The Best Luxury Los Angeles Beach Hotels (2026)
The most luxurious five-star beachfront hotels and oceanfront resorts in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is a beach city, but not every hotel by the water delivers a luxury stay that feels considered from arrival to departure. In 2026, L.A.’s strongest beach hotels balance direct ocean access with world-class design, service, and an atmosphere that remains purposeful throughout the stay.
The eight properties below represent the top beachfront hotels and oceanfront resorts in Los Angeles, spanning Pacific-facing addresses in Santa Monica, discreet Malibu stays, and resort properties where scale enhances the experience rather than distracting from it. These are the Los Angeles beach hotels that matter and that consistently deliver.
Navigate our top Los Angeles luxury beach hotel picks by using the list below, or continue reading to review your options for the best beachfront hotels in Los Angeles in 2026. Booking links support the site at no cost to you, and every resort is independently selected.
➔ Looking for more Los Angeles travel content? Explore our full Los Angeles Luxury Travel Guide, or review our curated selection of the Best Los Angeles Boutique Hotels.
At a glance:
The Top Luxury Los Angeles Beach Hotels in 2026
The Best Luxury Beach Hotels in Santa Monica
The Best Luxury Beach Hotels in Malibu
The Best Los Angeles Beach Hotels for Families
The Top Luxury Los Angeles Beach Hotels (2026)
- Oceanfront Montecito resort with rare Forbes Triple Five-Star luxury designation.
- Suites and villas with indoor-outdoor living, marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs.
- Butler-led beach service, private cabanas, two pools overlooking the Pacific.
- One of Southern California’s best luxury resort stays for 2026.
Rosewood Miramar Beach is one of Southern California’s most luxurious oceanfront resorts, set along a quiet stretch of Montecito coastline with a rare Triple Forbes Five-Star designation across the hotel, Sense Spa, and its Michelin-starred restaurant, Caruso’s. The experience is polished from the moment of arrival, with a calm, residential atmosphere and service executed at a genuinely elite level.
Suites and bungalows are designed for seamless indoor-outdoor living, with marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs, and wide ocean views. Butler-attended beach service, private cabanas, and two pools overlooking the Pacific shape a distinctly elevated stay, while world-class dining, an award-winning spa, complimentary house cars, and Les Clefs d’Or concierge support reinforce its position as one of the top luxury resorts in the greater Los Angeles area.
Price: $$–$$$ • Best For: Luxury Family Escapes, Spa & Golf, Private Villas.
Set across 102 acres of uninterrupted oceanfront in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Terranea Resort offers a fully integrated luxury resort experience where scale meets seclusion. A frequent filming location favored by Hollywood insiders, the property delivers privacy without sacrificing proximity to Los Angeles. Guestrooms, suites, and multi-bedroom private villas feature indoor-outdoor living, generous layouts, and spa-style bathrooms suited to extended stays or five-star getaways.
The experience is anchored by a 50,000-square-foot oceanfront spa, a cliffside nine-hole golf course, and several pools serving both adults and families. Eight concept dining venues showcase seasonal local ingredients, alongside private beach access, dedicated butler service, and a full concierge team coordinating kayaking, guided nature programs, and personalized experiences across the property. With resort-scale amenities and California coastal luxury, Terranea remains one of the most complete oceanfront destinations in Los Angeles.
Price: $$–$$$ • Best For: Design-Led Luxury, Spa & Wellness Escapes.
Sitting high above the bluffs of Laguna Beach with uninterrupted ocean views, Montage pairs five-star luxury with a relaxed, wellness-driven atmosphere. California Arts & Crafts architecture blends with museum-quality local art and expansive windows framing the coastline, while suites, and private villas feature beachfront indoor-outdoor living, marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs, and wide ocean views.
The 20,000-square-foot Spa Montage is a major draw, featuring bespoke treatments, eucalyptus steam rooms, dry redwood saunas, and relaxation lounges. Alongside an iconic oceanfront infinity pool, excellent dining venues overlooking the water, direct beach access, and award-winning service, Montage Laguna Beach remains a quintessential Southern California luxury getaway.
Price: $$$ • Best For: Japanese Minimalism, Nobu Dining, Carbon Beach Access.
Nobu Ryokan Malibu sits directly on Carbon Beach, known locally as “Billionaires Beach” for its privacy and discretion, offering one of Los Angeles’ most elevated beachfront retreats. With only a small collection of rooms, the experience is intentionally restrained and design-forward, blending traditional Japanese principles with Malibu’s oceanfront setting. Accommodations emphasize natural materials, minimalist modern interiors, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, with private decks and spa-inspired bathrooms just steps from the sand.
The Nobu Ryokan experience is defined by quiet five-star execution, from traditional Japanese teak soaking tubs in every suite to a discreet concierge team that coordinates everything from surf lessons to dinner reservations with relaxed precision. Guests receive priority seating at Nobu Malibu, enjoy direct beach access with full service, a low-profile oceanfront pool, and curated wellness experiences, making Nobu Ryokan Malibu one of the most sought-after reservations on the California coast.
Price: $$–$$$ • Best For: Santa Monica Beachfront Luxury, Old-World Glamour.
Hotel Casa del Mar is Santa Monica’s most classically luxurious beachfront resort, occupying a restored 1920s Italian Renaissance building directly on the sand. Long associated with Hollywood’s early elite, the property pairs old-world glamour with modern five-star service and uninterrupted ocean views that feel increasingly rare along the Los Angeles coastline.
Rooms and suites lean into Mediterranean elegance, with Italian linens, marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs, and private balconies overlooking the sea. A full-service spa, oceanfront pool, and Terrazza restaurant anchor the experience, with panoramic ocean and Santa Monica Pier views from the dining room. A dedicated beach concierge manages loungers, umbrellas, bikes, and surf equipment, allowing the stay to move effortlessly between the resort and shoreline. With its historic pedigree, timeless elegance, and consistently polished execution, Hotel Casa del Mar remains one of Los Angeles’ most enduring luxury beachfront addresses.
Price: $$$ • Best For: Boutique Oceanfront Luxury, Private Beach Access.
Malibu Beach Inn offers one of the most intimate luxury beachfront stays in Los Angeles, set directly on Carbon Beach with uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views from every room. With fewer than 50 suites, the property prioritizes discretion over scale, featuring private balconies, gas fireplaces, custom wood finishes, spa-style bathrooms, and curated wine programs from California’s top producers.
Dining centers around the Carbon Beach Club, an oceanfront restaurant suspended directly over the water and known for its refined California cuisine and excellent cocktail program. Guests benefit from full-service private beach access, a thoughtfully curated on-property art collection, and seamless concierge coordination for everything from surf sessions to holistic treatments at CURE Spa. Malibu Beach Inn delivers true oceanfront living, five-star service, and an intimate scale few other resorts can match.
Price: $$–$$$ • Best For: Hollywood Pedigree, Iconic Santa Monica Stays.
Shutters on the Beach is Santa Monica’s most iconic beachfront hotel, defined by its “Hollywood beach house” atmosphere and longtime appeal with actors, creatives, and industry insiders. Set directly on the sand near the Santa Monica Pier, the property combines a prime oceanfront address with a social, design-led energy that feels relaxed yet unmistakably luxurious.
Interiors are styled like a private residence with curated art throughout, while suites feature fireplaces, built-in shelving, marble bathrooms, and deep soaking tubs. 1 Pico anchors dining, one of the city’s most established fine-dining rooms with ocean views. A refined oceanfront pool with private cabanas, a full-service spa, and prime beach access with attentive service round out a stay designed for travelers who want five-star comfort with a distinctly social Santa Monica sensibility.
Price: $$–$$$ • Best For: World-Class Service, Cliffside Ocean Luxury.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel occupies one of Southern California’s most commanding oceanfront positions, set high above Salt Creek Beach with uninterrupted Pacific views from nearly every vantage point. Guest rooms and suites open to private balconies or patios overlooking the coastline, with marble bathrooms, deep soaking tubs, Diptyque amenities, and polished coastal design.
A clifftop Ritz-Carlton Spa with ocean-facing treatment rooms is a highlight, alongside multiple pools positioned directly above the beach with private cabanas and attentive service. Guests move seamlessly between the resort and Salt Creek Beach via dedicated beach attendants who manage chairs, umbrellas, and refreshments throughout the day, while Raya’s panoramic oceanfront dining and enoSTEAK’s intimate steakhouse setting lead the culinary experience. Few Los Angeles resorts are able to combine an unmatched oceanfront vantage point with five-star service in its purest form, making the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel one of Southern California’s most reliable luxury bookings.
These eight properties represent the highest tier of luxury beachfront hotels in Los Angeles and Southern California. Each delivers a distinct version of oceanfront luxury, whether it’s through exclusivity, intimate scale, direct private beach access, resort-level amenities or iconic settings that shape the experience from arrival to departure.
Some prioritize privacy and discretion, while others offer social energy or expansive resort environments, but all operate at a level where design, service, and location align without compromise. Choose the hotel that matches how you actually want to spend your time on the coast, then book knowing the decision is already made well.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The Best Los Angeles Beachfront Hotels
1. What are the best luxury Los Angeles beach hotels right now?
The best luxury Los Angeles beach hotels are properties where location, service, and execution align without compromise. Standout beachfront hotels Los Angeles travelers consistently choose include Rosewood Miramar Beach, Terranea Resort, Montage Laguna Beach, and The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.
These oceanfront hotels in California deliver five-star service, direct access to the coast, and settings that justify their position among the top hotels in Los Angeles and Southern California.
2. Which Los Angeles beach hotels are actually on the sand?
True beachfront hotels in Los Angeles are limited. Properties like Hotel Casa del Mar, Shutters on the Beach, Malibu Beach Inn, and Nobu Ryokan Malibu place guests directly on the sand, unlike many Los Angeles hotels near the beach that sit across a road or above the shoreline.
These hotels represent the most authentic oceanfront hotels California has to offer within the LA area.
3. What’s the best Santa Monica beach hotel for luxury travelers?
For travelers searching for a luxury Santa Monica beach hotel or oceanfront resort with five-star service, Hotel Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach are the leading options. Casa del Mar offers a more formal, classic luxury experience, while Shutters delivers a social, design-led atmosphere with strong Hollywood pedigree.
Both rank among the best places to stay in Santa Monica and are consistently cited among the best hotels in Los Angeles.
4. What are the best Malibu hotels that offer five-star oceanfront luxury?
Malibu’s most exclusive oceanfront options are Nobu Ryokan Malibu and Malibu Beach Inn. Both are small hotels Los Angeles travelers choose for privacy, direct beach access, and controlled scale.
These boutique hotels Los Angeles visitors favor deliver a quieter alternative to Santa Monica beach hotels while maintaining five-star standards.
5. What’s the difference between oceanfront resorts in Southern California and LA beach hotels?
Oceanfront resorts in California, such as Terranea Resort and the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, offer larger footprints, expansive amenities, and resort-scale experiences. Los Angeles resorts and boutique hotels Los Angeles travelers favor tend to focus more on location and intimacy.
This list highlights the best hotels in Southern California that deliver beachfront access without sacrificing design or service.
6. Are there small luxury hotels on the beach in Los Angeles?
Yes. In contrast to larger resorts in California, small hotels Los Angeles travelers seek out include Malibu Beach Inn and Nobu Ryokan Malibu. These boutique hotels Los Angeles visitors choose emphasize limited inventory, highly personalized service, and direct oceanfront placement, making them ideal for travelers who value privacy over scale.
7. Which luxury Los Angeles beach hotels are best for families?
Families looking for luxury Los Angeles beach hotels should prioritize properties that combine direct beach access with space, service, and kid-friendly flexibility. Terranea Resort is the strongest choice for multigenerational trips, offering multiple pools, outdoor activities, and villa accommodations.
Rosewood Miramar Beach is ideal for families seeking five-star service with a calm, controlled beachfront setting. For Santa Monica, Hotel Casa del Mar works well for families who want space, beach access, and walkability without sacrificing luxury standards.
8. What’s the difference between a luxury Los Angeles beach hotel and an oceanfront resort?
A luxury Los Angeles beach hotel emphasizes location, immediacy, and intimacy. Properties like Hotel Casa del Mar, Shutters on the Beach, Malibu Beach Inn, and Nobu Ryokan Malibu place guests directly on the sand with fewer rooms, tighter service, and easy access to the city.
Oceanfront resorts in California, such as Terranea Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, offer larger footprints, expansive spa and pool complexes, and a more self-contained experience. Both qualify as top hotels in Los Angeles and Southern California, but the choice comes down to whether you want a beachfront address or a destination resort environment.
Sam Wise
Sam Wise is the Founder of Jetset Select, a global luxury travel platform that curates five-star recommendations for the world’s top hotels, resorts, villas, and wellness destinations.
