This new Santa Monica hotel promises a pool, al fresco dining and a pedestrian-friendly approach to LA
Tucked away steps from the Santa Monica Pier, The Pierside Hotel is just one more reason to visit Santa Monica.
East Side vs. West is constantly the debate between friends when it comes to where to live/stay in LA. Silverlake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Eagle Rock, Pasadena, DTLA—in my opinion, these are the neighborhoods where the great restaurants and wine bars are in LA. This is the part of town I lived in the longest. The best hikes are here. The coolest stores. The farmers’ markets. The flower shops. The sense of community and really down to earth locals. It’s where I’ve felt at home for so many years, but more recently some fun vacays/staycays have started to wear away at my East Side vs. West Side walls. In my mid to late-30s have I become *gasp* a beach girl?
There is just something about oceanfront sunsets, the sound of waves, being able to see and smell the sea… that hits different these days. And Santa Monica feels a little more local maybe and a little less touristy than it did a decade or so ago.
So let me tell you about The Pierside Hotel. I stayed for a night in April (the hotel just opened in January of this year after a multi-million-dollar renovation) and even though the pool was still under construction, I had the loveliest time lounging in my room and going on long walks in the neighborhood with friends. The robes are GREAT. The decor is light, airy and SoCal inspired. The beds are comfy and I had a whole sofa to work and watch TV on. Seeing the sun set over Santa Monica from my room was absolute perfection.
Hotel details: The Pierside is the closest hotel to the Santa Monica Pier and has 132 guest rooms and suites (many with coastal views). The lobby is warm and welcoming with places to charge your phone, which I appreciated especially after I checked out and needed a little extra juice. There is a Board Shop by the front desk where you can rent surf boards, skateboards, board games and more—you can also borrow a camera or GoPro here to use around the city. If you’re an art lover, you won’t want to miss the larger than life mural on the hotel’s exterior west-facing wall by celebrated artist, activist and OBEY Clothing founder, Shepard Fairey.
The property is dog friendly and the state-of-the-art fitness center will open this summer. The Surfing Fox, an all-day restaurant with sprawling patio views, will also open inside the hotel next month. In addition to food, the Surfing Fox will also offer a selection of California-sourced spirits + local beers and wines.
Other hotel happenings in Santa Monica right now:
The nearly 100-year old The Georgian restored its 84 guest rooms and 28 suites, as well as adding a new private space called The Gallery, which will show work by international artists.
The The Viceroy Santa Monica recently completed a $21M renovation that includes artwork by local artisans in each guest room.
The notable Shangri-La Hotel is no longer the Shangri-La. It’s now The Beacon by Sonder.
Le Merigot is under renovation and will soon join Marriott's Autograph Collection.