Hotel Casa del Mar

1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, CA 90405, Santa Monica, United States

4-star hotel

Guest rating: 4.6 / 5

Overview

Hotel Casa del Mar is a 4-star hotel occupying a 1926 Renaissance Revival building directly on the beach in Santa Monica, California. With a public rating of 4.6 from 1,707 reviews, it is regarded as one of the most distinguished historic properties on the Southern California coast, blending period architecture with contemporary luxury service. Its oceanfront setting places it just steps from the sand and a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Rooms & Suites

Rooms are designed to feel serene, with 4-poster beds dressed in Italian linens, whirlpool tubs, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, and some rooms offer direct ocean views. Suites scale up to four bedrooms and add separate living areas along with iPads for guest use. Room service is available for guests who prefer to dine in.

Dining

The hotel houses an oceanfront seafood restaurant with both indoor and poolside seating, a more casual Italian eatery distinguished by handmade ceramic tile flooring, and a lively bar serving light bites alongside live entertainment. This range gives guests several distinct on-site dining moods, from refined seafood to relaxed Italian fare to an evening bar scene.

Amenities & Wellness

On-site facilities include a fitness room, a wellness spa, and use of a hotel car, giving guests practical extras beyond typical lodging. Guests have noted the fitness center is compact but adequate for a quick workout.

Location & Surroundings

The hotel sits roughly 700 meters from both the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park, and about 1.2 kilometers from Santa Monica State Beach and Downtown Santa Monica, making beach and boardwalk activities easily walkable. It's also a short drive from Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Venice Canal Historic District, and Montana Avenue's shops and restaurants, with The Getty, the Hammer Museum, and LACMA reachable within a roughly 15-20 minute drive, and Hollywood-area attractions like Universal Studios and the TCL Chinese Theatre farther afield at around 18-19 kilometers.

Best for

This hotel suits travelers seeking a luxury beachfront stay with historic character, particularly couples and those celebrating special occasions, given its ocean-view rooms, whirlpool tubs, and oceanfront seafood dining. It also works well for families or groups needing larger accommodations, thanks to suites with up to four bedrooms, and for beach-and-boardwalk-focused visitors given its proximity to Santa Monica Pier and State Beach.

Travel tips

Book a room with an ocean view early, as these are a signature feature and likely to be in demand given the hotel's high review volume. The Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park are close enough to reach on foot, but a car or rideshare is worth arranging for trips to Venice Beach, the Getty, or Hollywood-area sights, which are several kilometers away. Since the fitness center is described as small, early-morning or off-peak use may be more comfortable.

What guests say

Guests consistently praise the attentive, polished service, singling out friendly staff and front-door welcomes as a highlight, along with the hotel's decor, ambience, and unbeatable beachfront location. The rooms and ocean views draw frequent admiration, and the on-site dining and pool area are also called out positively. A few guests noted shortcomings, including an isolated report of a pest issue in a room, a small fitness center adequate only for brief workouts, and one comment about the absence of an expected evening turndown service given the hotel's upscale category.

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