Viceroy Santa Monica

California
United States

The Experience

One block off the beach and a five-minute stroll from the Santa Monica Pier, this fashionable celebrity hangout hides in plain sight, still resembling the nondescript 1969 beachfront high-rise it once was. Inside, however, the Viceroy received an exuberant rehab in 2001, featuring Kelly Wearstler’s funky “modern British colonial” design, a rapturous mix of Regency details, Lucite tables, shag rugs, jumbo wall-mounted cameos and parrot-green trim. Relaxing in the mustard-hued library or lounging around the lobby-side pool, you might feel as if you’ve slipped into a time-warped hipster pad where Oscar Wilde might chat up Dean Martin.

The Rooms

The vibe continues into the units, which pick up the color and design schemes of the lobby, albeit in more muted tones so you can sleep. The smallest “Viceroy” rooms are a bit too cozy, so aim for at least a “Grande” with an ocean view, as high as possible to minimize your view of lesser hotels standing between you and the water.

The Service

Spa and beauty services are only provided in-room, but that’s more than compensated for by the eagerness of the friendly staff, which the hotel’s brilliant design manages to emphasize. On arrival, you’ll probably meet the concierge before you’re two steps in the door, and at check-in, you’ll sit in one of three high-backed leather chairs arranged at reception stations, creating individual attention before your receptionist has even uttered a word.

The Highlights

Whist, the Viceroy’s restaurant, offers a bold mix of international cuisine, French technique and local ingredients, while the adjacent Cameo Bar features playful signature cocktails (try the candied kumquat marga-tini) which are usually as good as their names. After dark, the outdoor pool is lit from below and the deck is illuminated by a dazzling array of candles. Despite the hotel’s proximity to the happy bustle of the Santa Monica Pier and Promenade, the tented cabanas and palm trees are transformed into a surprisingly romantic getaway.

 

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