We had no expectations except that we were told the hotel had a unique charm. The space was inspiring, uplifting and fun. It was very clean/sanitary. The staff was outstanding and the General Manager Cara and Managing Director Julien LaRacine take a sincere interest in their guests. The rooms are clean, very well-lit with spacious bathrooms. The biggest surprise was how outstanding the food was- for every meal (do not miss the pancakes!!) This is an easy choice if staying in the Santa Monica Area- easy access, short walk to the beach, easy parking (there is a fee), clean spaces with distinctive touches, comfortable, well lit rooms and great food/drinks. And a wonderful, helpful, friendly staff.

Its my third visit to the Santa Monica Proper during Coronavirus, and I've seen significant improvements each time. The management (I interacted with Julien the most) clearly cares very much about the hotel and the guest experience, and went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable. Cleanliness was impressive: I made reservations to use the gym privately (fully stocked with trendy and accessible resources like: tonal machine, peloton, water rower, theraguns, etc...) and when I showed up 10 min "early" there was someone sterilizing and cleaning the room (which provided me extra sense of safety during theses times). The bedrooms and and other amenities were also very clean. Food and drinks: honestly mouthwatering. Taco Tuesday night was filling, tasty (the fish was perfectly crispy, the condiments very flavorful) to the point where I also plan to order these meals for pickup at home (I live in the area). Drinks were perfectly balanced and also creative. For breakfast I ordered the avocado toast with egg: it was filling (i could only eat half!) and also felt "special" with healthy and fresh ingredients. I must say I really like the new way of interacting with guests, and hope that it continues after the virus ends. You were allowed/encouraged to TEXT requests or questions to the hotel directly. Responses were prompt. What I especially appreciated was not having to wait to get a servers attention, nor feel pressured...when I wanted food or a drink, i simply sent a text with my order and my location (the gym, my room, or the rooftop). Same regarding questions about recommendations, needs, etc (someone was always cheerfuly available to help). I absolutely can't wait to return to this gem so close to home- it was a definite and much needed reset.

The first thing you'll notice is the design here is exquisite. No expense was spared to source the most beautiful furniture and textiles both in the public areas and each guest room. The Palma Lounge is so beautiful and the furniture so comfortable you'll never want to get up. I'm a huge fan of the Aesop bath amenities and appreciate that they are using larger pump containers in the shower to reduce plastic waste from travel size toiletries. All of the staff are so friendly and helpful – they text you a welcome message upon arrival and if you need anything or have any questions, you can just respond to the text and they will promptly be at your service. The fitness center is better than most – a nice selection of weights and cardio equipment and a heated gym section which was new to me and very cool. Then there's the rooftop – with Calabra restaurant and bar adjacent to the pool area. We had such a lovely time up here that you could almost forget all the world's problems when sipping a cocktail and enjoying a mezze platter and whole roasted branzino. The Mediterranean/California – inspired menu is bright and flavorful with great healthy options.