The Best Luxury Boutique Hotels in Santa Monica (2026)
A guide to Santa Monica’s top boutique hotels, from luxury beachfront stays to hotels near the Santa Monica Pier.
For those fluent in Los Angeles luxury, Santa Monica stands apart for its balance of beachside calm, cultural depth, and effortless city access. With its oceanfront setting and proximity to some of LA’s best dining, shopping, and art galleries, it has long been the insider’s base for travelers who want both coastal ease and metropolitan energy.
Santa Monica’s boutique hotels set the bar for elevated beach luxury, with design-led spaces, striking architecture, and sweeping Pacific Ocean views. This curated guide highlights Jetset Select’s top Santa Monica boutique hotel picks for 2026, each evaluated through rigorous criteria across experience, design, location, dining, and service to evaluate what properties truly meet our five-star standards.
To keep travel planning simple, direct booking links are included for each property, from which we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, Jetset Select recommendations remain fully independent and carefully curated.
Read on for the definitive list of Santa Monica’s boutique hotels, from iconic oceanfront stays to sophisticated suites that perfectly capture California’s effortless yet elevated approach to luxury.
At a glance:
➔ For more L.A. travel content, check out our comprehensive Los Angeles Luxury Travel Guide, or review our top picks for the best Los Angeles Boutique Hotels and top Los Angeles Luxury Beach Hotels. This article will focus exclusively on five-star Santa Monica boutique hotel properties.
The Top 10 Santa Monica Boutique Hotels in 2026
- Restored 1920s landmark redefined by Kelly Wearstler’s iconic interiors.
- Sunlit rooms with private terraces, marble baths, Aesop amenities, custom furnishings.
- Surya Spa plus a rooftop pool and restaurant with sweeping ocean views.
- The benchmark for modern L.A. luxury, authentic, design‑driven, and effortlessly cool.
The Santa Monica Proper defines modern boutique luxury in Los Angeles, with Kelly Wearstler’s iconic interiors setting the clear standard for design-led hospitality on the West Coast. Just blocks from the beach and local farmers markets, the hotel occupies a restored 1920s landmark that effortlessly blends historic character with a modern sensibility. Rooms and suites feature private terraces, marble bathrooms, Aesop amenities, and custom furnishings shaped by natural light, and the rooftop pool, the only one in Santa Monica with direct ocean views, remains a draw for both guests and locals.
The dining program is anchored by Calabra, which serves Mediterranean-Californian dishes with sunset views, while Surya Spa, Los Angeles’ definitive Ayurvedic sanctuary, offers personalized rituals, sound therapy, and private recovery suites with saunas and cold plunges. Equal parts design statement and urban retreat, the Santa Monica Proper remains the city’s benchmark for modern beachfront luxury.
- Prime Ocean Avenue address overlooking Palisades Park and the Pacific Ocean.
- Suites feature private terraces, marble baths, Frette linens, Bottega Veneta amenities.
- Dining at La Monique, plus a cabana-lined pool, spa, gym, and daily beach yoga.
- A polished luxury boutique stay known for five-star service and guest exclusivity.
The Oceana Santa Monica has a prime position along Ocean Avenue, overlooking Palisades Park and the Pacific Ocean. Following a full redesign by Busta Studio, the property feels more like an elevated residence than a hotel, with seventy suites featuring marble baths, Frette linens, Bottega Veneta amenities, and private terraces that prioritize light, privacy, and space.
The dining room is reserved exclusively for guests and VIPs, with La Monique offering French-inspired Californian cuisine and the Sunset Terrace serving cocktails with sweeping ocean views. A cabana-lined pool, daily beach yoga, a full-service spa, and beach butlers who coordinate daybeds, dining delivery, and on-beach setup complete the experience. With attentive service and a discreet, sophisticated atmosphere, Oceana Santa Monica is one of Los Angeles’ most exclusive luxury boutique stays.
- Unrivaled beachfront location with uninterrupted Pacific Ocean views.
- Interiors by Michael S. Smith featuring hardwood floors, soaking tubs, world-class art.
- ONE Spa with Biologique Recherche treatments, plus an oceanfront pool + beach team.
- A benchmark for Los Angeles luxury defined by timeless style, privacy, and service.
Few hotels define oceanfront Los Angeles luxury like Shutters on the Beach, a Santa Monica icon with uninterrupted Pacific views and direct beach access. Designed by Michael S. Smith, the hotel’s aesthetic is elegant and modern, with hardwood floors, French doors, and museum-level art by Hockney and Lichtenstein. Rooms and suites feature crisp linens, cashmere throws, marble baths with deep-soaking tubs, and ocean views from nearly every angle.
Guests gravitate to the oceanfront pool, ONE Spa’s Biologique Recherche treatments, and daily yoga or surf sessions arranged through the beach team. Pico, the hotel’s signature restaurant, serves seasonal California cuisine with panoramic ocean views. With its unmatched beachfront location, polished interiors, and five-star service, Shutters on the Beach remains one of Santa Monica’s most exclusive and sought-after luxury boutique hotels.
- Oceanfront five‑star luxury with timeless Old Hollywood style and ocean views.
- Suites feature four-poster beds, Frette linens, marble baths, and hydrotherapy tubs.
- Terrazza dining, guest‑only pool deck, Sea Wellness Spa, full Beach Butler service.
- The benchmark for boutique beachfront luxury in Santa Monica.
Hotel Casa del Mar is one of Los Angeles’ most luxurious oceanfront hotels, anchored by its 1920s Italian Renaissance architecture, panoramic Pacific views, and direct beach access. Originally designed as a private beach club for Old Hollywood, the property blends historic character with modern sophistication. Rooms and suites deliver quiet opulence through custom four-poster beds, marble baths with hydrotherapy tubs, Frette linens, and considered design touches like local art and curated libraries.
Terrazza leads the dining experience with Mediterranean-Californian cuisine, a sushi bar, and live music overlooking the water, while the Palm Terrace Pool, Sea Wellness Spa, and Beach Butler service complete the stay with tailored treatments and ocean-view lounging. With its rare beachfront position, attentive service, and timeless sense of Hollywood glamour, Hotel Casa del Mar is the pinnacle of Santa Monica’s boutique luxury scene.
- A restored Santa Monica Art Deco icon with front‑row Pacific Ocean views.
- Suites feature scalloped velvet headboards and champagne‑and‑caviar call buttons.
- The Veranda restaurant and Georgian Room speakeasy pair Italian classics with live jazz.
- An icon of Santa Monica boutique luxury, blending historic glamour with modern polish.
The Georgian Hotel is a meticulously restored Art Deco landmark overlooking Palisades Park, recognized for its turquoise façade, sweeping ocean views, and boutique setting along Ocean Avenue. Rooms and suites combine scalloped velvet headboards, Frette linens, marble bathrooms, and curated local art with thoughtful details like Victrola record players and champagne‑and‑caviar call buttons, a playful nod to the hotel’s Old Hollywood pedigree.
The Veranda serves seasonal California cuisine with ocean views, while The Georgian Room, a reservation‑only speakeasy, revives the property’s 1930s legacy with Italian steakhouse classics and live jazz. With attentive service, prime walkability, and a distinctively modern take Los Angeles glamour, The Georgian is one of Santa Monica’s most polished boutique luxury hotel stays.
- Glamorous oceanfront five-star luxury with panoramic views and direct beach access.
- Expansive suites with floor‑to‑ceiling glass, deep‑soaking tubs, and curated minibars.
- Guerlain Spa with bespoke therapies, thermal circuits, plunge pools, Champagne Room.
- The benchmark for five-star boutique luxury on the west coast.
The Regent Santa Monica Beach is one of Los Angeles’ most elevated beachfront hotels, positioned along Ocean Avenue with panoramic views and direct access to the sand. Interiors are sleek and contemporary, with spacious rooms and suites framed by floor-to-ceiling glass, Frette linens, deep-soaking tubs, and curated complimentary minibars. Signature features include Santa Monica’s largest beachfront pool deck and the Guerlain Spa, a 10,000-square-foot wellness sanctuary with tailored treatments, thermal circuits, plunge pools, and a Champagne Room.
Dining centers on Orla by Michael Mina, serving Mediterranean-Californian dishes with oceanfront seating, supported by a polished lobby bar program and Sweet July for pasteries and light bites. With its attentive service, beach butlers, and confident glamor, the Regent Santa Monica Beach is one of the most luxurious boutique stays on the West Coast.
- A design-driven luxury boutique hotel with top dining and ocean-view balconies.
- A sculptural lobby lounge, custom art, and a vibrant pool deck with private cabanas.
- Two plunge pools, Electra bikes, and concierge-arranged wellness and surf sessions.
- A polished boutique stay delivering one of Santa Monica’s top luxury hotel experiences.
The Viceroy Santa Monica delivers a polished and design-driven luxury stay on Ocean Avenue, just a short walk from the beach. Rooms lean into a modern, tailored aesthetic, with ocean-view balconies, Italian linens, bespoke furnishings, and marble bathrooms stocked with designer amenities. The atmosphere is lively yet sophisticated, shaped by custom art, a sculptural lobby lounge, and a reimagined pool deck with private open-air cabanas and live DJ sets.
Sugar Palm anchors the property with coastal California cuisine served across an indoor–outdoor dining room, garden terrace, and poolside bar. Two plunge pools, complimentary Electra bikes, and concierge-arranged wellness or surf sessions complete the experience. For travelers seeking a stylish stay with strong design and vibrant energy, the Viceroy is one of Santa Monica’s most polished luxury boutique hotels.
- Modern boutique luxury hotel near the beach with dramatic views and spacious suites.
- Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, plush beds, Italian linens, deep-soaking tubs.
- 18th-floor Penthouse restaurant delivers 360-degree ocean and city views.
- A sophisticated choice for style, luxury, and standout views in central Santa Monica.
The Huntley Santa Monica Beach delivers a polished luxury stay just one block from the beach, with sweeping ocean views and a signature Penthouse restaurant on the 18th floor. Rooms and suites are generous and light-filled, with floor-to-ceiling windows, Italian linens, custom furnishings, and marble bathrooms featuring deep-soaking tubs and walk-in rain showers.
The Penthouse anchors the experience with 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu, and the Los Angeles skyline, pairing contemporary Californian cuisine with a polished atmosphere. With attentive service, a prime Ocean Avenue address, and some of the most dramatic sightlines in the area, The Huntley is a sophisticated boutique luxury hotel for travelers who prioritize style, space, and unrivaled views in central Santa Monica.
- Design-forward luxury boutique stay steps from the beach and the Santa Monica Pier.
- Large light-filled rooms with Italian linens, private balconies, and soft minimalist interiors.
- Elevated pool deck framed by dramatic whitewashed architecture and private cabanas.
- A stylish boutique luxury hotel stay with standout design and a prime coastal location.
Interiors by Gulla Jónsdóttir lean into soft minimalism, with light-filled rooms, Italian linens, private balconies, and a serene residential palette. The pool deck is a standout, framed by whitewashed architecture, cabanas, loungers, and a relaxed atmosphere that feels unusually elevated for central Santa Monica.
Marelle leads the dining experience with Mediterranean-Californian dishes, supported by a pool lounge and a relaxed lobby bar. With its art-forward aesthetic, thoughtful amenities, and prime position near both the pier and the sand, The Sandbourne is one of Santa Monica’s most stylish boutique luxury reservations.
- A quiet residential luxury boutique hotel offering a serene stay in Santa Monica.
- Spacious, modern rooms with plush bedding, custom furnishings, L’Occitane amenities.
- Complimentary house Tesla, priority beach cruisers, first LEED-certified U.S. hotel.
- An elevated eco-luxury boutique hotel experience with attentive concierge care.
The Ambrose Santa Monica delivers a calm, residential luxury boutique hotel stay with a discreet profile, set in a quiet Mid-City neighborhood a short drive from the beach. Interiors lean into a California Craftsman aesthetic with warm woods, soft neutrals, and a serene living-room lobby framed by natural light and greenery. Rooms are spacious and understated, with premium bedding, custom furnishings, and modern bathrooms stocked with L’Occitane amenities.
Service is a defining strength, with amenities like a complimentary house Tesla for local transfers, Priority beach cruisers make the ride to the sand effortless, and the hotel’s evening “Santa Monica Sips” socials add a low-key boutique touch. With its eco-luxury positioning as the first LEED-certified hotel in the U.S., and a quietly intimate atmosphere away from Ocean Avenue crowds, The Ambrose is a polished choice for travelers seeking space, relaxation, and a residential take on Santa Monica luxury.
The Best Luxury Boutique Hotels in Santa Monica 2026
Santa Monica’s boutique luxury hotels deliver a distinct blend of coastal glamour, contemporary design, and easy access to Los Angeles’ most iconic stretch of beachfront. With sweeping Pacific views just steps from the Pier, the top luxury Santa Monica boutique hotels combine modern design with intimate scale, seamlessly balancing elevated service, polished interiors, and a relaxed California sensibility.
Whether your priority is architecture, wellness, dining, or direct beach access, Santa Monica offers a curated set of luxury hotels that meet the expectations of travelers seeking style, comfort, and five-star oceanfront living.
Best Santa Monica Boutique Hotels
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What are the best boutique hotels in Santa Monica?
Casa del Mar is widely considered the most luxurious boutique hotel in Santa Monica, offering direct beachfront access, Old Hollywood architecture, Frette linens, marble baths, and five-star service. The Regent Santa Monica Beach is a close second for travelers prioritizing contemporary coastal luxury and a large beachfront pool deck.
Which boutique hotels in Santa Monica are closest to the beach?
Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar are the only true on-the-sand boutique luxury hotels in Santa Monica. The Sandbourne and The Regent sit directly across from the beach path with immediate access.
What is the best Santa Monica boutique hotel for ocean views?
The Huntley offers some of the most dramatic panoramic views from its 18th-floor Penthouse. Casa del Mar, Shutters, and The Regent provide sweeping ocean views from many rooms and public spaces.
Which Santa Monica boutique hotel is best for couples?
Santa Monica Proper and Oceana Santa Monica stand out for couples seeking a serene, design-driven stay with strong wellness and dining programs. Casa del Mar is best for a classic romantic beachfront experience.
What is the best boutique hotel near the Santa Monica Pier?
The Sandbourne is just a few minutes’ walk from the Santa Monica Pier, offering immediate access with a quieter boutique environment. The Regent is also very close, with oceanfront views of the Pier’s iconic Ferris wheel.
Which Santa Monica boutique hotels have the best pools?
The Regent has Santa Monica’s largest beachfront pool deck. Casa del Mar offers an ocean-view pool, while the Proper features a design-forward rooftop pool with sweeping views.
What is the most stylish boutique hotel in Santa Monica?
Santa Monica Proper delivers the strongest design credentials with Kelly Wearstler interiors. The Sandbourne follows closely with its Gulla Jónsdóttir design identity and curated art program.
Sam Wise
Sam Wise is the Founder of Jetset Select, a global luxury travel platform that curates five-star recommendations for the world’s best hotels, resorts, villas, and wellness destinations.
