The place that birthed For Guests Only, and our obsession for hotels. The Santa Monica Proper is nothing short of exceptional; the interiors are a designer’s dream, the service is immaculate, and the food and beverage options are a plenty. Calabra (the resident outdoor rooftop restaurant and bar) serves fresh and vibrant Mediterranean and California cuisine, and should not be overlooked. They very happily accommodate for dietary restrictions (trust us, being dairy and gluten free was a breeze here), and they even made us our favorite Aussie drink (a lemon-lime bitters) to accompany our front-row sunset view over the Pacific. Palma, situated in the lobby lounge, provides the perfect cozy backdrop for casual bites and crafted cocktails, and it’s also the spot where the infamous arched lounges are—you might have seen these on Instagram.

Rooms are split between two structures, but common spaces are easily accessed from both. The 271 guest rooms and suites embody the relaxed sophistication of the California lifestyle, with the interiors reflecting the neighboring coastline. We had the pleasure of staying in one of the Landmark rooms—housed in a re-imagined 1920s landmarked building with slightly more historic furnishings. There’s also the option to stay in the newer, more contemporary building where the interiors are equally outstanding but slightly less eclectic (in our opinion). We loved the Parachute Home custom bathrobes, Aesop bath products, Bellino Italian linens, and Flamingo Estate dark chocolate waiting for us in our room upon arrival. The hotel also features a rooftop swimming pool equipped with deck chairs and cabanas (the only rooftop pool in the seaside city), a 3,000sf Ayurvedic spa sanctuary, and a bicycle valet (including e-bikes) which we used often and were perfect for exploring Santa Monica.

*pricing is subject to change—contact us for updated rates for your dates