you get the complimentary "Suite Ride" on one of their stylish BMWs throughout your stay.
What about the Location?
You will find The Peninsula Beverly Hills nestled within easy walking distance of Century City and the famous Rodeo Drive of Beverly Hills. The Century Plaza Towers and Universal Studios are also near the property.
Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows
In a nutshell: An ideal urban resort and beach retreat in Santa Monica Beach
Smell the fresh air, watch the waves, and have a perfect beach getaway in Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows. Tucked in Miramar, the hotel puts you to Santa Monica’s premier address not only for locals but also for travelers.
The newly renovated and redesigned social spaces invite you to a better and refreshing stay with wonderful views of the Pacific Ocean. Fairmont is ideal for every kind of traveler who is looking for a private and luxury place with ocean views.
Moreover, the rooms are spacious and feature mid-century Southern California luxury. Some rooms may also have their own balcony and views of the beach or even garden views. The rooms are also equipped with ironing facilities and a flat-screen TV.
And if you’re looking for a place to tone and catch your daily routine, the hotel has a fitness center which is divided into two sections. An indoor and outdoor that overlooks the pool and the Pacific Ocean. On the other hand, you can also pamper yourself in a wonderful spa experience with a full menu of facials, massages, healing, waxing, and nail therapies.
Now let’s proceed to the hotel’s dining. You will find several options which include the Fig Restaurant, the Lobby Lounge, The Bungalow, and the Dogtown Coffee.
The Fig Restaurant serves Southern Californian cuisines made from locally sourced ingredients. This is also one of the hot spots for both the locals and tourists. The other is the Lobby Lounge which has indoor and outdoor dining. It serves a full bar and meals for lunch and dinner.
And if you’re looking for good coffee, then proceed to the Dogtown Coffee. On the other hand, The Bungalow is the best option to chill out, have a sip of your cocktail, and simply enjoy the Pacific view.
Good to know: Guests at the hotel are given complimentary use of BMW beach cruisers to go around and see the neighborhood.
What about the Location?
Fairmont Miramar is situated at a great starting point for amazing fun and sightseeing. In a 10-minutes drive, you will reach the Riviera Country Club and a few minutes more to UCLA. Also, you can take a walk and reach Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica State Beach in a few minutes. Other destinations you can see are the Santa Monica Pier, Pacific Park, and the Santa Monica Public Library.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
In a nutshell: A luxury lifestyle hotel in Sta Monica, a Member of Design Hotels
Located on 7th and Wilshire, you will find Santa Monica’s first and only luxury lifestyle hotel, Santa Monica Proper Hotel. It is just a few minutes from the beach and expressly favors the vibe of the neighborhood of Santa Monica.
The Interior of the hotel embraces the 1928 landmark, organic touches like natural wood, neutral pallete, and contemporary architecture. And it features the one and only rooftop pool in the seaside city. Another special to consider from the property.
Moreover, rooms highlight floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies or terraces. The rooms also emphasize Spanish revival built-ins and are equipped with Fili D’oro Fine Linens, Bellino Italian comforter, and pillows.
And since rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, you can easily view the wonderful streets of Santa Monica. Windows also have electronic curtains while rooms have functional smart lightings.
Aside from these amazing room features, the hotel also boasts three restaurants which all of them offer great food. One is the Palma lobby lounge which serves all-day dining. You can also grab light wines here. Next is the Onda Restaurant where they focus on L.A. market ingredients with touches of Latin.
And the last one is Calabra, the hotel’s one of a kind indoor-outdoor rooftop bistro. It serves the Mediterranean-inspired cuisines with touches of the Californian taste. You will love the view of the Sta Monica waters from this part of the hotel while you have a taste of your meal or maybe a drink of your favorite cocktail.
Furthermore, you will also love the saltwater pool at the rooftop which is very popular in the area since it’s the only one. It boasts views of the beach, has a circular bar, and the Calabra.
Good to know: The popular Calabra restaurant is open to guests only from 11 AM to 5 PM and will be open to all beyond these hours. Also, there is lift access everywhere, and several categories of ADA-compliant accessible rooms.
What about the Location?
Santa Monic Proper Hotel is located 10 minutes away from the beach. You will find it in the heart of the small city and boasts sea views. The hotel is also near other restaurants, bars, shops, and one of California's iconic markets - Farmer's market. It's also close to downtown which places you to more places to see and hangout.
