Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts

We recommend the Oceana to families who want the autonomy of an apartment with the services of a hotel (room service, spa, pool). Couples appreciate the relative calm of Ocean Avenue, away from the bustle of Venice Beach, while remaining within walking distance of the pier and the restaurants in the centre. Majority American clientele, quadras and older, minimum three-night stays to enjoy the kitchenette and the seaside rhythm.

Contemporary five-storey building constructed in the 2000s, sober architecture in white stucco and glass, typical of the high-end Californian coast. Bright lobby with light stone floor, woven rattan furniture, tropical plants in terracotta pots. The suites adopt a modern coastal style: whitewashed oak parquet, linen and cotton fabrics, white marble bathrooms with double vanity. Standard ceiling height (2.70 m), yet the sliding glass windows open generously onto the balconies.

The restaurant Cora's, on the ground floor, serves seasonal Californian cuisine (bowls, grilled fish, composed salads) from breakfast to dinner. Short menu, local produce, honest execution without gastronomic pretension. Room service offers the same menu, delivered in 30 minutes to the suites. No dedicated bar, but the lobby serves cocktails and Californian wines until 22h.

The hotel stands on Ocean Avenue, the artery that runs along Palisades Park and overlooks Santa Monica beach. Historic pier and carousel 200 metres to the south, Third Street Promenade (pedestrian shopping) three blocks to the east. Quiet residential neighbourhood in the evening, lively by day with cyclists and joggers along the waterfront. LAX airport 20 minutes by car outside rush hour, 45 minutes at peak times. No metro nearby, but Big Blue bus stops in front of the hotel.