The Best Hotels in Santa Monica, California

"Grand gates and a cobblestone-lined driveway lead to a magnificent, oversized Moreton Bay fig tree that predates the 100-year-old property. The newly renovated ground floor includes a breezy lobby bar decorated with midcentury-modern furniture, brassy regency touches, and an eight-seat, Tokyo-style sushi bar called Soko. One of the best happy hours on the Westside can be found overlooking the pool at Fig, or if you’re looking for a more nightlife-y, youthful vibe, head to the Bungalow for drinks and dancing before heading back to your room. The Ocean tower offers more traditional rooms, but we recommend splurging on one of the 31 residential-style Bungalows set in the flower-filled Miramar Gardens." - Krista Simmons