The Miramar Hotel is a piece of Santa Monica history, famous for over 100 years as the hotel at the very end of Wilshire Boulevard where it meets Ocean Avenue. The property has been updated many times, and now comprises two main wings, the 10 floor high-rise Ocean Tower, and the somewhat lower Palisades wing. There are also individual bungalows available for those with deeper pockets and a desire to be alone. These are located around the pool and gardens, secluded by foliage.
I have stayed in this hotel many times over the past 25 years, on business, pleasure and all combinations thereof. Although there are many more famous and expansive Fairmont hotels, this is my personal favourite in the Fairmont group, and most often my temporary home when visiting Los Angeles. It used to be a Sheraton, but when Fairmont bought it a few years back they made a number of improvements, especially to the furnishing of the rooms.
This hotel is not huge, but is sizeable. However, the atmosphere and layout of the lobby, bar, patio and restaurant makes for an intimate feel of personal attention, while catering for significant numbers. I have found the reception staff to be some of the most friendly and helpful anywhere, and the bar and waiting staff match them, remembering your favourite drink or what you like for breakfast.
There is a nice outdoor pool behind the hotel, and on a warm sunny afternoon it’s a great place to relax. There is also an extensive Koi Carp pond with waterfall by the patio, and a truly huge Moreton Bay fig tree in the front drive.
Breakfast lunch and dinner are served at The Grille restaurant, either indoors, or on its own self-contained heated patio, while between-times a bar-menu is always served indoors in the lobby Koi Pond Lounge or on the patio proper, which is outdoors. The food is good quality, and mildly inventive. It’s not haute cuisine, more typical California fusion food, served at a mid-price and in an informal setting.
The lobby bar is usually full of people meeting socially or doing business, and a pianist entertains there in the evenings. If you stay at the Miramar take ten minutes to look at the pictures around the ground floor and you will see just how many celebrities have visited this hotel.
Negatives? It’s valet parking only, and at 28$ per night (in 2007) that’s not cheap. There’s no wheelchair access to elevators, not that I need it (yet), but this does seem a bit dated.
The prices are typical for a 4 star hotel in L.A., but I’d say the value for money is very good, and the view is exceptional. From your balcony in a high floor room in the Ocean Tower you can watch the sunset over an ocean view that stretches from the Santa Monica pier in the south to Malibu beach in the north. Fantastic.

We have stayed at the classy Miramar more than a dozen times; it only gets better.

The service is superb, the rooms are well appointed and the food at its restaurant is world class. It is so convenient to 3rd Str promenade, the Santa Monica pier and the Ocean yet hidden in its 5 acre lush gardens, it is an oasis.

Highly recommend the Bungalow rooms; they don't have much oceanviews, but you feel like in your own home, no public elevators or corridors. Nice fragrant flowers in the garden. They are great for a hide-out as well, so private noone except the Bungalow concierge knows you are there. They can be pricey at $500+ but Santa Monica is not cheap. Even the 3 star hip/cool pretentious hotels with tiny rooms can be $300-$400.

We heard that they are adding a Spa which should make it a great urban resort experience.

Also, don't forget - if you have a hybrid car they park for free. If you book a restaurant or activity through their concierge, the hotel has its own car/driver to take you within Santa Monica proper, so no need for a rental car. they took us to our dinner in a Maserati and picked us up. We just tipped the driver.

Generally good. Have stayed here for work a couple of times and have been happy. Rooms are expensive but i wasn't paying!!
Hairdryer didn't work in my room but this was sorted by the staff promptly.

This is an excellent choice for a stay in the Los Angeles area. It is right on the ocean and next to the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Easy drive to downtown via I-10. Easy walk to the Santa Monica pier.

Our room was clean and extremely well maintained. We were in the Palisades building which offers larger rooms, but no oceanview. We had our children with us so the room was more important. It had a little kitchen/bar area,a table and two chairs, and a walk in closet. The bungalows looked really great too.

The lobby and public areas were beautiful. When you drive up you feel like you are entering an oasis out of the busy streets, with the courtyard entrance and the big tree. Concierge and hotel staff were all so friendly and helpful. It only ever took a minute or two to get our car from the valet.