Hotel Spotlight: Hotel Casa del Mar
The luxury Hotel Casa del Mar offers something unique in Los Angeles: it’s one of only two hotels where you can walk outside onto the famous stretch of the sandy Santa Monica Beach with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean.
Originally built as a beach club in 1907, the Hotel Casa del Mar is a historic landmark. The beautiful Mediterranean style building has gone through many renovations inside with a lot of history, most recently, in 2015, an interior makeover designed by the talented Obama White House designer, Michael Smith. He seamlessly incorporated the storied Mediterranean architecture with more modern beachy details inside, making the property feel luxe yet inviting.
The lobby of the hotel revolves around the unobstructed views of the ocean, with floor-to-ceiling windows where you can watch the beachgoers down below, see the famous Santa Monica pier lit up at night, and take in the beauty of the Pacific.
Hotel Casa del Mar’s Terrazza Lounge and its beachside patio fit in perfectly with the Mediterranean flair of the hotel, instantly transporting you to a European Piazza. Terrazza has an Italy-meets-California vibe, open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Their other restaurant, Catch, is a sushi and seafood restaurant offering the freshest fish amongst the beautiful beach backdrop.
The ocean-inspired guest rooms are decorated with airy, beach-clues and coastal details. Many of the 146 rooms feature views of the Pacific Ocean, and with the property beachfront, this allows you to hear the sound of the waves at night while you sleep. I kept the windows open during my stay so I could feel the ocean breeze and hear the waves crashing, and I got some amazing sleep!
The pool and whirlpool are on the sundeck with beachfront views with ample amounts of loungers. Beach-cruiser bicycles can be rented and the hotel also offers more activities such as surf lessons, strength training, yoga, private training sessions on the beach, alongside the indoor fitness center.
Sea Wellness Spa is the perfect place to escape for some tranquility and self-care. Their five treatment rooms offer services like hot stone massages, ocean mineral manicures, and cranial-facial therapy. I enjoyed a trip to the spa during my recent stay, where I tried their Signature Facial, which uses the MBR skincare line. MBR has been the gold standard of the skincare industry for over 20 years and is trusted by high-profile clients around the world to give the best results. MBR uses a combination of highly active regenerative skincare ingredients to focus on anti-aging. My skin felt super clean, hydrated, and smooth after my 60-minute treatment.
Hotel Casa del Mar is a great place to enjoy all that Santa Monica has to offer, with its unbeatable location and proximity to some of the biggest and most popular attractions on the westside of Los Angeles.
