Checking In: Santa Monica Proper
SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES
Santa Monica Proper
After the stellar debut of the Proper brand in San Francisco, Santa Monica Proper Hotel anchors LA’s cinematic Pacific coastline, mere metres from the beach and the iconic Santa Monica Pier. This oceanview hotel occupies two art-deco buildings in the downtown core, its design awash with sandy tones and sun-bleached textures drawn from the shoreline.
Inside, Kelly Wearstler’s neutral palette is lifted by bold patterns, sculptural silhouettes and a curated collection of works from emerging and established LA artists, delivering a stay that feels both gallery and getaway. The 271 guestrooms and suites, ranging from 325 to 925 sq ft, feature oversized statement headboards, vintage and mid-century modern furniture and, in the Deluxe Balcony King and Landmark Garden Terrace categories, generous outdoor living spaces with postcard-worthy Pacific panoramas.
The seventh-floor rooftop is the hotel’s pièce de résistance: a sweeping deck with a cabana-lined pool, wall-to-wall ocean vistas and an indoor-outdoor bistro-bar serving Mediterranean plates with a California twist. It doubles as an event space rental Santa Monica insiders covet for sunset soirées and brand launches.
Downstairs, the Proper Hotel Santa Monica new restaurant Onda—helmed by chefs Jessica Koslow and Gabriela Cámara—celebrates sustainably sourced Pacific seafood and vibrant produce from Mexico and the city’s famed farmers’ markets. Palma, the all-day lounge, shifts effortlessly from morning wellness smoothies to evening cocktails; order the ‘Aged at Sea’ for true West-Coast flair.
Wellness seekers retreat to Surya Spa, guided by Ayurvedic guru Martha Soffer, where traditional therapies sit alongside yoga, meditation and even therapeutic cooking sessions.
Whether you’re planning a design-forward escape, scouting an ocean-view venue or simply chasing California sunshine, Santa Monica Proper Hotel delivers the brand’s easy-going luxury with unmistakable LA soul.
