Hotels in Santa Monica, CA

Best places to stay in Santa Monica

A glitzy and luxurious seaside town with gorgeous beaches, world-class shopping and quintessential California restaurants and bars, Santa Monica boasts some of the best ocean views and an eclectic local vibe. While most of the luxury hotels are located along the beach and the pier, you’ll find a good range of reasonably priced hotels a few blocks away from the beach.

Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier, Pico Boulevard, Ocean Avenue

Santa Monica Beach is one of the most beautiful stretches of the Californian coastline, featuring a wide sandy beach. Some of the most luxurious hotels are lined along the beach and Santa Monica Pier. Adjacent to the pier, you have the 1926-dated Hotel Casa del Mar, the most opulent beach hotel with ultra-luxe décor, sophisticated guest rooms, lively public spaces and a relaxing ambiance. You’ll definitely spot a celebrity or two as several Hollywood A-listers choose to stay at this hotel. Situated on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, consider the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Take advantage of the stylishly-designed, spacious guestrooms, remarkable ocean views, and sophisticated on-site facilities.

Pico Boulevard runs from the Pacific Ocean at Appian Way and inland into downtown. Directly on Pico Boulevard, check out the chic rooms and serene spa in Shutters on the Beach hotel. You can also consider the contemporary rooms and relaxed ambience of Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica hotel.

Ocean Avenue runs parallel to the pier and the beach, just one block away, and is perched on an escarpment overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Consider the Hotel Shangri-La at the Ocean, a 1939-dated Art-Deco hotel offering boutique-style accommodation and a rooftop bar with stunning ocean views. You can also look at The Georgian Hotel set in a historic landmark building with distinct Art-Deco architecture. This hotel is known for its Old Hollywood-style glamorous ambience, well-appointed rooms and suites, and premium ocean view dining.

Downtown Santa Monica, Third Street Promenade, Main Street

Downtown Santa Monica includes Main Street, Second Street and Third Street, and it’s just a few blocks beyond Ocean Avenue. While the hotels here are not directly on the beach, they still offer great ocean views and easy access to the sand. Check out Huntley Santa Monica Beach, a luxurious hotel on Second Street. The hotel’s restaurant on the 18th floor offers spectacular 360-degree views of Santa Monica city. On Third Street, consider Palihouse Santa Monica, a beautifully restored 1920-dated Mediterranean garden-style hotel that retains its old-world charm. Choose from spacious rooms or tastefully appointed 1 – 2 bedroom suites and sophisticated on-site facilities. To experience a more local vibe, stay on Main Street which offers an artsy ambience, weekend farmer’s markets, a bunch of art galleries, specialty shops and restaurants. Located across from the venue of the Sunday farmer’s market, stay in the Sea Shore Motel that offers comfortable rooms with private balconies and excellent amenities.

Cheap hotels in Santa Monica

Amid the high-end and luxury boutique hotels on Santa Monica Beach and near Santa Monica Pier, you can also find some comfortable, budget-friendly hotels. Check out the Seaview Hotel, an Art-Deco motel set in a 1950-built low-rise building. The hotel offers colorful, minimalist rooms and a rooftop sundeck, just steps away from the beach. In the same area, you also have the Ocean Lodge Hotel Santa Monica Beach, Ocean View Hotel and Bayside Hotel. In the arts and entertainment neighborhood of Mid-City which is over 20-blocks away from the beach, you can find budget-friendly hotels, such as Comfort Inn Santa Monica – West Los Angeles hotel or Days Inn Santa Monica / Los Angeles hotel. On Santa Monica Boulevard, you can also look at the Best Western Plus Gateway Hotel Santa Monica. Close to the Santa Monica Airport area, consider the Pavilions Motel, Ocean Park Inn – Hotel, or Ocean Park Hotel.