Why book?
For a vacation that will scratch the itch for a high-end vacation without breaking the bank, and a design-focused oasis in one of Santa Monica’s best locations.
Set the scene
Nestled between Santa Monica and Venice, the property is a quick drive from the city’s best restaurants and shopping, and just a short walk to the beach and Santa Monica Pier. The crowd was a mix of families, young couples, and wedding parties (the beautifully designed lobby and exterior makes a great setting for any celebration), and guests were typically on the move, flowing in and out of the tall glass lobby doors.
The backstory
The hotel reopened in 2024 after a years-long renovation of the old Le Merigot. It was designed by Icelandic architect Gulla Jónsdóttir, with themes of sand, sunsets, and tranquility throughout. Its newness shines bright in the lobby, where designers leaned in full-force with an abundance of green plants and bold hues of pink and orange on the furniture—it all ties together to make for a memorable entrance.
The rooms
Rooms are spacious sleek: the patterned carpet complements the simple wooden furniture, lighting is warm and inviting, and the large glass patio doors allow light to flood inside. There are 175 rooms in total, but you’ll feel like you’re at a boutique hotel with a sense of quiet and calm throughout the property. The ocean view rooms provide an unobstructed view of the Santa Monica Pier, and when sunset hits you’ll be glad you spent just a bit more per night for the view. In each room, guests will notice an incense cone with a custom matchbox on the nightstand, meant to be lit before bedtime—better than a chocolate on the pillow if you ask me.
Food and drink
The on-site restaurant Marelle has a Mediterranean menu and ambiance and offers fresh bites for lunch and dinner. We recommend going for weekend brunch or lunch to take advantage of the heaps of sunlight that pour in (and the patio doors are often propped open too, with outdoor dining offered depending on the weather). In-room dining is also available, and the lobby bar offers a chic setting for a nightcap.
The neighborhood/area
Ocean Avenue is the main road that runs parallel to the beach in Santa Monica, and it’s full of buzzing bars, restaurants, taquerias, and beachgoers strolling about. The hotel’s location is just a bit farther down the busiest section of Ocean Avenue, which felt like a great compromise in order to avoid nighttime noise. A 20-minute walk can bring you to a cafe for an afternoon matcha, a pilates class, the famous Third Street Promenade for shopping, and a drive in the other direction will whisk you to the cool areas of Venice like Abbot Kinney Boulevard—home to west-coast-born Salt and Straw ice cream, and some of the classic LA shopping you’ll want to do. The Sandbourne’s location is definitely one of its biggest draws, especially for someone looking to find the perfect balance of beach and city vacation.
The service
Hands off but readily available would describe it best—the front desk was always around for one-off late-night requests and otherwise provided an easy and smooth check-in/check-out process.
1740 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, California 90401
United States
https://www.sandbournesantamonica.com/
(310) 395-9700