Regent Santa Monica Beach

The Regent brand’s last foray to the West Coast was in Beverly Hills; the Beverly Wilshire, now a Four Seasons hotel, was originally the “Regent Beverly Wilshire” back in the ’90s when Pretty Woman was filmed there. But after a long absence—and being acquired by IHG Hotels & Resorts—Regent opened this coastal resort to fanfare in fall 2024, and the Santa Monica hotel now serves as the brand’s first flagship property within the Americas, joining a portfolio of properties around the world, from Cannes to China.

I was lucky enough to check out the hotel myself over my birthday weekend. After driving up to the grand yet somewhat bland building on Ocean Avenue—it’s taken over the former Loews Santa Monica Beach—I was wowed when I stepped into the luxe lobby. The opulent yet understated space is technically on the fourth of eight floors, boasting sky-high ceilings and offering a glimpse of the property’s grandness. The lobby, and the entire property, has nautical inspirations, marrying the natural beauty of the ocean with the glamour of Los Angeles. During my stay, I realized that the Regent Santa Monica Beach is a world unto itself, allowing you to escape the hustle and bustle of L.A. even as you’re only steps from PCH.

What are the rooms like at Regent Santa Monica Beach?

There are 167 guestrooms and suites at the hotel—that’s half the amount as when the property was a Loews. The Regent renovated the rooms with a focus on quality over quantity, tapping Wimberly Interiors to design. At a minimum of 720 square feet—bigger than many L.A. apartments—even the regular “rooms” feel like suites, with dining and living areas in addition to the bedroom, plus a vanity area leading into a spacious bathroom. And while there are some city-view options, most of the rooms offer panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, the beach and the Santa Monica Pier, which you can view from balconies outside. The pier has always been one of my favorite places in L.A., and even though it rained during my stay, waking up and eating breakfast on the balcony with a view of the Ferris wheel was the best way I could imagine to start my birthday.

Each space offers additional high-quality amenities—think a Bose speaker, Nespresso machine, handy charging ports next to each side of the bed and more. In the spa-like bathrooms, which all contain a soaking tub, walk-in rain shower and dual sinks, you’ll find bath salts, Perricone MD products, cozy robes and a Dyson hairdryer. Like the hotel’s communal spaces, the rooms scream—well, actually whisper—understated luxury and relaxation and incorporate the ocean motif.

The hotel also offers some stunning suites: The Malibu Sunset Suite comes in at 1,920 square feet, and I fell in love with its green couch and corner balcony perfect for watching the sunset. The signature Santa Monica Presidential Suite boasts 3,200 square feet, complete with an office and a game room with a pool table—but costs upward of $20,000 a night.

Where can you eat at Regent Santa Monica Beach?

There are four distinct dining and drinking concepts at the Regent Santa Monica Beach. Two of them come from James Beard Award winner Michael Mina. Situated at the far side of the lobby, the chef’s Orla opened to fanfare, both for its Mediterranean and Middle East–inspired cuisine and its stunning ocean views via floor-to-high-ceiling windows.

The restaurant’s menu changes seasonally, but I especially enjoyed evergreen starters like the hummus and Greek salad. I’d recommend asking the enthusastic servers for wine-pairing recommendations with your meal. For dessert, order the baklava sundae, made tableside and topped with berries, frozen Greek yogurt, a 24K-gold honey drizzle, candied citrus and turkish pistachios.

Adjacent to Orla, Orla Bar’s stylish wood, brass and marble design evokes a yacht. On a tour of the property, I was told that every evening at sunset, a dancer performs at the bar to transition the space from day into night as guests enjoy “Sunset Sips” from 4pm to 6pm—the hotel’s take on happy hour. A bar bites menu of Orla’s greatest hits is served here as well.

Since it was raining, I didn’t get to experience Azure Bar, but the concept offers elevated poolside cuisine and creative cocktails along with alfresco ocean views. And finally, for a more casual option and grab-and-go fare, stop by the stylish Sweet July Café from restaurateur and author Ayesha Curry. You’ll find coffee, tea, pastries and a menu inspired by both Curry’s love for California farmers’ markets and her Jamaican heritage. While you’re there, you can pick up some of Sweet July’s superfood-inspired skincare.

What is the service like at Regent Santa Monica Beach?

The service at Regent Santa Monica Beach was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. It starts even before your stay, when you’re assigned a Regent Experience Manager (a hallmark of the Regent brand), who’s your point of contact throughout your stay if you need anything. Their role is to personalize a guest’s stay based on special requests and preferences.

In the lead-up to my visit, I was asked, “What are some of your comforts from home that bring you joy when you travel?” My answer: books and chocolate. I arrived to an artfully arranged plate of chocolate pearls and truffles with a handwritten note on my room’s dining table. An in-room refreshment gallery of beverages and snacks is curated ahead of arrival, according to the guest’s tastes—no mini bar where you’re overcharged for a bottle of water here.

Beyond that, each employee I encountered was so attentive and friendly—walking into dinner, I was welcomed by so many different people that I felt like royalty. Upon returning to the room, housekeeping had been in for turn-down service: A pair of slippers were set out next to the bed, water on my nightstand, and hand cream and a room-service menu on my pillow.

What can you do for fun at the Regent Santa Monica Beach?

Though you’re only a short walk from the beach, the Regent has a heated outdoor swimming pool with a view of the ocean, dubbed Azure Pool. Pool lounge chairs are first-come, first-served, though you can pay to reserve a daybed or cabana—even if you’re not a hotel guest, you can visit by going through Resortpass.

You can also rent electric bikes for free to cycle down to the beach, or book the complimentary Mercedes-Benz house car for trips within a two-mile radius of the hotel. Also notable is the Beach Butler service: A staff member will escort you to the boardwalk, where a “butler” will lead you to your own beach set-up for two, then return to take your meal order.

Back on the property, make sure to stop by the Regent Shop, a curated boutique where you can shop for lifestyle products and luxury goods from designers and local artisans, with an emphasis on women-owned brands.

Though the most obvious time to visit a beachfront hotel is in the summer, the Regent has been providing creative programming year-round; you can make your own s’mores under a cozy blanket on the pool deck in the fall or take a chef-led trip to the famed Santa Monica Farmers’ Market.

There’s also a fitness center with state-of-the-art strength and cardio machines, which is open till 10pm daily. My favorite part of the whole hotel, though, has to be the spa.

The Guerlain Wellness Spa—the only one of its kind on the West Coast and one of just three in the U.S.—exclusively uses products from the French skincare brand and fragrance house, which has been crafting luxury products in Paris since 1828. The 10,000-square-foot spa consists of 12 treatment rooms, gender-specific lounges with a plunge pool, sauna and steam room, and a pre-treatment relaxation lounge. I opted for a custom facial during my visit and—as someone who gets a fair amount of facials—it truly impressed me. For days afterward, I was marveling at how smooth my skin was, to the point where I tracked down the products to use at home. After the treatment, I hung out and enjoyed Champagne, tea and rose macarons in the chic post-treatment relaxation lounge. On your way out, there’s a requisite retail boutique, as well as a complimentary makeup refresher station, which is a thoughtful touch—and something I haven’t seen at other spas.

What’s the area like around Regent Santa Monica Beach?

You can’t go too far past Regent Santa Monica Beach without literally being in the ocean. Seriously—you’re a 10-minute walk from the Santa Monica Pier, and only a three-minute bike ride away. Spend the day on the sand, riding the thrill rides at Pacific Park or biking along the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. In the immediate area, you’re in the company of lots of other coastal hotels, though not as close to the water as, say, Shutters on the Beach or Hotel Casa del Mar.
You’re also not far from some greenery: The urban Tongva Park is a two-minute walk away, and Palisades Park is only five. And though they’re perhaps not the draw they once were (though the city has plans to change that), open-air Santa Monica Place and Third Street Promenade—popular tourist destinations for shopping, drinking and dining—are also walkable.

DETAILS

Address: 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Price: Rooms start at $1,100 per night.

Closest Transport: Metro E Line Downtown Santa Monica station; Big Blue Bus routes 1, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

Book Now: via Booking.com

📍 Check out Time Out’s favourite hotels in Los Angeles and San Diego

Time Out makes a small commission from the affiliate links included in this article. These links have no influence on our editorial content, but they do help us to bring you more recommendations every week. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.