The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica

Hotel · Santa Monica

The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica

Hotel · Santa Monica

2

1255 20th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404

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The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null
The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica by null

Highlights

Eco-chic hotel with loaner bikes, Tesla service, and zen garden  

Featured in Afar
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1255 20th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Get directions

ambrosehotel.com
@ambrosehotel

$$$

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1255 20th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404 Get directions

+1 310 315 1555
ambrosehotel.com
@ambrosehotel
𝕏
@AmbroseHotel

$$$

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Last updated

Aug 9, 2025

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@afar

13 Surprising Hotel Perks You Can Get for Free - AFAR

"This Santa Monica hotel provides a complimentary Tesla service to transport guests to destinations within three miles of the property, making short local trips easy and sustainable." - Cat Sposato

https://www.afar.com/magazine/13-exciting-free-perks-at-hotels-around-the-world
View Postcard for The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica
@afar

10 Best Luxury & Boutique Hotels in Santa Monica, CA - AFAR

"A warm, craftsman-style boutique hotel set about twenty blocks from the beach in a quiet neighborhood, offering 77 rooms and suites and long-standing eco-conscious credentials as the first LEED-certified hotel in the United States when it opened in 2007. Sustainability and a relaxed local lifestyle inform much of the experience, from beach cruisers and a Tesla house car for nearby rides to the nightly Santa Monica Sips tastings that showcase locally brewed beer and California wines—amenities that encourage long stays and attract locals with resident discounts." - Kathryn Romeyn

https://www.afar.com/magazine/best-santa-monica-hotels-for-a-truly-local-stay
View Postcard for The Ambrose Hotel Santa Monica

J. Jackson

Google
I enjoyed staying here. It was quiet and the service was good. I enjoyed the complimentary bicycles. There are designated bike lanes around, and I felt safe to explore. You can bike all the way to the beach/pier, to Venice Beach, and to the palisades. The area is also walkable. There is a Trader Joe's and Whole Foods within walking distance. There is also a breakfast place across the street that will give hotel guests a discount.

Rita Kangas

Google
We had an excellent stay at this hotel. The room was very clean and comfortable. We enjoyed their happy hour in the evening before walking to a restaurant nearby for dinner. I also appreciated them offering a car service within a few miles and bikes to ride around. The check-in staff was super helpful and delivered a coffee maker very quickly after check-in.

Marissa Kane

Google
The Ambrose was the perfect hotel for my business trip. As advertised by my manager, the robes are insanely soft and comfy. I used one for post-showering and the other for the intermediary times where I'd not yet showered - a clean and dirty robe. 😁 The room was perfectly sized and the closet could easily fit all of my outfits without bending them. The beds were comfy, clean, and had lovely linens. The hotel offers a happy hour daily and has a great set of seating areas: both indoor and out. The fireplaces outdoors made the patio absolutely perfect. My colleagues and I studied for our exams there and had a great time. The bar offers meals and bites to share. Oh and it's located across the street from Tartine, which is amazing. Enjoy your stay.

Emma

Google
Absolutely love this hotel! It's a true gem! Beautiful rooms, very comfortable beds, excellent staff and delicious food. Originally we booked it for two nights but we liked it so much that we decided to extend our stay for three more days. I already want to go back! It's about a mile walk from the beach but I didn't mind it at all. One of my favorite hotels!

C406RHjosephm

Google
This was our 3rd trip to Santa Monica in the past year and the first stay at the Ambrose. We rented a king room, which was adequate for the two of us. The room was very modern, and the bed was comfortable. Bathooom modern The most striking thing was the friendliness of the staff at the front desk, starting with Taylor and the kitchen staff who served us food off the small menu. I had bacon and eggs every morning, and my wife had oatmeal, all very good. The room was very quiet (second floor of 4). There was a "white noise" device in our room, which I liked.||The staff was all very accommodating. We found out from Taylor that there is a lower rate if you are visiting family in SM, which we were, and she said she would adjust our last 2 nights.||We are leaving tomorrow. We will stay at the Ambrose on our next visit in the fall.

644dianeg

Google
The Ambrose Hotel is an oasis, and I still feel that way after being a guest many times over the past five years. The location is prime, the atmosphere is light-filled and soothing, and the guest rooms are well-appointed and spacious. And, the "honor bar" is hands-down the best. Food options for snacks and meals are appealing and well-prepared, and the late afternoon "Happy Hour" is very nice. More than all the excellence that The Ambrose offers, it's the people who matter most to me; they are to a person, friendly, helpful, professional, personable. When I need to be in the Greater LA Area, I will always stay here. Thanks to Brandon, Taylor, Jose, Nicole, and Ivan for making my most recent stay perfect in every way--they exceeded my high exceptions.

Roving02185184723

Google
Taylor at the front desk was so lovely and helpful. She made check in a breeze and truly showed that she cares about the guests. She was thoughtful, warm and welcoming. It is great they offer complementary rides within the area using a Tesla. My wife and I enjoyed our stay and look forward to returning. Kudos to Taylor at the reception for starting our stay off on a great note.

DebOChicago_IL

Google
My husband’s mother lives in Santa Monica so when we visit we usually stay with her, but sometimes, particularly around holidays, there isn’t room. In that case, we need to go to a hotel, and twice we have stayed at The Ambrose. We have enjoyed our stays; the rooms have been comfortable and service has been good. We took advantage of the house car a couple of times, which was convenient for us. We would absolutely stay again. In fact, we are planning to return in December.
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Joyce M.

Yelp
The Ambrose Hotel is the best kept secret in Santa Monica among those who know and who have put up with noisy crowds along the oceanfront hotels, homelessness and the smell of human urine, and decided they wanted something better. if you are like me and want a quiet and safe stay for both you and your car; if you want to avoid loud drunken parties, crowds of homeless and crowds in general; and if you love quiet luxury, thoughtfully designed rooms, clean crisp linens, and kind and warm staff - then this is your place! The Ambrose has become my go-to hotel in Santa Monica thanks to Brandon, the wonderfully warm and welcoming manager. You could easily mistake him for an actor, like the many in this city of beautiful people, but he is the gracious and hospitable manager who takes great care of his clients. Brandon has worked several years in the hospitality business in various LA scenes, grew up in Huntington Beach and thus knows the area well. He was wonderfully welcoming and warm! He didn't know me at all, but upgraded me to a room with a terrace because he could, and offered me complimentary slippers which I gratefully accepted. You could tell he treats everyone the same way, he's that kind of nice! My room had a lovely view of Tartine bakery, the sunset, and a clean quiet street below. The toiletries are by L'Occitane, the robes in the room are by La Bottega and I just may purchase some of the latter for gifts, they are so comfortable! (They run $130 each, and are silky on the outside, pillowy soft on the inside). I have stayed at lots of top hotels and never wanted to take one of their robes, but this one is like angel food cake lol! The property is small, but thoughtfully designed with a zen garden, indoor/outdoor living room, beautifully scented hotel rooms (love the classic old Hollywood notes of gardenia), the old-meets-new luxury California beach aesthetic, the beautifully appointed rooms. For those who love to mingle, there's a cozy communal fireplace, unlimited beer and wine in the evenings, unlimited tea/coffee/hot water during the day, a beautiful modern lobby/living room that truly feels like a living room. Surprisingly despite the dual use of the communal areas they don't smell of old breakfast odors (a different experience from the typical Hampton Inn for example). There are bikes for the ten minute ride to the beach, or to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or other local establishments, and a Tesla ride within a 3-mile radius. I drove my beloved car and felt absolutely safe to have it kept in their small but safe gated subterranean garage. I actually like the concrete pillars because it keeps my car from getting dinged by other car doors. This place is a little gem in a safe neighborhood in Santa Monica, close to the best the city offers (3rd street promenade, restaurants, the beach) while keeping out the unpleasant aspects of being in a popular tourist destination - there's thankfully no noise, drama, homeless, unpleasant odors, crowds. Add the magic of warm hospitality and we've got ourselves a winner! The only downside is that the walls are quite thin - you do hear every door opening, cough, and conversation but the folks who stay here are most likely to be the clean and quiet type, so if you're like me this is the place you want to book! I look forward to my future stays here! Brandon the wonderful hotel manager and his team will ensure a memorable stay at this cozy, unique and beautiful little property!
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Rochelle R.

Yelp
Great Hotel. It is a little bit hidden, but in a good way. It's located right on the edge of more metro Santa Monica and a safe residential neighborhood. Great ambiance, good vibes, as well as, a very friendly and accommodating staff. It is the perfect distance away from a lot of the downtown Santa Monica chaos, but still close enough to be convenient. The rooms are well designed, clean and functional. Highly Recommend.
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Marisa F.

Yelp
Staying here was an absolute pleasure! I last minute booked the closest nice hotel to the Santa Monica wing of UCLA Medical Center-it was only a 5-10 minute walk over. I was absolutely exhausted by the time I wandered in, check in was an absolute breeze and the young man who helped me was an absolute gem. Housekeeping had ice sent up for me without asking. Absolutely a lifesaver! Without a doubt a lovely stay that helped make my day much brighter.
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Suzanne B.

Yelp
We stayed here at a locked in rate and couldn't cancel during the first weekend in March. The hotel is aiding with free beverages and an ample variety of snacks. Parking is annoying -- think small underground apartment building parking with poles...tough to navigate and easy to miss the garage every during high traffic hours. The rooms are adequate and clean but the TV is super slow to change channels. Tartine across the street is a gem and worth the lengthy lines.

Benjamin K.

Yelp
Nice, quiet hotel but the cost was high. If you're looking to stay in this location, this is a nice, clean hotel to stay at. The cost was pretty high for the value but the location was nice. Across the street from a bakery/brunch spot and maybe a 20 minute walk from the beach. Feels like a nice hotel and service was great, cost just higher than what seems reasonable.

Cindy G.

Yelp
The parking lot to park is way too small for big cars. The best part it's across street from bakery
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Tani S.

Yelp
We stayed here for three days and it was a pleasant stay on balance. I'm not too sure if I would opt to stay here again but had booked it since it was on the tripadvisor center of excellence for Santa Monica. On the good, the location is fantastic--close to the Getty, walking distance to sweet coffee spots/restaurants (we didn't care for Tartine but La La Land was a stroll 1 mile away as well as Cassia), parking underground (there was a bit of confusion when we arrived since I had booked a rate that included parking and wasn't initially offered it), a room with a terrace, and a comfortable room. Staff was friendly at check in. On the bad, the bathroom wasn't air conditioned at the Ambrose making it really hot, the terrace area was really dirty (and they only offer these rooms with queen beds on the first floor... they were kind at check in allowing us to switch to a smaller room if needed), and for the $500+ night bill (we were there on weekdays) it did feel exorbitant for what they offered.
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Zoe Q.

Yelp
My favorite hotel not just in LA but maybe anywhere, for this price point? Great staff. Free beer and wine for happy hour every night (6-8) and good coffee and tea around the clock. Lovely lobby and courtyards to sit and hang out in. Sparkling clean rooms with the best bathrobes ever. Free house driver with a Tesla to take you anywhere in a three-mile radius (but you should tip well!). I got a room with a huge private patio and outdoor fireplace! Really nice bathroom amenities (no gross Malin and Goetz rum soap here). The whole place also smells amazing. Love it so much!
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Stephanie D.

Yelp
My parents visited LA this past weekend and I decided to book them at the Ambrose. It was their best hotel experience in LA -- I'll definitely book here again! Location is great -- right next to Tartine for delicious breakfast options. The staff was kind, courteous, and offered 1:1 attention throughout their stay. Anything my parents needed was immediately taken care of! The downstairs is very cute with a large indoor/patio and fireplace -- great for hanging out. To top it off, the hotel even offers a free afternoon happy hour. If you have friends or family coming from out of town and live in the Brentwood/Santa Monica area, I'd highly recommend you look here!
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Michael B.

Yelp
A PERFECT STAY ! Whenever my wife and I spend a weekend in Santa Monica we always stay here. Not a big hotel not a small hotel......just right ! And they have a Tesla Destination Charger in their secure basement parking lot. LOTS TO LIKE ! We arrived here around 1.15pm on Saturday...check-in is usually not til 3pm. Sometimes we get lucky and get in early. I spoke with Elisa at the reception desk and she said our room would be ready in about an hour. Elisa kindly let my wife park her Tesla Y in their basement parking lot. After that we sat in their lobby until just before 3pm waiting to get into our room on the 3rd floor. As we were just staying overnight we didn't go big on the room....no outdoor patio and no separation of bedroom & lounge area. GOOD THING ! Being on the 3rd floor and not directly facing the road out front....it proved quiet enough. The king size bed was comfortable and we could watch the tennis on the huge flat screen TV on the wall. On Saturday night we headed out to dinner at the sensational Fia Restaurant which is a short drive away. We seldom do breakfast at hotels and we had no plans to have breakfast here...not included with our room rate. In fact first thing on Sunday morning we drove over to Blue Daisy for the BEST BREAKFAST EVER ! They offer a selection of electric and regular bicycles for their guests free of charge. We plugged my wife's Tesla Y into their Tesla Destination Charger overnight so we could make the drive home to Irvine with ease. We did score a $5 parking space charge...instead of the usual $39. Nothing good comes cheap but this place is worth it ! NOTE - Of course with over 22 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics in 2022 I can tell you what is great !

Nila E.

Yelp
My family and I had visited this hotel room for 2 nights and the experience was great! First off, when we arrived to our rooms, the balcony outdoor was very nice and clean and a perfect place to eat outside if you order doordash food to your room and even has heaters. Second, The room was very nice and had a great view from the outside of the hotel room and was very clean and even had a wet bar of food that we didn't buy anything from. Third, The breakfast serving sizes were okay because one of my family members couldn't finish one big bowl of oatmeal and the breakfast it self took very long to cook and was still good. Fourth, The bakery next door had very good food for the whole family and would recommend that bakery Tartine. Last, The bathroom was very nice and had a shower and a bath which is very helpful for a big family with toddlers that need a bath and older siblings & adults that need to shower. The bathtub had a lot of hairs in it, but still clean.

Alan O.

Yelp
A four night stay at The Ambrose, we have stayed close to the beach in Santa Monica and found that location to be noisy and heavily trafficked, decided to stay in a quieter neighborhood and The Ambrose seemed to fit that criteria. Nice Arts & Crafts design, we were on the top floor with high vaulted ceilings in the room. In room menu was good and very similar to what we had often across the street at Tartine' s, which was excellent, both were. Other good restaurants we tried nearby were Birdie G's, really nice, and Dan Modern Chinese on Sawtelle Boulevard.
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Annie N.

Yelp
Eco-friendly hotel of my dreams! I love everything about this place from the aesthetic to the staff to the location. I've stayed at The Ambrose twice now for work and intend on never switching it up. The hotel itself is both quaint and luxurious. The rooms are nice and spacious, there are indoor and outdoor lounge areas that are perfect for working or dining, and the gym is well-equipped. The staff is so professional and friendly! They also have free bike rentals that my friend and I took to Santa Monica Pier. If the spectacular hotel itself doesn't convince you, then the fact that they're located just across from Tartine should do the trick! Not feeling a boujee pastry for breakfast? The Ambrose has free breakfast boxes and on-demand coffee/tea!
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Consuela C.

Yelp
Came here for my sister birthday weekend , awesome stay. Rooms were clean and staff was friendly. I would recommend this place if your in the area.
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Kate L.

Yelp
I'm based near Laguna Beach and needed a last minute booking for an overnight stay and I was lucky enough to get the Ambrose Hotel's new manager, Brandon, on the line. He was able to get me situated quickly, and at a rate that worked for me, and was clear and efficient throughout our call. When I arrived, I was happy to see that the hotel is ideally situated across from the excellent Tartine Restaurant and Bakery....and blocks away from one of the best sushi restaurants in the area. And Brandon happened to be at reception and took the time to help us get set up in our room. The hotel entry and public spaces, including the fitness center, are clean, the lobby and dining area are modern and warm. And every staff member we met was friendly and on point. The hotel gave us a complimentary upgrade and our room on an upper floor had vaulted ceilings, was spacious-- especially for an LA hotel room--and clean (the latter is key, for me). While the hotel is not what I'd call a luxury hotel, (the rooms are sorta hip and sorta dated at the same time, but that's part of the Ambrose's charm) it does feel like a special, unique, boutique hotel, and I appreciate the offbeat feel of the place. It's quiet, and very well located in a safe neighborhood. I always feel like a hotel runs well (or poorly) based on how the place is managed. But we're giving a hand to Brandon for making the choice between staying at the Ambrose and another hotel closer to the SM Pier, an easy one. Efficiency, a welcoming energy, and clarity are excellent traits and help win over folks on the fence!

Mr L.

Yelp
Overpriced average hotel posing as upscale. For $500 a night after taxes, one would expect a cleaner room without random long black hairs throughout the bathroom floor. The tub was a bit worn and had mildew as well. Also, how does such an expensive "upscale" hotel not have any courtesy toothbrushes for travelers who forgot theirs? Their solution was..."There's a Walgreens nearby you can go buy buy one at." When turning in from a late night after showering, the last thing you want to do is change out of your pj's, leave your room, exit the hotel and walk in the dark by yourself while trying not to get mugged to go purchase a toothbrush "nearby". Come on! Even a Motel 6 has courtesy toothbrushes! The walls are also super thin as I can hear my neighbor humming a tune in the next room as I type this review. If you're going to demand a premium price, then you should deliver a correspondingly premium experience. This place is definitely not worth the extra expense.
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Trisha C.

Yelp
We just had our daughter's wedding party and several guests stay here and we were overwhelmed with the hospitality, warmth and professionalism of the staff at this Hotel. They had a large room with a spacious balcony where the bridal party got hair and make-up done. Just perfect. Our guests loved the accommodations. We were able to reserve our after-wedding Sunday brunch on the expansive patio in front of the hotel and they arranged for catering at a very reasonable price. Danielle the GM was incredible. She was hands-on and attentive to every last detail. We absolutely loved our experience here and will def return. With Tartine right across the street our guests had plenty of options for breakfast and lunch during their stay. Highly recommended Also, I want to thank Hillary for making so many things possible for our group and Aidee for service above and beyond

Sixto P.

Yelp
Great service and beautiful rooms, the garage is very secure. The beds and sheets were clean and comfortable.

Scott E.

Yelp
I feel like half of these reviews must be fake or made by people who don't travel much. This hotel is fine, in every sense of the word. To me, it's a slightly overpriced, smaller Hilton or Marriott. There is nothing noteworthy about it in any direction.
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Rasheeda S.

Yelp
In November 2022, Visited This hotel during a work trip. Was my home for 5 days. Very clean, the gym had a peloton. The Tesla ride was a nice touch. Very accommodating. Will stay again.
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Ashley K.

Yelp
Such an odd experience. Figured I would try something "nice" outside of the hotels we usually stay at (le meridien del fina, fairmont, Huntley) and was strikingly disappointed. From a) no greeting or offer to help trying to hunt down a bell cart when arriving on property and being unsure where to park with my 72 year old handicapped mom in the car and two little girls to b) coming back several hours later (6 pm) after being promised they would text when the room was ready with no communication and c) A Completely Unbothered attitude at checkin with absolutely zero information about the property. The staff and property had the most uncomfortable vibes I was nervous to ride in the elevator! I have never left a hotel early but had to trust my gut. I was happy to leave and will never go back. The room smelled and ac wasn't working.
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Noesh H.

Yelp
One of the most lavish hotels I've been too in terms of the room itself. This beautiful hotel is situated on a corner of a residential street. It is a bit pricey to stay at, but well worth it. Parking I believe is around $38/day per car. The customer service was amazing, completely over the top accommodating! We even had food delivered to the hotel, and the front desk gentleman just brought it up to our door. The room was very clean and spacious. The bathroom was exquisite with all high end branded soap and luxury robes. If I could design a hotel in a specific way, this hotel nailed it.
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Bret C.

Yelp
As part of my job, I've been staying in hotels a couple of times per week for the past decade, and what I've experienced at this hotel is far more atrocious than any other hotel I've ever frequented. Firstly, I called them to make the reservation and they informed me that the room I wanted to book looked just like what was shown in the picture. I told them that money was no object, I just wanted my room to look like the model room and have two big windows on adjacent walls. I was assured this was the case and that all of the rooms of this style looked this way. I have two employees who overheard the call. Turns out they lied about it just to get me in then door. My room doesn't look anything like the picture and there's only one small window straight ahead and the view is of a tree. I never would have made the reservation has I not been lied to. Of course all the rooms were rented out and they couldn't accommodate my request. But here's the worst part. I'm here because I'm hosting a 2-day Fitness seminar. I got home last night after working all day and had to answer emails and IG DMs. Didn't end up going to sleep until 2:30 am. Which was fine because my iPhone alarm was set to 9 am. Well, the housekeeper set the hotel alarm for 6:00 am. I'm pretty sure they did it to screw with me for complaining about the room. I was so out of it that it took me 10 minutes just to figure out what was going on. I called downstairs and spoke to Tina and she wasn't the slightest bit apologetic. I went downstairs to further discuss it and she said she didn't have to listen to me and stormed out of the room. She refused to tell me her name; I had to find out from the other person on staff. The level of customer service here is horrendous. Now I am wide awake and will have to provide an all-day seminar to 50 people who paid a good deal of money and deserve the best quality of service possible, all on 3.5 hours of sleep. There was no manager on duty and none that could be reached on the phone for over 8 hours. I was finally able to get ahold of DeLane (manager) who told me I must have set the alarm (even though I never touched it) and told me I should just check out because my standards are too high. He couldn't understand why I would be annoyed that their rooms are different and not as advertised. Unbelievable. Do yourself a favor and avoid this hotel like the plague. Your money is far better served going with a place nearby that values honesty and customer service. It's not worth the risk...your room might look nothing like what's being advertised even if you call in to verify, you may be woken up by random alarms you didn't set at the crack of dawn, and you'll certainly be treated poorly when you dare to call them out on their shady tactics.
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Chin H.

Yelp
I was in the hotel on 12/30/2019 after booking on Day Use. It has 4 floors with 77 rooms. Our booking was for leisure and since it was "day use", we were there from 10am-5pm. Miko at the front reception was exceptional - very helpful and made the check-in and parking process smooth. The room is average size, the bathroom is quite large. Their theme is sustainability so the shower gel and shampoo/conditioner are in large dispensers and refilled (quite ingenious). There is no cofee maker in the room, you can get coffee in the lobby. They had 2 free bottled water in the room. The only feedback for improvement would be on (1) food - need more variety with room service options, (2) hotel services - consider offering spa or massage, and (3) guest relations - hotel employees knocked on our door twice which was a bit uncomfortable and weird, first was to replenish the mini-bar with liquor (maybe they should do that after the guest leaves?), and second was cleaning lady asking a few minutes before our check-out time when we would leave so she can start cleaning (really??). Our rest and conversations were disrupted to answer the door. Overall, the hotel is very clean and I love the intimate atmosphere and the location, which was central to many stores. It's not smack at the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, which is a good thing. You'd still be close enough to go to the beach (5-10 minute drive) or Promenade. For out of towners, Santa Monica is really an expensive area so don't be surprised with the price tag of a nightly stay. The area is quiet and safe, you can walk around without fear of being mugged, generally. You can't do that at a hotel near LAX or Hollywood where the street traffic is dense and polluted.
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S L.

Yelp
I'm hesitant to write this review because I do not want it to be booked the next time I have to stay. Loved this little boutique hotel in the residential area of Santa Monica. Whole foods, and many other restaurants and businesses are within walking distance. There is a small electric BMW car service that is offered for free and will pick you up within a 3 mile radius. We used this service more than once and the drivers were amazing, friendly, and easy to find. Pros: Clean facilities Free breakfast in the morning Free car service to surrounding area locations Large rooms Good bath products Cons: None The only thing I would have liked to see a rotation of breakfast servings - after 3 days, it was getting a bit tiresome.
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Kaden F.

Yelp
Shims and Hillary are outstanding sales associates! They both quickly answered all my questions and book me the perfect room for my stay. This is s beautiful hotel and Hillary and Shima make your stay a true oasi. Thank you Ladies!
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Ambereen M.

Yelp
We had such a wonderful stay in this hotel. Our apartment was being renovated and we were asked to stay in a hotel for 2 weeks. All of the staff at The Ambrose were incredibly helpful and kind. From offering to heat up our leftovers to a thoughtful cleaning crew, everyone there was first rate. The amenities were lovely too! They had a delicious and beautiful breakfast spread daily and a great happy hour included. Drew was a friendly and kind bartender for happy hour. The hotel is so convenient to all the restaurants and coffee shops in Santa Monica, without the touristy feeling. We didn't need it, but they had a free hotel car to drop you off as well. When it rained, they had umbrellas to borrow. We're grateful for the hospitality and kindness during our time away from home. Would recommend this hotel to anyone!
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Terry S.

Yelp
I absolutely LOVE this little gem of a hotel! Every time I come to Santa Monica, I choose to stay here, even when I could stay at the Fairmont or some of the the other upscale hotels along the water. Don't get me wrong, some of those hotels are also pretty fantastic, but they are double the price, and honestly not worth it when you can stay at a place like The Ambrose! My only real complaint, and the reason I am not giving this hotel five stars, is because they do not offer enough plant-based options with their free breakfast or their wine and cheese option. I would love to see them offer a plant-based butter like Earth balance or Miyokos butter which is made out of coconut and is even available now at Trader Joe's. I would also really appreciate if they would offer oatmeal or even a cereal with plant-based milk which would provide for healthier options. I also really wish they did not offer deli meats as part of their breakfast and at their Happy Hour as they are now considered and rated as Class-A carcinogens, and put in the same class as cigarettes! I know it may be asking a lot, but would love to see them offer a plant based spread (like hummus or a cashew or almond cheese) with crackers at their afternoon wine and cheese Hour, and consider the increasing number of us who are plant based. With the increasing awareness about the harm that meat causes, and with so many restaurants around them offering plant-based options, I really hope and encourage The Ambrose in Santa Monica to adopt more plant friendly choices for guests who care about their health and the environment. The hotel has a lovely patio and front entrance, with a very nice front room to relax in. They also have a beautiful little gym, and comfortable beds. I especially like the bathroom products that are built in to their showers and really appreciate the luxurious robes they offer in all of their rooms. The staff is well-trained and extremely friendly, and I absolutely adore Tina and John who are fantastic representatives for the hotel and have both gone out of their way on more than one occasion, to make my stay more comfortable and more memorable! The hotel does occasionally get overwhelmed, and it is sometimes hard to get through to the front desk to book a room during busy times, so I do think the hotel should look into this as it can be frustrating to not be able to get to a live person at the front desk to make or change a reservation. All that said, the Ambrose is my Go-to hotel in Santa Monica, and is close to every place that I want to visit when I'm up there including Montana Street, Venice, 3rd Street Promenade and other areas around them! Great hotel!

Teren E.

Yelp
Love this small, elegant, quiet hotel. Fine location near enough to all SM trips - Wilshire Bl, Montana Ave, beach & Promenade - without being in the noisy tourist areas. And the service is 6 stars! I either stay here or in a private BnB whenever visiting West LA.
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Tim R.

Yelp
Great experience at The Ambrose Hotel for our wedding weekend stay. Me and my wife stayed at the hotel for 4 night during our wedding weekend. So did many of our out of town guests. The staff was friendly, professional, helpful, and really made our stay great. Many of our guests felt the same way. They let us use the common area for our wedding rehearsal for free and helped pick up and deliver items from local stores, at no charge. The hotel is clean, relaxing, and offers a great free continental breakfast. Big thank you to the Ambrose team for being so accommodating and making our stay to pleasant.
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Tim Y.

Yelp
I would stay here again the next time I'm in town! Here are some highlights and notes: -Choppy but free wifi -Gated garage at night -Clean but narrow rooms -Generous breakfast -Organic pastries -Friendly staff -Aveda products -Free taxi -Free bike rental -Walking distance to Whole Foods

B. B.

Yelp
Incredible hotel! Whoever designed this place did an amazing job! It's beautiful, everything is clean and the staff is absolutely lovely!! Free wine tasting nightly, great ambiance and the best breakfast spot is right across the street! They even have free bikes to ride all day! I highly recommend it!
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Bob S.

Yelp
Great staff George Great Hilary. Great The only thing that would be better would've been if celebrity sighting ha ha Ha The provided breakfast is also incredible as was as the parking No one could be nicer and having lived in California before this hotel is quite the value and an incredible location
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Mayson B.

Yelp
5 stars for excellent staff. The room was great and well decorated. The room has a personal outside patio on the 3rd floor. Can't hear neighbors at all. Bed was comfrontable with soft pillows.
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Rachel H.

Yelp
Very pleasantly surprised by this booking. The Ambrose is an older hotel that lives like a condo complex in Santa Monica. It has recently undergone a face lift, and if our room was any indication, for less than $250, we found ourselves very pleasantly surprised by the new dark furnishings, extremely high ceilings, outdoor patio (1st floor) and decent continental breakfast included in the price. This is not a full service hotel, but for a small hotel, its a good value and a good location. There is always someone on staff here, friendly and willing to help out. The hotel is right around the corner from St. John's Hospital (a top cancer treatment center) should you need to be close by. We were here for a trip to the Rose Bowl, and didn't want to gamble with Pasadena air quality (even in terrific January) and so ended up on the Westside. Just 20 blocks to the beach (the hotel is on 20th Street and the numbers go down as you move towards the beach) and close to the pedestrian-friendly 3rd Street Promonade, SM Pier, and improved Westside food scene, this hotel is a good option. Breakfast is only served till 9:30 am, so don't sleep in. Other downsides included the arbitrary price increases outside of the listed price on holidays (price swung up $100 for NY Day) and the premium parking at $25 a day, plus all the fun resort and city taxes, but that seems to be par in any Southern California hotel these days. The breakfast timeframes could be a little more forgiving, and while I love a good hotel robe, these here, and the towels, tend to be more thin and scratchy than I would like to see. Otherwise, a good remodel, a good location, and a solid stop if staying in Santa Monica or the Westside.
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Eldrid O.

Yelp
Loved our stay here! Staff went above and beyond on several occasions, the included buffet breakfast is delicious and everything was clean and felt luxurious and tasteful:)) I recommend this hotel wholeheartedly!
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Kryz T.

Yelp
Matthew was at the reception desk when we arrived, he was kind, attentive and efficient, he has been by far the most helpful hotel employee we have come across in a long time, although there were others there, he was outstanding with customer service, we wonder if he is the owner because of his amazing well mannered behavior, the experience was enjoyable because of him.
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Branden T.

Yelp
Let's talk about this hotel. Super swank, very nice, has all the trappings of a premium luxury hotel. The room was fantastic and again, something that you would expect from a hotel of this quality. ...but let's talk about something I think is more important. What set this hotel apart from me was the care and service that two individuals working the Front Desk exemplified on March 9, 2016, and it wasn't even for me. Nevaeh and Bernell spent the better part of an hour on the phone with a man who desperately needed a hotel because his wife was going to the hospital close by. The hotel had only one room left that was initially too expensive, and so the two of them called hotel after hotel in the area trying to secure this man a place to stay so he could be close to his wife. 10 minutes go by... Then 20. Then 30. These two individuals had every opportunity to tell this man, "sorry, there's nothing else I can do for you, best of luck," and send this person on their way. Eventually they were able to actually make some special arrangements to get this man a room for him, and it was directly because their actions inspired those around them. That kind of service is something that I would expect from a multi-thousand dollar a night hotel. If this is even an **occasional** act here I could not recommend that his place more highly.
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Jennifer P.

Yelp
Cozy and beautiful hotel! My firm flew me to one of our offices in Santa Monica and booked The Abrose for me because it was so close to the office. It was my first time there and the hotel was just so nice. It made my trip feel less stressful after all that traveling. The staff was very friendly from the concierge to room service. I loved my hotel room. The bed was comfy and had a pretty nice view. The one thing I liked about it the most was that they kept their mini-fridge stocked. It had coconut juice, Voss water, and other beverages. My room even had mini liquor bottles, cookies, and treats. I was so tired to even explore my first time in Santa Monica, so I ended up calling room service which was 24 hours! I ordered their veggie lasagna, macaroni and cheese, an ice cream bar, and salad. Yes, I ate all of that in one sitting. The person who delivered it was friendly and was very happy when I tipped him. Please tip them, they work hard there. They also had activities around 6pm, such as Yoga, but I didn't go because I was so tired. They have a lovely courtyard with a koi pond and nice patio furniture. The continental breakfast served delicious food as well. Booking the room is pricey, but worth it. I'm excited to go there again. 4 stars for sure.
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Carol C.

Yelp
Amazing breakfast and staff. Downed the stars because walls are paper thin. Room next door was loud and obnoxious and I heard it all. For what I was paying I am entitled to reasonable quiet. Go somewhere else if you are here on business and need to be rested and professional.
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Scott L.

Yelp
The people that were able to experience free parking before they started charging for it, well, good for you. They now charge $25/night, which is reasonable and having on-site parking under the hotel, with access to the elevator is worth it in Santa Monica where parking is hard to score. Plus, for EV and Tesla owners, they have 2 charging spots for each. Super awesome. Staff couldn't be better. They went out of their way to let me know when a Tesla charging spot opened up so I could charge. Hotel and rooms have a chill zen feel and are very well appointed. Complimentary breakfast is continental style and delightful. Who needs eggs and waffles when you have beautiful fresh pastries, fruit, coffee, juice and yogurt? Location is great and price is good. Free WiFi too. Great value!
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Lucy V.

Yelp
This weekend was my first time there and I will definitely be returning. The hotel is beautiful and the staff was amazing. Quiet neighborhood made it easy to relax and enjoy sitting on the balcony. Loved the robes! Super comfortable! Can't wait to go back!
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Jennel G.

Yelp
This a cute little hotel. Very clean and comfortable. I have stayed her before and it was perfect! However, this time I am in room #111 and it's a nightmare. Between the noise at 6am from breakfast and the garbage trucks and things going on on the alley behind me, I have got NO SlEEP! The manger did accommodate my by giving me a late check out. Make sure you are up high on the floors. It is 20 blocks from the beach and only residential around you. So, be prepared to drive to the beach.
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Andrea R.

Yelp
I usually stay with a good friend when visiting LA, but she has a bit of a hyper dog who I've had to ward off with bianca spray (I kid ya not). For this trip I decided to leave the bianca at home and stay at a hotel. Unfortunately, it wasn't easy finding a reasonably priced hotel in Santa Monica, but thanks to Yelp I discovered The Ambrose. This boutique hotel is in a great location and definitely has some charm. I found all the people who work here to be very sweet as well. However, I didn't think it's quite worth the $225/night I paid. There isn't a bar or restaurant downstairs, but one of my colleagues did tell me he ordered room service. The TVs are old school...flat screens are a must these days. And the gym wasn't anything to write home about; I was especially bummed that their one elliptical machine was broken. Then again shame on me for working out inside when the sun was shining outside. I'd stay here since the location was super convenient, but I may see what else is in the area first.
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Allie A.

Yelp
On a quick business trip to LA, a colleague recommended the Ambrose. What a delight! The location is perfect - an easy taxi ride anywhere in town. Very tranquil, Asian-inspired garden, complete with fountains and lush greenery. The room was delightful - high end bathroom amenities, very polished and serene. I could have stayed ensconced in the bed for days - one of the most comfortable beds I've ever stayed in. The staff were very helpful with everything from restaurant recommendations to directions on how to walk to the Promenade and beach. I loved being carted around by their English taxi - free to nearby destinations. What a treat!
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Kristine H.

Yelp
When we lived in Arizona, we left town as often as we could to beat the excruciating heat of Phoenix. On trips to Santa Monica, I'd book at the Ambrose without failing. The rooms are beautifully appointed with beautiful dark hardwood floors. And on the first visit, we slept past the alarm because the bed was THAT damned comfortable! What amenities do they offer? There is a complimentary Continental (and organic) breakfast provided by Urth Caffé, M-F from 06:00 to 09:30 and during the weekends from 06:00 to 10:00. In the rooms, you will find Matteo bed linens, Frette robes + bath towels and all Aveda products. There is also unlimited free Wi-Fi though if you are too far from their base station, it can be dodgy. There is free underground parking with preferred spaces for hybrid vehicles. Their hotel limo (converted British black cab) will take you to the Promenade and other locations within a three mile radius. They will also return you to the hotel though there is a cut-off so inquire before making plans to stay out until the bars close. And they offer cruising bikes to their guests if you'd rather cycle around the area. If I have need to be in the area, I will undoubtedly book another room here. The price is higher than I'd like but the accommodations are definitely worth it.
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Shazia C.

Yelp
I love boutique hotels as compared to the big chains. This is the cutest little boutique hotel. Few blocks from the beach, affordable, clean and quiet. They serve complementry breakfast in the morning (fruit , yogurt , croissants, cereal, tea , coffee etc) I love this place ! I simply find it peaceful..
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Kahee W.

Yelp
Simple hotel with the perfect amenities for my husband and I. What I loved most about the stay were The selection of complimentary breakfast And the late checkout. The only reason I'm not giving this hotel an additional star was due to the smell we experienced walking into the hotel from the garage parking.
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Kristina Q.

Yelp
Lovely hidden gem! This boutique eco-friendly hotel is beautiful and the staff are friendly and helpful. They always greet you when you walk in and are eager to help with anything. The rooms are comfortable with patios and outdoor seating, and I actually bought their robe because it is so soft and plush! Their breakfast is included and with many options - all delicious. The electric car service was a nice bonus! Also included. I would definitely stay her again!