Who's Going
Gwen Stefani, Courteney Cox, Kelly Carlson
Reason to Stay
Ocean View, Hip Crowd, Rooftop Spa
Hotel Type
Beach Hotel
Originally built in the late 1960s as the Pacific Shore Hotel, Viceroy Santa Monica is a designer masterpiece reimagined by Kelly Wearstler offering post millennium design with English Colonial influences. Guests enter the hotel via oversized doors leading into one of the city's most elaborately decorated hotel lobbies. Large drawing rooms decorated with regency furniture and period antiques lead to a more intimate library area with chaise lounge, sofas, and the upholstered club chairs. A decadent lobby bar area runs across the lobby offering a lavish dark wood lined with light chairs and extravagant fabrics. The adjoining restaurant, featuring English revival dishes like Corn Chowder and heavier meat entrees, overlooks an outdoor pool area accented by striped cabanas and a separate lounge of its own.
The Room
The hotel offers 163 staterooms offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean as well as inland vistas of downtown Los Angeles. Originally a high-rise beach motel, the interior guest suites and common area were completely renovated in 2002 while keeping the overall layout and exterior appearance of the building. While some lower room categories may be on the small size, the oversize picture windows and elaborate decor more than make up for the lack of square footage. Each room is decorated with extensive moldings, Lucite tables, beveled mirrors and regency-style furnishings. The beds are tucked with high-thread count Frette linens with decadent throw-blanket for cuddling in front of the TV. The bathrooms offer marble showers and custom whitewash armoires. The property includes a state-of-the-art fitness facility in addition to being just a few blocks from the Santa Monica Beach Recreation path and local shopping.
Preferred Room
Empire Suite
Special Features
Hip Scene, Boutique Hotel, Designer Hotel,
Amenities
Restaurant, Bar, Lounge, Spa, Conference Room, Pool
