Check In/Check Out: Oceana Hotel in Santa Monica

The recently refreshed property marries Hollywood glamour with California coastal cool

Words by KELSEY McKINNON

Just north of the hustle and bustle of Downtown Santa Monica are charming, palm-lined residential streets boasting historic Mediterranean Revival dwellings and landmarked Craftsman residences. It’s here that the beachfront, ivy-clad Oceana hotel reopened this fall following a nearly $30 million refresh with almost every conceivable luxury from home.

Centered around a freeform pool complete with oversize daybeds, the 70 suites are outfitted with Frette linens, Loro Piana bedding, hand-tufted rugs from Nepal, original works by local artists and Bottega Veneta bath products. With nods to silver-screen icons peppered throughout, coconut-fig facials on the spa menu and Pelotons in the gym (plus beach cruisers out front), plus customized meals by chef Raphael Lunetta at the guests-only restaurant and thoughtful touches like in-room lavender bundles, it might be even better than home.

The Oceana Hotel in Santa Monica, CA. Photographed by Lisa Romerein. The lobby opens to the central courtyard and pool.

170-STATE-NEWS3-01 Comfortable seating options surround the pool.

Oceana_Public_Bar1-0049_v3 The restaurant at OCEANA serves locally inspired farm-to-table cuisine.

170-STATE-NEWS3-03 The property’s coastal-chic interiors feature custom finishes and art by L.A. artists.

Oceana_302_SignatureSuiteOceanView_Bed-0029-Edit_v3b_darker A signature suite with an ocean view.

Oceana_Spa A treatment room at the full-service spa.

849 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, 800-777-0758.

Feature image: The OCEANA hotel in Santa Monica. All photos by Lisa Romerein.

This story originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of C Magazine.

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