Kitted out by American interior design guru Kelly Wearstler, the Viceroy Santa Monica is the perfect mix of sophistication, glamour and opulence. Modern, yet quirky, it has all the things a luxuriously-inclined boutique hotel just yards away from Santa Monica’s legendary beach should have: two outdoor pools, a gym, a gourmet restaurant, a chic yellow themed library and a hip destination bar.
Up in the rooms you’re met with 100% Egyptian cotton linens, the compulsory snazzy flat-screen TVs, ‘beauty bars’ with full-sized pampering products from Neil George as well as iHome and DVD players. The Monarch Suite is the Viceroy’s headliner: a VIP Penthouse it's got a grand marble entry, living room with wet bar and convertible sleeper sofa, lavish bedroom and en suite bathroom complete with whirlpool tub and steam shower. All of which is capped off with some jaw-dropping ocean views stretching from Catalina to Malibu.
The Viceroy's chic watering hole in the Cameo Bar, which aesthetically is a mix of classic style and retro-chic. Part lounge (with weekend DJs), part hotel bar, part patio, it’s the perfect spot for a refreshing Mint Julep and nibbles. For a gourmet meal, the sleek wood-panelled Whist, with its elegant cream, high-backed armchairs is the place to go to sample Chef Tony DiSalvo's modern take on Mediterranean cuisine.
One tiny blip? There’s no spa at the hotel. But you can order an in-room massage, or even better, book one in the cool white poolside cabanas one evening. Afterwards, they double up as the perfect spot to sip cocktails at night.
What’s hot?
- The sleekly styled rooms
- The white poolside cabanas
- The extensive menu of beautifully rendered cocktails
- Low food miles – Chef Di Salvo sources all his produce locally
What’s not?
- The extortionate valet parking fees
Need to Know: Viceroy Santa Monica
Number of rooms: 162
Check-in/check-out times: 3pm and 12noon
Room service: Yes. 24 hours
Spa: No. But you can book an in room or poolside massage by GreenBliss EcoSpa, Santa Monica’s original mobile eco-luxury spa service.
Dogs welcome: Yes (under 30 pounds)
Eating and drinking: Take your pick: Whist, a sleek Mediterranean-influenced gourmet restaurant, or the Cameo Bar, an intimate lounge that spills out onto the pool deck and is one of the city’s hottest places to see and be seen.
Near to? A short walk, and an even quicker cab ride, to the wonders of the 3rd Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Pier and the beach.
Getting there: The hotel is a 25-minute cab ride from LAX airport.
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