Viceroy Santa Monica

Character and identity

Viceroy Santa Monica sits a short walk from the pier and Main Street's boutiques, a 169-room property that trades on a coastal-chic mood inside a busy downtown setting. A 2023 renovation reworked the public spaces around two plunge pools, private open-air cabanas and an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar. Rooms lean into a modern beach house aesthetic with pillow-top beds, Italian linens, Natura Bisse bath products and local art. Sugar Palm Ocean Avenue handles all-day coastal dining, while the adjacent lounge turns into a DJ-driven cocktail scene after dark. Service is efficient and warm, starting with a welcome glass at check-in.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The pull here is location and atmosphere: a genuine four-star with a lively pool deck and bar, within walking distance of the pier, beach and Main Street. Book it for a romantic weekend or a special occasion, choose a suite if you want a separate living room or an ocean-view category for the payoff, and factor the amenity fee into your budget upfront.