Viceroy Santa Monica Delivers LA Style

Think of a Viceroy hotel as the life of the party, the extrovert, the one that turns heads when entering a room. A Viceroy is never shy, and always provocative. A Viceroy is a bit flirtatious, and dares its guests to flirt back.

No better example of this profile will you find within the Viceroy line-up as that of the brand’s flagship Viceroy Santa Monica. The hotel’s unassuming and boxy façade belies the whimsicality and glamour found within. Located on bustling Ocean Avenue, with higher westward facing floors affording spectacular views of the Pacific, Viceroy Santa Monica is not only a perfectly located beach retreat, it’s a gathering spot for in-the-know locals who appreciate the allure of the quixotic common areas. (For those hoping to spy a few stars during their LA stay, the Viceroy Santa Monica often delivers.)



Creative, spontaneous, and a bit eccentric – these Viceroy hallmarks are delivered in spades at Viceroy Santa Monica. Originally designed by Viceroy muse Kelly Wearstler with a ‘modern colonialism’ aesthetic, and recently refreshed by Seattle-based Dawson Design Associates, the design is bold and fashion-forward. Vibrant colors such as parakeet yellow, Prussian blue, parrot green, and dove gray accentuate the lobby, the bar, the library, and the lounge. Large tufted leather sofas and wingback chairs beckon and are best enjoyed with a craft cocktail from the Cast Lounge bar, or with morning coffee and tea from the complimentary silver coffee service. Design elements are eye-catching and unexpected – a collection of mirrors accented by a giant cameo at the check-in desk, diagonal shelving in the bright yellow library, a ceramic plate mural on an outside wall.



Guest rooms in more subdued hues of sand and sea are equally aesthetically pleasing and contain all the comforts expected (and then some) of a luxury brand hotel: plush bedding, luxurious robes, Neil George bath and beauty products, stocked mini-bar, flat screen televisions, and ample outlets for personal electronics. Each of the 162 rooms has a step-out balcony with views of either the ocean or the property’s elegant ‘backyard.’ This intimate sanctuary features crisp black and white cabanas, and lush Hawaiian-like foliage all adjacent to the hotel’s popular Cast restaurant, serving Chef Tony DiSalvo’s shareable plates of farm-to-table, globally inspired LA street food favorites. And make note – on Fridays and Saturdays, there’s no need to venture beyond the hotel in search of night life. Instead, the night life comes to you when the in-crowd descends for live music at the lobby’s Cast Lounge.

Work off the previous night’s indulgences at the hotel’s fully equipped ‘wellness studio.’ Enjoy complimentary poolside yoga on Saturdays and Sundays, hire a guide for either a Temescal Canyon hike, or a run through the city, or enlist a Kinema Fitness trainer to lead you through a stretch session, a personal training hour, or poolside Pilates.



For additional activities, borrow a beach cruiser from the hotel’s fleet, stroll the famed Third Street Promenade, or surf the ocean waves. Head to one of the area’s theme-parks, or museums. Check-out the famed Santa Monica pier and take a ride on the iconic Ferris wheel. But the truth is you never need to leave the hotel property to experience the best of LA. As a guest at the Viceroy Santa Monica, this objective is inherently achieved.

Visit website: https://www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/santamonica

Photos: Christian Horan