In the know

Our favourite rooms: All rooms are generously sized and have similarly sunny, bright decor, but it goes without saying that the Suites are bigger (and better), with additional TVs, games tables and masses of space. Rooms and Suites on the Ocean View side of the hotel are larger than their courtyard-facing counterparts, with splendid views of the Pacific. Signature Ocean View Suites on the top floor have the lot: deep soaking tubs, rainfall shower heads, private balconies, and enough room to throw your own cocktail party in.
Packing tips: This is California, so itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bikinis and massive, giant oversized sunglasses are an absolute must. Although you might want to bring some sturdier swimwear if you plan on surfing (string bikinis + heavy surf = instant nudity).
Also: Leave your weighty beach reads behind, and pick up one of the books lining the shelves of your bedroom instead – more room to pack that shopping in on the way home. You can rent bicycles just steps hotel, so bring something comfy to wear if you like the idea of cycling through Palisades Park and along the promenade to Santa Monica Pier.

Need to know, Oceana Santa Monica hotel, Los Angeles, USA

Current offers

Smith card offer: Breakfast for two on each morning of your stay and a welcome drink when you arrive
Current special offer: 4 nights for the price of 3

More photos

Oceana Santa Monica

Los Angeles, United States[view map]

Style: All things bright and beautiful
Setting: Parkside Ocean Avenue

The Oceana Santa Monica hotel epitomises the sunny optimism and happy-go-lucky charm of SoCal’s surf crowd: it’s bold, bright, sociable, carefree, and its natural home is by the sea. The rooms are big, the vibe is ultra laid-back and there’s quirky retro colour in every corner. Welcome to the Gold Coast!

Need to know

Rooms: 70, including 58 suites.
Rates: US$265–US$1,000 room only, excluding tax at 14 per cent and service at US$15 a day. Breakfast, US$21.
Check-out: 12 noon, but flexible subject to availability; late check-outs (up to 6pm) are charged at half the daily rate. Earliest check-in, 3pm.
Facilities: Gym, swimming pool, free WiFi, laundry, valet parking (US$30). In rooms: flatscreen TV, iPod dock, minibar, Frette linens, blackout blinds, air-conditioning, Aveda toiletries.
Poolside: The heated outdoor pool in the central courtyard is an elongated heart shape and is surrounded by curvy rattan sunloungers.
Hotel closed: Never.
Also: Massages and treatments are on offer, either in your room or at recommended local spas and salons – just ask the hotel’s clued-up concierge to hook you up.

Food & drink

Hotel restaurant: Like a light, bright beach club, the Ocean Lounge restaurant serves up a fresh mix of unfussy seasonal dishes that put a sophisticated twist on the classics – hamachi carpaccio, pizza arrabiata or gruyere and gran padano cheese burgers, for example. The poolside menu features taste temptations from lobster rolls and salads to hot dogs.
Dress code: Totally relaxed: think colourful casuals from Lilly Pulitzer and Lacoste.
Top table: Nab a table by the enormous picture window and watch the world go by on Ocean Avenue.
Last orders: The restaurant is open from 7am to 11pm; the bar whizzes up its final toasted-marshmallow milkshake at 11pm.
Room service: The full restaurant menu is (unfortunately for dieters) available in rooms from 7am until 11pm. After that, you’ll have to raid your minibar for liquid refreshment.
Hotel bar: The Ocean Lounge poolside bar is a bona fide cocktail cabana with a super-imaginative menu of tipples. We love the booze-infused milkshakes and Mexican-flavour cocktails: try a Sugar Cane Horchata, a cold Michelada (beer with lime juice on the rocks), or deliciously refreshing Poolside Lemonade (Citron vodka with watermelon ice).

Also worth knowing

Children: Welcome – Oceana Santa Monica is a good choice for families: rollaway beds can be provided (US$50 a night); Lanai Suites have sofabeds, some can be interconnected, and one has a kitchenette. More…

Smith Members offer

Breakfast for two on each morning of your stay and a welcome drink when you arrive

If you're a member of Mr & Mrs Smith, you can get special privileges at every Smith hotel you book through us. Just show your Smith card at check-in to claim the offer featured on every hotel page (like the one above).

Click here to become a Mr & Mrs Smith member

Smith travel team

If you'd prefer to talk to someone, or don't want to book online, call our travel team on 1 866 610 3867. We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.