9 Best Hotels in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, and Brentwood, Los Angeles

This Spanish Mission–style icon has been a discreet hillside retreat for celebrities and society types since 1946 and was given a face-lift by star designers Alexandra Champalimaud and David Rockwell. Guests appreciate Bang and Olufsen TVs and iPads for ordering room service (and controlling everything else in the room). While still paying homage to Old Hollywood glamour, the country-club-like hotel also has Asian and French art deco influences, floor-to-ceiling windows, natural wood ceilings, and limestone floors. The posh spa lures high-society types, as do the beloved oval pool and famously scenic Swan Lake outside. The Restaurant at Hotel Bel-Air serves California cuisine with Mediterranean and French touches (including the famous tortilla soup it's served continuously since 1980) and offers ample alfresco dining under bougainvillea-covered trellises. The bar retains its original clublike feel, with large celebrity photographs lending a modern touch.

The Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island are within view at Terranea, L.A.'s only full-service oceanfront resort straddling 102 terraced acres at land's end on the scenic Palos Verdes Peninsula. Its location gives it the feel of a retreat. A fun pool slide, children's center, and kids' programs allow the youngsters to play, while giving parents time to relax. Walk to the rocky beach, chill out at the extravagant spa, or unwind beside an adults-only pool. There is also a par-3, 9-hole golf course on-site. Every room has a balcony for taking in the splendid location. There's an understated beach vibe to the Spanish Revival architecture and decor, which includes red-tile roofs, wrought iron, and substantial wood furniture. Beds are pillow-topped and have fine Egyptian cotton sheets. Bathrooms are spacious and deluxe. Splurge on a villa or casita if you want more privacy and space. Dining ranges from upscale California cuisine at catalina kitchen, Asian fusion at bashi and gastropub fare at Nelson's (which has amazing views and sunsets) to high-end dining at the signature restaurant, Mar'sel, as well as a selection of more casual options.

In the 1920s, it was a posh beach club catering to the city's elite; now the Casa del Mar is one of SoCal's most luxurious beachfront hotels. One of only two hotels in the area that's truly on the sand, this historic property boasts a heavenly lobby, three extravagant two-story penthouses, a raised deck and ocean-view pool, an indulgent spa, and an elegant ballroom. Popular with celebrities and foreign dignitaries, the pet-friendly property houses guest rooms designed to evoke a Mediterranean estate with transitional coastal furnishings. They're filled with contemporary tech amenities like lighting control panels, an indulgent minibar, and supremely comfortable beds with sumptuous white and blue Italian-designed linens. Bathrooms are gorgeous, with Italian marble, massage tubs, and glass-enclosed showers, as well as luxe Diptyque toiletries and a "beauty chest" filled with goodies available for purchase, like face masks, frangipani spray, and even chargers. Sea-hued, breezy Terrazza delights locals and tourists with beachfront dining; impeccable yet understated service; fine cuisine; and more than 100 bottles of wine on the menu. Want something more casual? Enjoy light bites and cocktails in the clubby lounge, with live local music on most nights, or stretch out in the beachfront al-fresco bistro, Patio del Mar, while you enjoy an Aperol spritz and oysters. A $55 daily resort fee includes a welcome drink, bike rentals, house car use, EV charging, a daily yoga class, and more. 

Set right on the sand, this Cape Cod--inspired inn has become synonymous with staycations, with the beachfront location and show-house decor making it one of SoCal's most popular luxury hotels. There are three dreamy dining and entertaining options: The flagship 1 Pico restaurant has launched a refreshed menu under Chef Sean Runyon; come for the blue fin toro steak and stay for the salted caramel popcorn sundae. Prefer something more casual? The Living Room has couches, live entertainment, and spectacular sunset views. Or you can dine beachside at Coast and watch the world go by. The cozy lobby evokes a New England getaway, with a fireplace and tall windows opening out to the Pacific Ocean. Guest rooms have those namesake shutter doors, pillow-top mattresses, small balconies, and built-in cabinets filled with art books and curios. Bathrooms are luxe, each with a deep whirlpool tub, a raft of bath goodies, and a three-nozzle, glass-walled shower. But if you want a more immersive experience, there's also the ONE spa and fitness center. Check out the picture-perfect cabanas in the ocean-view pool area. A $55 daily resort fee includes a welcome drink, daily yoga on the beach, bicycle rentals, a beach concierge, a house car, and more.

A mammoth Moreton Bay fig tree dwarfs the main entrance of the 5-acre, beach-adjacent Santa Monica wellness retreat and lends its name to the inviting on-site Mediterranean-inspired restaurant, FIG, which focuses on local ingredients and frequently refreshes its menu. Originally the site of a senator and Santa Monica cofounder's private mansion, this property now houses a mini enclave within the bustle of Santa Monica. The modernized lobby lounge houses a koi pond, waterfall, and games and opens onto a heated patio. Sit end enjoy Sazerac cocktails prepared tableside, or sushi from the resort's exquisitely tiny Soko sushi bar, carved out of a former storage area. Low-rise and extremely luxurious, residential-style bungalows built between 1920 and 1946 (and recently refreshed) are outfitted like mini-mansions. Standard rooms in the historic 10-story tower offer tight quarters, but they do come with beautiful ocean views, California decor, and fluffy duvets. The in-house Exhale Spa offers exercise classes and massages; all guests receive one free class per stay. There's also a gym with Peloton bikes. The pool area and seasonal beach club cater to guests wanting to play in the sun. Eco-conscious efforts include complimentary EV charging stations (after you pay the $70 parking fee) and "green" meetings. The $50 daily resort fee includes premium Wi-Fi, beach cruiser usage, a $25 Soko credit, and more.

Driving by, you can't miss the Georgian, a Wes Anderson fever dream built in 1933: its art deco exterior is aqua, with ornate bronze grillwork and a charming oceanfront veranda. The interiors remind visitors of the hotel's roots as a playground for Golden Age Hollywood royalty. The contemporary pet-friendly guest rooms have a more neutral palette, but their curves and details give more than a nod to the 1930s. Popular with visiting Europeans, the hotel's lobby echoes with foreign languages, especially around the lively lobby bar. Enjoy a lazy brunch or an Italian-inspired meal at Sirena, where you can appreciate the beach, ocean, and city views, or dine inside the clubby restaurant. Better yet, escort your cronies into the reservation-only Georgian Room, a former speakeasy that now delights with period cocktails and a luxe yet still approachable Italian menu (try the Sunday prix-fixe). There's also the Library bar for hotel guests only, featuring complimentary drinks. The daily $40 amenity fee includes bubbly and bottled water upon check-in, an EV charging station, bike rentals, yoga mats, a 24-hour fitness center with Pelotons, and more. Not enough luxury yet? Rent their manned 65' yacht.

Following an ultraswank refresh, the suites-only Oceana manages to achieve a low-key vibe while still dripping in luxury. Generous-size suites, soundproofed windows, an open-air courtyard and pool, and ocean proximity give this hotel a distinctly SoCal beach mood. The welcoming residential feel begins with a glass of bubbly in the glass-covered lobby, where guests sit down to check in, and extends to the colorful designer lounge. With two full-service, guests-only restaurants, a fitness studio with Peloton bikes, Frette linens, all the latest technological advances in-room, and a daily $55 resort fee providing Wi-Fi, daily yoga classes, beach cruisers, a beach activity concierge and towels, beverages, and poolside food and beverage tastings, guests may find it hard to leave. But the hotel also offers a range of bespoke experiences; they can even get you private Getty Villa access or take you on a helicopter ride above Malibu.

This sleek, tech-savvy property keeps the Silicon Beach business traveler in mind. It's situated two steep blocks from the beach, near the Third Street Promenade and chic Montana Avenue. The thoughtfully designed guest rooms offer luxurious comforts like high-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets and a work desk with a view. In-room gadgets are thoroughly of the moment: think automatic lighting, 60-inch HDTVs, Nespresso machines, Wi-Fi, and charging ports everywhere. Modern bathrooms boast Bvlgari toiletries. Corner rooms have the best views. Guests have access to bikes, a relaxation lounge with spa, a house car, and gym facilities. The Penthouse lounge with its retracting roof and gauzy booth dividers is quite the scene on weekends, with 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific, Malibu, the South Bay, Downtown Los Angeles, and LAX. The $35 prix-fixe lunch is a relative bargain. 

Walk to the ocean side of the soaring atrium at this family- and pet-friendly hotel (formerly the Loews) and you feel like you're on a cruise ship: massive windows give way to the expansive sea below, and sunny "experience managers" are just a text away. All rooms are a minimum of 720 square feet and offer soaking tubs and rain showers, marble counters, and walk-in closets. Rooms come with a complimentary "refreshment center" stocked with drinks and snacks (you can even choose what you want before you arrive). Higher rooms have arched ceilings with side skylights. The state-of-the-art fitness center is joined by the West Coast's only Guerlain spa for true L.A.-grade training and primping. The experience managers are joined by beach butlers to plan out and enhance your stay. Meet friends in the clubby lobby, take in the ocean views over fresh Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare at the dreamy Orla by celebrity chef Michael Mina, or enjoy tableside cocktails at the Orla Bar. If you're seeking something simpler, try Sweet July Cafe (featuring another hot chef collab with Ayesha Curry) for warm drinks, pastries, and other quick bites. Kids and pets go first-class at the Regent, with loaner gear, amenity kits, and special activities.