The Regent model’s final foray to the West Coast was in Beverly Hills; the Beverly Wilshire, now a Four Seasons lodge, was initially the “Regent Beverly Wilshire” again within the ’90s when Pretty Woman was filmed there. But after an extended absence—and being acquired by IHG Hotels & Resorts—Regent opened this coastal resort to fanfare in fall 2024, and the Santa Monica lodge now serves because the model’s first flagship property inside the Americas, becoming a member of a portfolio of properties world wide, from Cannes to China.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to take a look at the lodge myself over my birthday weekend. After driving as much as the grand but considerably bland constructing on Ocean Avenue—it’s taken over the previous Loews Santa Monica Beach—I used to be wowed when I stepped into the luxe foyer. The opulent but understated area is technically on the fourth of eight flooring, boasting sky-high ceilings and providing a glimpse of the property’s grandness. The foyer, and the whole property, has nautical inspirations, marrying the pure great thing about the ocean with the glamour of Los Angeles. During my keep, I noticed that the Regent Santa Monica Beach is a world unto itself, permitting you to flee the hustle and bustle of L.A. whilst you’re solely steps from PCH.
What are the rooms like at Regent Santa Monica Beach?
There are 167 guestrooms and suites on the lodge—that’s half the quantity as when the property was a Loews. The Regent renovated the rooms with a deal with high quality over amount, tapping Wimberly Interiors to design. At a minimal of 720 sq. ft—larger than many L.A. residences—even the common “rooms” really feel like suites, with eating and residing areas along with the bed room, plus an arrogance space main into a spacious rest room. And whereas there are some city-view choices, a lot of the rooms provide panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the seaside and the Santa Monica Pier, which you’ll view from balconies exterior. The pier has all the time been certainly one of my favourite locations in L.A., and regardless that it rained throughout my keep, waking up and consuming breakfast on the balcony with a view of the Ferris wheel was one of the simplest ways I might think about to start out my birthday.
Each area provides further high-quality facilities—assume a Bose speaker, Nespresso machine, useful charging ports subsequent to every facet of the mattress and extra. In the spa-like loos, which all comprise a soaking tub, walk-in rain bathe and twin sinks, you’ll discover bathtub salts, Perricone MD merchandise, cozy robes and a Dyson hairdryer. Like the lodge’s communal areas, the rooms scream—nicely, really whisper—understated luxurious and rest and incorporate the ocean motif.
The lodge additionally provides some gorgeous suites: The Malibu Sunset Suite is available in at 1,920 sq. ft, and I fell in love with its inexperienced sofa and nook balcony excellent for watching the sundown. The signature Santa Monica Presidential Suite boasts 3,200 sq. ft, full with an workplace and a recreation room with a pool desk—however prices upward of $20,000 an evening.
Where are you able to eat at Regent Santa Monica Beach?
There are 4 distinct eating and ingesting ideas on the Regent Santa Monica Beach. Two of them come from James Beard Award winner Michael Mina. Situated on the far facet of the foyer, the chef’s Orla opened to fanfare, each for its Mediterranean and Middle East–impressed delicacies and its gorgeous ocean views by way of floor-to-high-ceiling home windows.
The restaurant’s menu modifications seasonally, however I particularly loved evergreen starters just like the hummus and Greek salad. I’d advocate asking the enthusastic servers for wine-pairing suggestions along with your meal. For dessert, order the baklava sundae, made tableside and topped with berries, frozen Greek yogurt, a 24K-gold honey drizzle, candied citrus and turkish pistachios.
Adjacent to Orla, Orla Bar’s fashionable wooden, brass and marble design evokes a yacht. On a tour of the property, I used to be informed that each night at sundown, a dancer performs on the bar to transition the area from day into evening as company get pleasure from “Sunset Sips” from 4pm to 6pm—the lodge’s tackle comfortable hour. A bar bites menu of Orla’s best hits is served right here as nicely.
Since it was raining, I didn’t get to expertise Azure Bar, however the idea provides elevated poolside delicacies and inventive cocktails together with alfresco ocean views. And lastly, for a extra informal possibility and grab-and-go fare, cease by the fashionable Sweet July Café from restaurateur and writer Ayesha Curry. You’ll discover espresso, tea, pastries and a menu impressed by each Curry’s love for California farmers’ markets and her Jamaican heritage. While you’re there, you’ll be able to decide up a few of Sweet July’s superfood-inspired skincare.
What is the service like at Regent Santa Monica Beach?
The service at Regent Santa Monica Beach was like nothing I’d ever skilled earlier than. It begins even earlier than your keep, while you’re assigned a Regent Experience Manager (a trademark of the Regent model), who’s your level of contact all through your keep when you want something. Their position is to personalize a visitor’s keep based mostly on particular requests and preferences.
In the lead-up to my go to, I used to be requested, “What are some of your comforts from home that bring you joy when you travel?” My reply: books and chocolate. I arrived to an artfully organized plate of chocolate pearls and truffles with a handwritten notice on my room’s eating desk. An in-room refreshment gallery of drinks and snacks is curated forward of arrival, in response to the visitor’s tastes—no mini bar the place you’re overcharged for a bottle of water right here.
Beyond that, every worker I encountered was so attentive and pleasant—strolling into dinner, I used to be welcomed by so many various those who I felt like royalty. Upon returning to the room, housekeeping had been in for turn-down service: A pair of slippers had been set out subsequent to the mattress, water on my nightstand, and hand cream and a room-service menu on my pillow.
What are you able to do for enjoyable on the Regent Santa Monica Beach?
Though you’re solely a brief stroll from the seaside, the Regent has a heated outside swimming pool with a view of the ocean, dubbed Azure Pool. Pool lounge chairs are first-come, first-served, although you’ll be able to pay to order a daybed or cabana—even when you’re not a lodge visitor, you’ll be able to go to by going via Resortpass.
You may also lease electrical bikes free of charge to cycle all the way down to the seaside, or e book the complimentary Mercedes-Benz home automotive for journeys inside a two-mile radius of the lodge. Also notable is the Beach Butler service: A employees member will escort you to the boardwalk, the place a “butler” will lead you to your individual seaside set-up for 2, then return to take your meal order.
Back on the property, be sure to cease by the Regent Shop, a curated boutique the place you’ll be able to store for life-style merchandise and luxurious items from designers and native artisans, with an emphasis on women-owned manufacturers.
Though the obvious time to go to a beachfront lodge is in the summertime, the Regent has been offering inventive programming year-round; you may make your individual s’mores beneath a comfortable blanket on the pool deck within the fall or take a chef-led journey to the famed Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.
There’s additionally a health middle with state-of-the-art energy and cardio machines, which is open until 10pm each day. My favourite a part of the entire lodge, although, must be the spa.
The Guerlain Wellness Spa—the one certainly one of its type on the West Coast and certainly one of simply three within the U.S.—solely makes use of merchandise from the French skincare model and perfume home, which has been crafting luxurious merchandise in Paris since 1828. The 10,000-square-foot spa consists of 12 remedy rooms, gender-specific lounges with a plunge pool, sauna and steam room, and a pre-treatment rest lounge. I opted for a customized facial throughout my go to and—as somebody who will get a good quantity of facials—it actually impressed me. For days afterward, I used to be marveling at how clean my pores and skin was, to the purpose the place I tracked down the merchandise to make use of at residence. After the remedy, I frolicked and loved Champagne, tea and rose macarons within the stylish post-treatment rest lounge. On your means out, there’s a requisite retail boutique, in addition to a complimentary make-up refresher station, which is a considerate contact—and one thing I haven’t seen at different spas.
What’s the world like round Regent Santa Monica Beach?
You can’t go too far previous Regent Santa Monica Beach with out actually being within the ocean. Seriously—you’re a 10-minute stroll from the Santa Monica Pier, and solely a three-minute bike experience away. Spend the day on the sand, driving the joys rides at Pacific Park or biking alongside the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. In the speedy space, you’re within the firm of plenty of different coastal accommodations, although not as near the water as, say, Shutters on the Beach or Hotel Casa del Mar.
You’re additionally not removed from some greenery: The city Tongva Park is a two-minute stroll away, and Palisades Park is barely 5. And although they’re maybe not the draw they as soon as had been (although the town has plans to vary that), open-air Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade—fashionable vacationer locations for purchasing, ingesting and eating—are additionally walkable.
DETAILS
Address: 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Price: Rooms begin at $1,100 per evening.
Closest Transport: Metro E Line Downtown Santa Monica station; Big Blue Bus routes 1, 3, 5, 7 and eight.
Book Now: by way of Booking.com
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