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Best Hotels in Santa Monica, California

Thinking SoCal? You’re probably thinking about Santa Monica. The coastal city just south of Los Angeles is the epitome of beachfront bliss. From stylishly luxe institutions where you go to be seen to laid-back boutiques just steps from the sand, we got you covered in Santa Monica. Whether you're looking for a high-end business hotel or need a discount hotel that's a great value, HotelTonight can help you find the top hotels in Santa Monica.

Known for its iconic views of the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica is a must for any California traveler. Whether you’re hitting the long-lasting pier for rides and restaurants, scoping out the athletes at the Original Muscle Beach or just looking to enjoy the sun, Santa Monica has plenty to offer with hotels to match.

Why We Love Santa Monica

Santa Monica is the ultimate beach city — averaging 300 days of sunshine every year, it’s pretty hard to catch any clouds. Here are just a few reasons why we think Santa Monica is your next favorite spot:

• Happenin’ hotels: This one comes as no surprise. We have it all in Santa Monica, from mid-century style boutique hotels with fun amenities like in-house beach cruisers to sophisticated and luxe establishments with room service and rooftop style.
• Picturesque pier: Did you even go to Santa Monica without hitting its famous pier? Packed with attractions, food and shops, the Santa Monica Pier is a historical landmark of the area. Take a ride on the famous Ferris wheel, grab an ice cream sundae, and enjoy one of the best sunsets around.
• Flex on 'em: The Original Muscle Beach began as a Great Depression venue to watch acrobats and gymnasts. Not to be confused with Muscle Beach in Venice, this spot came first and is still a fun location to watch athletes strut their stuff.
• Beachy keen: This is what you came for. Santa Monica beach is 3.5 miles of sandy heaven. Whether you take a dip, lay out in the sun or take surfing for a spin, this expansive beach is one of a kind.
• Nightlife: If you’re looking to get away from the buzzing energy of Hollywood’s club scene, Santa Monica offers a laid back alternative. Keep it cool on a late night patio, find live music lounges and endless happy hours.

What to Do in Santa Monica

Whether you're looking for hotels near Santa Monica for a business trip or a vacation, you're going to want to find fun things to do during your trip. Although Santa Monica is definitely a beach town, there are still many things to do indoors, for those times when you need a break from the sun. Whether this is your first visit to Santa Monica or your 50th, here are some things you should check out:

• Stroll the Promenade: We'll say it — you won't find many unique or exciting shops along the 3rd Street Promenade any more. The stores that line the four-block stretch are largely chains that you can find anywhere. What is worth going for are the street performers who make things interesting along the Promenade, usually on weekend days and weekday evenings during most of the year and every day in the summer.
• Relax on the sand: The Santa Monica State Beach stretches for more than three miles. You'll find plenty of things to do along the beach, such as visiting the Pier, playing volleyball or going for a bike ride. If you just want to spread out a towel, prop up an umbrella and relax on the sand, you can do that too. Some parts of the beach are quieter than others, so we recommend taking a walk until you find a section of the beach that's off the beaten path.
• Ride the rides at Pacific Park: Pacific Park happens to be the only amusement park located on a pier on the West Coast. If you're looking for some classic summertime fun, such as a roller coaster ride or a trip on a giant Ferris wheel, you need to visit Pacific Park. It's open daily throughout the summer and has limited hours outside of the season. There's no admission cost to get into the park. Instead, you pay only for the rides you decide to go on.
• Take in the view: For a breath-taking view of the ocean, you need to go to Palisades Park. Located to the north of the Santa Monica Pier, the park offers you views of the ocean and the surrounding mountains that are like looking at a postcard. While visiting the park, you can also take in the beautiful surroundings, such as the eucalyptus trees and rows of Italian pines.
• Gain a new perspective: A visit to Palisades Park isn't complete without a stop at the Camera Obscura Art Lab. Depending on timing, you can take an art class at the lab, or give the camera obscura a try. For those not in the know, a camera obscura is a room that lets in a small amount of light. There's a periscope attached to the top of the building that sends light into the room. You can move the periscope around and get a view of whatever is happening outside while inside of the camera obscura.
• Learn about the history of flight: Although it's usually sunny in Santa Monica, it is cloudy or rainy a few days out of the year. If you get hit with a day that's less than beautiful, don't fret. There are a few indoor activities that can help to fill your time. One of those activities is the Museum of Flying, which will help you learn everything you need to know — and then some — about the history of flight and aircraft. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays and is located right next to the municipal airport.
• Enjoy some high-end shopping: Does your wardrobe need a bit of a refresh? Maybe you want a new designer handbag or pair of shoes. A visit to Santa Monica Place, a three-story, high-end shopping mall, might be in order. The mall is the epitome of "LA style" shopping, thanks to plenty of designer boutiques, fancy department stores and an outdoor courtyard.
• Connect with farmers: When you think California, you think farm-fresh vegetables and fruits, right? What better way to experience that freshness that to head to a farmers' market and meet the people who are growing your food? The Santa Monica Farmers' Market is a traveling market that you'll find throughout the city on different days of the week. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, it's found downtown, near the Promenade. You'll see the most vendors if you visit on a Wednesday.
• Sprint up the steps: Whether you're a weekend warrior or an avid, seven-days-a-week fitness buff, a visit to Santa Monica isn't complete without a sprint up the Santa Monica Steps, aka the Stairs. There are actually two sets of stairs — one is made of wood and has 170 steps, while the other is concrete and has 199 steps. Both are steep and offer a physical challenge for even the most in-shape. Since facilities are limited at the Steps, we recommend bringing along your own water and anything else you might need during an intense workout.
• View some art: Need some creativity in your life while visiting Santa Monica? Bergamot Station has you covered. It's home to more than 30 art organizations, including visual art galleries and theatre groups. Before transforming into the massive arts complex it is today, Bergamot Station had an interesting history. It was once a train station, then a celery packing plant and finally a water heater manufacturing plant.
• Get the scoop on California: Want to learn more about the history of California? Head to the California Heritage Museum. Set up inside a 19th century home, the museum features ever-changing exhibitions that highlight a particular quirk or charming piece of the area's history. The museum is worth visiting for the house alone. It was built in the late 1800s for the son of the founder of Santa Monica and features a transitional style that's somewhere between Queen Anne Revival and American Colonial.
• Support marine life: Santa Monica Bay is home to hundreds of different kinds of marine life. At the Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier, you can meet these sea critters and learn more about their lives and why they are under threat.
• See a film on the big screen: You're in La-La-Land! What better way to connect to LA and Santa Monica's film history than to see a movie on the big screen, inside of a classic theater? The Aero Theatre first opened in 1940 and has a classic Art Deco facade. Inside, the theater regularly screens a mix of new films and classic movies.
• Skate the Strand: If you've packed your skates or a bike, you'll want to go for a ride along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, which stretches for 22 miles from just north of Santa Monica south to Torrance Beach. Didn't have room for skates or a bike in your carry-on? Don't worry. You'll find plenty of places that are willing to rent you a set of wheels for the day along the trail.
• Go for a swim: We get it — not everyone is up for a dip in the ocean. If you're at the beach and would rather swim in a pool, Santa Monica has you covered. The Annenberg Community Beach House has a pool and is open to the public. There's no need to become a member or make a reservation, although there is an admission fee. If the pool is open, you're welcome to go there and swim.
• Catch a wave (or at least try to): Wouldn't it be cool if you left Santa Monica knowing how to hang ten? While you might not get that advanced, you can learn the basics of surfing during your stay. Santa Monica Surf School offers lessons to surfers of all levels, from absolute beginners to people looking to perfect their technique.

Where to Eat and Drink in Santa Monica

Whether you're surfing, sprinting up 170 steps or wandering the Promenade, you're sure to work up an appetite during your trip to Santa Monica. Here's the scoop on the best places to eat and drink while in LA.

• Queue up for brunch: There are two types of people in the world — those who will wait in line for food and those who won't. If you're a member of the first group of people, you need to go to Huckleberry Cafe during your trip to Santa Monica, whether you're there for fun or business. The cafe offers counter service, after which you can find a seat. We recommend going with another person and having one person order while the other scopes out a table. You can also try going mid-week if you want to beat or miss the weekend crowds.
• Enjoy farm-to-table fare: Rustic Canyon (which is owned by the same team who owns Huckleberry) has been emphasizing seasonality and freshness since it opened its doors back in 2006. The restaurant focuses on sourcing its food from local producers and offers an ever-changing menu that highlights what's in season and exciting this week.
• Dine to impress: Tar & Roses is the type of restaurant you bring someone to when you want to impress them. It's a second date type of place. The focus is on small plates, which are meant to be shared. You can mix and match items from the menu to create a truly memorable dining experience, both for you and your dining companions.
• No ketchup allowed: Are you the type of person who wants to try the best burger in every town you visit? Then you need to go to Father's Office on Montana Avenue. It serves what many claim is the best burger in Santa Monica. The Office Burger is smothered in caramelized onions, blue cheese, gruyere and bacon. There are no substitutions allowed, and yeah, you read that right — no ketchup.
• For a fast burger: Sometimes, you want your burger, and you want it ASAP. HiHo Cheeseburger is a fast-casual burger joint in downtown Santa Monica. Its claim to fame is that it only uses 100% Waygu beef in its burger patties. Waygu cattle are fed nothing but grass, which some say makes for a better burger. Vegans and vegetarians, if you're feeling left out, don't be. HiHo also serves a house-made, gluten-free, vegan burger.
• When you're feeling spendy: If you're in town for business and need to take a client out for dinner, bring them to Capo. This restaurant opened in 1999 and has been called "great for important business dinners." The cuisine is classic Italian, and the menu prices can be eye-popping, but when your goal is to land that new client or cement an existing business relationship, you really can't go wrong at Capo.
• Feel nostalgic: Ingo's Tasty Diner looks like it came straight from the 1950s, but also has a modern vibe going on. The look says "1950s diner," but the menu says California sophistication. Classic diner options are dressed up while items you'd never see on a typical diner menu — like tuna tartare — make an appearance.
• Enjoy a tasting menu to end all tasting menus: Dialogue is a tiny restaurant with room for just 18 diners. Inside, the chef offers a multi-course tasting menu that takes you on a journey through the seasons. To get a spot at the restaurant, you need to book and purchase your ticket in advance. When booking, you also have the option of adding a wine tasting to your dinner. Although the restaurant is located on the 3rd Street Promenade, Dialogue is not a casual affair. The tasting menu alone costs over $200, and the optional wine pairing will set you back another $200 or so.
• Grab-and-go beach eats: What's better to eat on the beach than a sandwich that's full of Italian meats? That might explain why Bay Cities Italian Bakery and Deli regularly has a long line. It's a take-a-number type of place, and you better be paying attention when the folks behind the counter call out yours. If you don't move fast enough, they'll move on to the next number, and you'll lose your spot. What to order when you do get to the front of the line? The Godmother, the deli's signature sandwich, is made with prosciutto, ham, capicola, mortadella, Genoa salami and Provolone cheese.

Where to Find the Best Hotels in Santa Monica, California

Looking for the best last-minute hotel deals in Santa Monica? HotelTonight knows the best places to stay in Santa Monica. With HotelTonight, you can book amazing hotels tonight, tomorrow or beyond at incredible rates. Whether you're looking for a luxury suite downtown, a cheap hotel in the area or a mid-range room for the whole family, HotelTonight can help you figure out where to stay in Santa Monica. Just search Santa Monica with HotelTonight and find a great hotel at an even better price.