Boutique Hotel in Santa Monica: Viceroy Santa Monica Review
Introduction
The Viceroy Santa Monica is a four-star boutique hotel in Santa Monica, steps from the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean. The Viceroy Santa Monica has both indoor and outdoor spaces, a pool, fire pits, a restaurant, and a gym. My husband and I stopped in L.A. for a couple of days on our return trip from Hawaii to Montreal to beat the killer jet lag going east. We decided to stay at the Viceroy Santa Monica because it seemed like a cool hotel in a walkable area that we could use as our home base to explore Los Angeles. This review is based on our two-night stay at this Santa Monica boutique hotel.
Quick Summary
This review shares our firsthand experience staying two nights at Viceroy Santa Monica, a boutique hotel located about a three-minute walk from the beach and Santa Monica Pier in California. We loved the hotel’s distinctive midcentury-inspired design, artistic interiors, comfortable beds, beautiful bathroom, outdoor pool area, and convenient location near restaurants and coffee shops. We also enjoyed staying in Santa Monica as a walkable, more relaxed base for exploring Los Angeles.
Our Stay at Viceroy Santa Monica
Booking the Viceroy Santa Monica
I ended up booking the Viceroy Santa Monica because I had points to use from my Citi Strata Premier Card. It’s an entry-level travel points card that I use for purchases that I can pay off right away, and over time I rack up points. I did some research beforehand, but I found out after I opened the card that it’s not the best to use for airfare. There are a lot of partner airlines, but none that I use. It is better for hotels. That said, I had points to use, and the Viceroy was one of the highest-rated hotels in the Los Angeles area.
I paid for the hotel using a combination of points, the $100 annual hotel savings benefit that comes with the card, and the remainder was the dollar value of what was left. Since I didn’t have a lot of points to use, I had to put some on my card.
Later, I was refunded $100 total ($50 per person) because the hotel does not offer a free breakfast, and that is supposed to be one of the perks of the Citi Hotel Collection. So the total for a two-night stay was less than $200. I was very impressed with the Citi perks because I did not even realize that we were supposed to have a free breakfast, but all of a sudden I received an email from them that I was being refunded.
First Impressions
We arrived at the Viceroy Santa Monica very early in the morning after taking a red-eye from Honolulu. Our flight landed at around 5:30 am. We found the Uber pickup location and requested a ride, and at around 6:25 am we were on our way. The drive from Los Angeles Airport to Santa Monica takes about 24 minutes, so we arrived at the Viceroy just before 7 am.
We were immediately greeted by the bellhop who took all of our luggage and got us set up at the registration counter. I was immediately struck by the interior of this boutique hotel. There is so much art on the walls; the design of the lobby spaces and the lobby bathroom is so unique. Despite my fatigue, I was taking pictures all over the place. There is a digital Andy Warhol frame inside the lobby, surrounded by benches and pillows and other seating areas. Beyond that, there is a small library room. The other side of the lobby is an indoor-outdoor seating area for the Sugar Palm Restaurant and the outside pool and fire pit area.
We were able to request an earlier check-in, and then decided to go out and explore the surrounding area on foot.
Later, we came back to the hotel and sat in the lobby for a while, charging our phones. I saw a couple checking in with champagne glasses, and I thought to myself, oh, how nice; they are probably on their honeymoon. Well, turns out that is the check-in experience. Later that day, when we checked into our room, we were given champagne at the front desk reception area as well. It felt like a very bougie boutique hotel experience!
The Location in Santa Monica
The Viceroy Santa Monica is located about a block away from the Pacific Ocean at 1819 Ocean Avenue. We took the 3-minute walk to the Santa Monica Pier and around neighboring streets in the area. We walked down Ocean Avenue, down to the Pier, Olympic Boulevard, and finally towards Main Street in Santa Monica.
The location in Santa Monica was great for finding nice coffee shops and restaurants. Ocean Avenue is within a 5-minute walk to coffee shops, breakfast joints, and other places with outdoor seating areas. Here we are enjoying breakfast at Dogtown Coffee.
In terms of exploring greater Los Angeles, we decided to not rent a car for our short stay and instead relied on ride shares and walking. The thing about Los Angeles is that most attractions are spread out. So no matter where you stay, you are going to have to figure out getting somewhere across town. With that in mind, we decided to stay in Santa Monica for its walkability, ocean proximity, and because we did not want to stay in the center of a big city.
The Uber rides we took from Santa Monica to Los Angeles ranged from $28 to $37 per ride. We went to the Getty Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum, Hollywood Boulevard, and other locations around those areas. We were strategic about our itinerary in order to minimize the rides we had to reserve. You can read all about our Los Angeles itinerary in our Los Angeles trip itinerary post.
The Hotel’s Design and Atmosphere
The hotel’s aesthetic is laid-back California surf midcentury vibes. The lobby bathroom is a work of art. I loved being here because it’s such a unique place to stay that looks different from every other hotel I have stayed in. This is exactly what I think a boutique hotel should be.
The Rooms at Viceroy Santa Monica
Our Room
Our room was a pretty standard room with a street view. It might have been a partial ocean view. I think I had originally booked a pool view king room, but that is what we were given. There were two queen beds, a desk, and a hallway with a bathroom off of it. The bathroom was my favorite part. I took so many pictures in there. It was beautiful. I loved the stool and counter area that was provided as well.
Aside from the bathroom, the beds were very comfortable. We took a nap before dinner because I felt like I was running on fumes by the afternoon after very little sleep on the plane. The bed was comfortable; I slept very well on it both nights.
There are some great images of the room and suite options on the Viceroy website.
Room Amenities
The room amenities were pretty standard. There was a fairly large flat-screen TV mounted to the wall. Two queen beds with a down comforter, window shades that actually block out the sunlight in the morning, a safe, an ironing board, a mini fridge, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The bathroom really stood out to me. The bathroom was tiled in marble with a shower/tub combination, vanity, hairdryer, and makeup mirror. We had bottled water provided in the room that was complimentary as well.
What We Liked About the Room
Honestly, I loved the room. It was comfortable. There was nice artwork on the walls. The bathroom was to die for. I am always so happy to shower after being on a plane. But after being on a plane, and then walking all over Santa Monica and then Los Angeles, it felt like such a luxury.
What Could Be Improved
I can’t think of anything that could be improved aside from the fact that they don’t include breakfast. I think that would be a nice option. Even smaller fare like yogurt, muffins, and coffee would have been great to have in the morning. We did enjoy some local restaurants and coffee shops, though.
The Pool and Hotel Amenities
The Pool Area
There are two small pools and six outdoor cabanas that can be rented surrounding the pool area. The pool area is open 6 am to 10 pm. The cabana rentals range from $150 to $600 per day and include extras like food and champagne. We did not rent one. They looked to be spacious, with patio couch seating and shade.
Other Hotel Amenities
There is also a hotel fitness center open from 6 am to 10 pm. They have Peloton bikes in the gym, which I think is neat, as I used to have a Peloton bike and loved the classes. There is also some cardio equipment, an elliptical, weights, and a bench. It’s a pretty small gym, but there isn’t much time to use it if you are planning on exploring the Los Angeles area anyways.
There are also free bike rentals available here, which are subject to availability.
The Overall Hotel Experience
My husband and I loved this Santa Monica hotel. For us, it was the perfect base to explore Los Angeles while also getting away from the chaos of Los Angeles when we wanted to. We sat in the lobby a few times, enjoying the vibes, the comfortable seating, and eating a meal. The outdoor patio with fire pits and indoor-outdoor space was another plus for us. Coming from a cold climate, we want to be outside enjoying the weather as much as possible.
Dining at Viceroy Santa Monica
Dining at the Hotel
We ate dinner one night at the hotel restaurant, the Sugar Palm. We toured so much around Los Angeles and were walking all day, so we just wanted to be back at the hotel relaxing at night. The hotel restaurant was really quiet on that Saturday night. The Sugar Palm has a healthy California-style menu with salads, pasta, wraps, and shareable appetizers.
I am a vegetarian, so I had the Mediterranean bowl, which had couscous, quinoa, peppers, peas, carrots, broccolini, and tzatziki sauce. My husband had a salad topped with salmon and avocado. The food was fresh and delicious, and we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals.
We didn’t eat here for breakfast, but I checked out the menu, and they had typical fare like omelettes, pancakes, breakfast burritos, oatmeal, and other wellness bowls and smoothies.
Is It Worth Eating at the Hotel?
We thought the hotel dining room was nice and would eat here again. The prices were typical for the Los Angeles area. It was convenient to have a nice, healthy place to eat before retiring to our room. Also, it was really quiet here. There were only a few other people eating at other tables and the bar area; the lighting was dim, and it was just relaxing to sit there.
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Staying at Viceroy Santa Monica
What We Loved About Our Stay
We loved the location in Santa Monica. The Viceroy was only a short walk to the beach. We saw some amazing sunsets, enjoyed beautiful weather, and walked to nearby restaurants for breakfast and dinner. Los Angeles touristy areas can be crowded, and after all that stimulation, it was nice to retreat to our little boutique hotel in Santa Monica.
What Could Be Improved
I am not a big fan of extra fees at hotels – any sort of resort fee or amenity fee seems to be a money grab. I think you should be able to book a hotel without having all of these extra charges for the hotel amenities. The guest amenities fee of $43 per day seems to be pretty steep to me, especially considering most people like us are sightseeing most of the day.
Things to Know Before Booking
There is no breakfast provided, so you will have to arrange for your own. Also, you can bring a rental car here, but there is a daily fee of $62 USD plus tax. There is no overnight parking allowed in Santa Monica on the street, so there will be a fee at any hotel you stay at.
There is also a guest amenities fee of $43 plus tax that covers the hotel amenities like the pool, onsite gym, etc.
Who Is Viceroy Santa Monica Best Suited For?
I think the Viceroy Santa Monica is best suited for adult travelers. It is a bit more refined than standard hotels. They are definitely catering to a certain clientele with the design, restaurant, outdoor spaces, and champagne greeting.
Practical Information for Staying at Viceroy Santa Monica
Parking at Viceroy Santa Monica
The hotel offers valet parking for $62 USD plus tax. There is no overnight street parking allowed in Santa Monica, so if you rent a car, you are going to have to pay for parking no matter where you stay.
Getting Around Santa Monica
Santa Monica is extremely walkable. We walked all around the neighborhood of Ocean Ave and the pier area. There are also many restaurants, shops, and coffee places within walking distance. Another popular thing to do in Santa Monica is rent bikes and bike down the beach to Venice.
How Far Is Viceroy Santa Monica From the Beach?
The Viceroy is about a three-minute walk from the beach.
How Long Should You Stay in Santa Monica?
We stayed in Santa Monica for two nights, and honestly, we could have stayed longer. There is plenty to do in the Los Angeles and Santa Monica area. We did not get to see everything we wanted to see so we are thinking of going back next year.
Final Thoughts on Viceroy Santa Monica
The Viceroy Santa Monica is an artsy boutique hotel in Santa Monica that is great for adult travelers and those who are looking to stay outside of central Los Angeles. There is plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas, from the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and the canals, and the proximity to tourist attractions in Los Angeles. I would stay here again with my Citi travel card points, but it is an expensive hotel, so I would probably limit my stay to a few nights.
