What it is

A 271-room Instagrammy retreat designed by Kelly Wearstler, with a rooftop pool deck and new Ayurvedic spa.

What it isn't

Right on the beach. But in the heart of tony downtown Santa Monica, and just a few blocks from the sand (and the Santa Monica Pier), you won’t miss it.

What we think

No wonder California’s myriad influencers are flocking to Santa Monica Proper, housed in a 1920s landmarked building, to get their likes. The hotel is a designy-scene, with sandy-hued rooms that are anything but oatmeal. You’ll find tailor-made furniture (like spiral upholstered headboards), linens by Bellino and Fili D’oro, Apple TV and floor to ceiling windows with blackout shades you can control with the push of a button. In the bathroom: travertine showers, Aesop toiletries and cozy robes by Parachute Home. Ask for a Premier Balcony King room for 450 square feet of lounging space and a private balcony for taking in California breezes, cocktail-in-hand.

You're here because

You love Lalaland, but not enough to spend every minute there—not when you can be on the beach in the frothy surf.

The Moment

It’s dusk at Calabra, the hotel’s rooftop Mediterranean bar and restaurant, and you’ve never felt more like a card-carrying member of the Hollywood glitterati. Maybe it’s the pink light washing over your face, or the Alchemist wellness juice—with kale, spinach, parsley, lemon and more green, good stuff—but you’ve never felt more Fabulous, with a capital F.

Restaurants & Bars

Calabra Rooftop - Mediterranean and Californian cuisine served with the ocean as the backdrop

Onda - Proper's signature restaurant serving seafaring Latin mixes

Palma - Artsy bar serving drinks from morning until late

Location

The heart of downtown Santa Monica, about ten blocks from the Santa Monica Pier and buzzing beach.