Review: Sandbourne Santa Monica

The complete reimagining of this dated hotel has helped revive Ocean Avenue.

Santa Monica isn’t short of a hotel. The sunny seaside city has been luring travellers since the early 1920s when hotels multiplied and Charles Looff built his ‘pleasure park’ on its iconic pier. But a century on, it had lost a little of the sparkle.

Recently, a stylish revamp has been afoot. Art Deco gem, The Georgian, has been reborn, The Viceroy had a multi-million dollar makeover, and there’s more to come.

On the doorstep of the pier, Sandbourne Santa Monica opened in July 2024 after an 18-month renovation and name change from the Le Merigot Santa Monica. Amongst the legacy and new luxury hotels on this strip – The Regent Santa Monica is the latest – it has injected a creative, youthful vibe.

Location

As a beach lover, if I’m headed to Los Angeles, this is where I want to be. All but on sand, the Sandbourne cuts a fine figure on Ocean Avenue with lashings of water views. It’s a short walk to the pier, a 15-20 minute stroll to Downtown, and a 25-minute walk to Venice – shorter if you use one of the complimentary bikes or ebikes. 

The vibe

Acclaimed Icelandic architect and designer, Gulla Jónsdóttir, is behind the striking interiors, which begin with a pair of incense-burning vessels that waft a signature scent at the entrance where friendly staff usher me inside. 

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>Read the full review online at escape.com.au