In short… The Santa Monica Proper is a super relaxed and stylish stay at the edge of downtown SM—with interiors that make you want to linger all day and a rooftop bar and pool with ocean views.
The surroundings…The hotel is on Wilshire Boulevard, about a 10-minute walk to the beach, a little farther from the pier, and close to the Third Street Promenade. (The hotel offers complimentary bikes if you want to get anywhere more quickly.)
The backstory… The Proper occupies the former Santa Monica Professional Building, a Spanish Colonial Revival style edifice designed in 1928 as medical offices. A swooping modern wing was added in the renovation (the Proper opened in 2019), and the two parts are quite seamlessly integrated, though décor differs a bit on each side.
The vibe… is super relaxed, California cool. The interiors were designed by Kelly Wearstler,not typically known for her restraint, but the unified palette of warm, earthy neutrals, organic shapes and natural textures made for a very comfortable and relaxing stay. Palma, the all-day lobby-lounge/bar/restaurant, serves as the hotel’s living room, and was usually abuzz with people sitting on an eclectic mix of vintage midcentury and contemporary furniture. We were in LA for a wedding and didn’t have any plans to sightsee (plus it was raining), so spent a couple of days between events moving from the Palma Lounge and a little library nook called The Grotto (anchored by a Soriana sofa) and another work lounge on the roof near the pool—and never felt like we were hashing the vibe with our laptops, like you often do in hotels, as other locals and guests were scattered about holding work meetings or calls. The Proper is not just locals-friendly but dog-friendly, and we were glad for the distraction of visiting doodles and dachshunds.
The rooms… There are 262 rooms and suites, though it doesn’t feel this big. Those in the historical “Landmark” side lean into the building’s bones, with Deco-style lighting and floral wallpaper. The new extension, where we stayed, takes the opposite approach, with concrete and textured grass-weave wallcoverings, light wood accents, and sculptural midcentury furniture like travertine tables, all in warm neutral hues. (The signature for both sides: Wearstler’s ‘70s-vibed semi-circle headboards.) I was happy to find Aesop products in the bathroom. And the in-room steamers were clutch for wedding prep.
Since my stay, the hotel introduced Wellness Rooms with “Eight Sleep” technology beds (different temperatures and firmness), air and water purification, sunrise alarm clocks, and curated sleep rituals, like guided breathing exercises and silk sleep masks.
The food & drink… The food at both restaurants is California-clean (as in, seed-oil free, for those who care). We fortunately arrived before the rain began and had lunch at Calabria on the rooftop, which features Mediterranean/coastal cuisine, from sushi to chicken souvlaki to an amazing fattoush salad of romaine with sliced radish, mint, fried chickpeas, and croutons sprinkled with sumac, which I’ve since replicated at home. The rooftop bar comes to life in the afternoon as people arrive for sunset views over the ocean (and I imagine is hopping on nice weekend days), while the bar at Palma, the downstairs lounge, picks up a little later, but there was always a crowd in the sultry lamplit bar area when we returned at night.
Breakfast at Palma was healthy, delicious and photogenic: loved the seasonal fruit platter with persimmon, pistachio pesto and ricotta, and a savory take on French toast. I ordered the green juice, of course, because LA.
The wellness… The Proper positions itself as a wellness hotel, and justifiably so. The centerpiece is the 3,000-sq-foot Surya Spa in partnership with Dr. Martha Soffer, offering a full menu of Ayurvedic treatments, including a real-deal shiodara oil treatment, panchakarma program, and four-hand herbalized Abhyanga massage; it also has a beautiful on-site Ayurvedic apothecary that I could spend serous time browsing. Nearby, the Recovery Suite offers contrast therapy (cold plunge and saunas). I could see coming here for a treatment or day pass even if I was staying somewhere else.
In addition, there’s the rooftop pool and outdoor yoga (when it’s not raining!); a large and well-appointed fitness center with Pelotons, Pilates reformers, the usual weights and treadmills and daily classes; and you can always jog along the beach across the street.
Is it family friendly? It isn’t family un-friendly, though it’s got a fairly sophisticated vibe. If I were coming from out of town with young kids, I’d probably stay somewhere more resort-y and near the beach like the Regent or try to splurge on Shutters.
Parting words… I tell everyone who’s looking for a hotel in Santa Monica to stay here. Though think twice if you need to park a car: It’s $90 a night!
Date of stay… June 2024
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