Dining at Santa Monica Proper Hotel: Calabra and Palma explained
Calabra is the Santa Monica Proper Hotel’s rooftop Mediterranean–Californian restaurant and bar serving brunch, lunch, Proper Hour and dinner with indoor–outdoor seating and ocean views; Palma is the art-filled lobby lounge offering all-day small plates, cold-pressed juices and cocktails. Both venues accept reservations (Calabra via OpenTable or Guest Services; Palma by phone or email), and hotel guests can also order 24/7 room service.
In this guide
Calabra: rooftop dining and hours
Calabra is the hotel’s rooftop Mediterranean–Californian restaurant and bar, described by the hotel as serving seasonal coastal dishes, boutique wines, and handcrafted cocktails in an indoor–outdoor setting with ocean views. Chef Kaleo Adams is listed as the restaurant lead on the hotel site.
Reservations are recommended: you can book Calabra through OpenTable, the Calabra page on the Santa Monica Proper Hotel website, or by contacting Guest Services. The restaurant also hosts private events and has dedicated rooftop spaces for groups of varying sizes.
- Location: rooftop at 700 Wilshire Boulevard (entrance on 7th St).
- Dress code: Casual Dress (comfortable, neat attire; nothing formal required).
- Private event options: Calabra Lounge, Overhang, and Pool Alcoves for groups of about 8–30 guests; rooftop terraces available for receptions.
| Service | Published Hours |
|---|---|
| Brunch (Sat & Sun) | 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
| Lunch (Mon–Fri) | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. |
| Proper Hour (daily) | 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Dinner (daily) | 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Palma: the lobby lounge explained
Palma is the hotel’s all-day lobby lounge and bar, located in the art-filled public lobby and designed for casual breakfasts, small plates, cold-pressed juices, and cocktails made with small-batch spirits. The hotel describes Palma as suited to lingering breakfasts, light lunches, and evening cocktails.
Palma maintains regular bar hours and accepts reservations; contact details are provided on the hotel site for phone and email bookings.
- Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.; Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
- Reservations: call +1-310-620-9990 or email palma.reservations@properhotel.com.
- Menu focus: seasonal small plates, health-forward preparations, and cold-pressed juices.
| Feature | Notes |
|---|---|
| Location | Lobby (art-filled public space) |
| Service type | All-day small plates, juices, cocktails |
| Typical atmosphere | Intimate lounge seating for informal dining and drinks |
Rooftop pool and how it ties to dining
Santa Monica Proper Hotel offers the Westside’s only rooftop pool; Calabra shares the rooftop deck so poolside seating and service are linked to the restaurant. Pool access and poolside seating are reserved for hotel guests, and the hotel publishes pool hours.
Pool rules and access can differ for non-guests: the hotel notes poolside seating is for guests and that taxes/fees for stays include pool access; third-party day-pass resellers have separate, limited hours for non-guest visitors.
- Published pool hours: 8:00 a.m. – sundown (hotel site).
- Pool size (from property data): Calabra Rooftop Pool is listed at 5,165 sq ft with a rooftop covered bar area.
- Food & drink: Calabra services the rooftop, including poolside areas when they are open to guests.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pool access | Included with hotel stay (per hotel site) |
| Pool hours | 8:00 a.m. – sundown |
| Pool deck features | Rooftop covered bar and terraces linked to Calabra |
Reservations, dress, children and pets at the restaurants
Calabra and Palma both accept reservations; Calabra recommends booking via OpenTable or the hotel site, while Palma provides a direct phone number and email for bookings. Walk-ins are possible but availability varies with demand and time of day.
Children are welcome in the hotel and its dining venues, and the hotel’s FAQ states children of all ages are welcome. The proper check-in minimum (21) applies to the person registering a room, not to dining.
- Calabra reservations: OpenTable or guest services (direct line for Calabra listed on the hotel site).
- Palma reservations: +1-310-620-9990 or palma.reservations@properhotel.com.
- Pet policy: dogs are welcome at the hotel (max two per room, under 45 lbs, $100 non-refundable fee per stay), but dogs cannot be in the restaurants or on the rooftop bar.
| Policy area | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Children in dining | Allowed; hotel welcomes children of all ages |
| Dress | Casual Dress at Calabra; neat, comfortable attire |
| Pets | Dogs allowed on property with restrictions; not permitted in restaurants/rooftop bar |
Room service, private events, and catering details
The hotel offers 24/7 room service for guests in any room type listed on the property (for example: Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed; Premier Suite; Proper Sleep Room; Room (Performance Wellness); and other room categories). Room service menus are managed by the hotel's culinary team and can be ordered at any hour.
Calabra and Palma both support private events: rooftop terraces and pool alcoves are used for receptions and private dinners, and the hotel’s larger meeting and event spaces (including Canela Ballroom and Olea Terrace) provide other catered options for weddings and conferences.
- Room service: available 24/7 to all guests.
- Private event spaces: rooftop Calabra Terrace, Canela Ballroom, Olea Garden Terrace, Converge and others for groups large and small.
- Event curfew: venues list a curfew of about 12:30 a.m. for evening events.
| Event space | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Calabra Terrace | Rooftop receptions and welcome events |
| Canela Ballroom | Large weddings and conferences (thousands of sq ft; seating capacities on hotel site) |
| Olea Garden Terrace / Converge | Outdoor ceremonies and intimate meetings |
Practical tips for dining at Proper Hotel
Plan for popular times: Calabra recommends reservations and is busiest for Proper Hour, dinner and weekend brunch. Palma can be a good fallback for earlier or later light meals and cocktails in the lobby.
Payment and accessibility: the hotel accepts major credit cards for dining (cash is not accepted at the property). Public areas, the pool and dining venues have accessible paths of travel per the hotel’s accessibility notes.
- If you want poolside rooftop seating, book a room (poolside seating is for guests) and reserve Calabra early in the day if visiting on weekends.
- For private or semi-private dining (small groups), ask about Calabra’s Lounge, Overhang or Pool Alcoves when you reserve.
- Confirm allergy or dietary needs directly with staff; Palma highlights seasonal, health-focused preparations.
| What to check ahead | Why |
|---|---|
| Make reservations | Calabra is popular for dinner and weekend brunch |
| Ask about rooftop/pool rules | Poolside seating and access rules differ for guests vs. non-guests |
| Bring credit card | Cash is not accepted at the property |
