
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Best for travelers who prioritize a rooftop pool, extensive wellness programming, and modern design.
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Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a restored 1920s landmark turned luxury hotel with contemporary design, a rooftop pool, and an emphasis on Ayurvedic spa and wellness — read this if you want a design-forward, wellness-focused stay with the only rooftop pool on the Westside. Casa Del Mar is a historic five-star oceanfront Santa Monica hotel positioned directly on the sand — read this if you want classic, right-on-the-beach luxury and immediate beach access.
Updated · about 0.8 km apart

Best for travelers who prioritize a rooftop pool, extensive wellness programming, and modern design.

Best for travelers who want to stay directly on Santa Monica Beach with classic, oceanfront rooms and on-site beach access.
When Santa Monica Proper Hotel wins: choose Proper if you want contemporary interiors, the Westside’s only rooftop pool, an intensive Ayurvedic spa program (Surya Spa), and a hotel that emphasizes wellness programming and on-site fitness classes. It’s a better pick for guests who value design, wellness treatments, and rooftop dining with ocean views.
When Casa Del Mar wins: choose Casa Del Mar if being steps from the sand and a more traditional oceanfront hotel experience matter most. Casa Del Mar is the clearer option for guests who want immediate beach access, historic beachfront rooms, and a classic Santa Monica seaside setting.
Bottom line: both are five-star Santa Monica hotels within a short walk of each other; pick Proper for a modern, wellness- and design-focused stay with a rooftop pool, and pick Casa Del Mar for direct beachfront location and a traditional oceanfront hotel atmosphere.
| Category | Santa Monica Proper Hotel | Casa Del Mar |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Contemporary, design-forward, wellness-focused | Historic, classic oceanfront luxury |
| Location | About an 8-minute walk (≈0.4 mi) to Santa Monica State Beach and ~0.5 mi to the Pier | Directly on Santa Monica Beach; about a 3-minute walk to the beach and ~0.5 mi to the Pier |
| Size (rooms) | 262 rooms and suites | Not published |
| Ages / audience | All-ages property (21+ minimum to check in) | All-ages property (not adults-only) |
| Pools | Rooftop pool (city/Westside only rooftop pool) open 8am–sundown; guest-only poolside seating | Outdoor pool(s) and direct beach access (outdoor pool count: 1) |
| Restaurants & bars | Calabra (rooftop Mediterranean-Californian) and Palma (lobby lounge) | Terrazza plus a second on-site restaurant and a bar/lounge; 24-hour room service available |
| Spa & wellness | Surya Spa — flagship Ayurvedic spa with Panchakarma programs, Recovery Suite, 24/7 fitness center and classes | Full-service spa and health club; spa treatments and massages available |
| Known for | Design by Kelly Wearstler, rooftop pool, Ayurvedic Surya Spa and wellness programs | Historic oceanfront location, immediate beach access, classic Santa Monica luxury |
| Accessibility & services | Valet parking (fee), EV charging station, free bicycles, free Wi‑Fi in public areas | Valet parking (surcharge), concierge, 24-hour front desk, Wi‑Fi (surcharge) |
| Event & meeting space | Extensive event spaces (Canela Ballroom, Helios, Olea Terrace) — large ballroom and rooftop event options | Conference space and meeting room(s) suitable for events |
Santa Monica Proper sits on Wilshire near downtown Santa Monica with quick walking access to shops, parks and the beach.
Choose Proper if you want a short walk to the beach plus immediate access to Santa Monica’s shopping and parkland.
Casa Del Mar is a beachfront hotel with immediate sand access and short walks to the Pier and Promenade.
Pick Casa Del Mar for direct beach access and a classic oceanfront location.
Proper offers 262 rooms and suites with wellness-focused amenities and bespoke design details.
Proper suits travelers who prefer modern, design-led rooms with a wellness focus.
Casa Del Mar offers a range of ocean-view and city-view rooms and several one-bedroom suites.
Casa Del Mar is the choice when ocean views and classic beachfront room layouts matter.
Proper centers dining on Calabra (rooftop Mediterranean-Californian) and Palma (lobby lounge) with rooftop views and poolside service.
Pick Proper if you want rooftop dining paired with the rooftop pool and a modern Mediterranean-Californian menu.
Casa Del Mar follows a more traditional beachfront dining model with Terrazza plus a second on-site restaurant and a bar/lounge.
Choose Casa Del Mar for classic beachfront meals and easy in-room dining after a day on the sand.
Proper’s signature offering is the rooftop pool — the only rooftop pool on the Westside — with poolside seating reserved for hotel guests.
If a rooftop pool with sunset views is a priority, Proper is the hotel to choose.
Casa Del Mar is right on the sand with an outdoor pool and immediate beach access.
If you want to step straight onto the beach from the hotel, Casa Del Mar is the better fit.
Proper emphasizes wellness with Surya Spa, a Recovery Suite, and a large 24/7 fitness center with classes.
If structured, in-depth wellness treatments and comprehensive fitness facilities appeal to you, Proper has the edge.
Casa Del Mar provides a full-service spa and health club as part of its classic beachfront offering.
Casa Del Mar suits travelers who want a traditional spa alongside immediate beach access.

Santa Monica Proper — only rooftop pool on the Westside with rooftop dining and sunset views.

Casa Del Mar — oceanfront rooms and direct beach access put you on the sand minutes after check-in.

Santa Monica Proper — Surya Spa’s Ayurvedic Panchakarma programs and a dedicated Recovery Suite.

Casa Del Mar — a historic five-star hotel with traditional oceanfront service and beachfront atmosphere.
Both are within a short walk of the Pier; Casa Del Mar lists about a 10-minute walk to the Pier and Proper is about 0.5 miles (~9–10 minutes) from the Pier.
Both welcome families. Santa Monica Proper is all-ages but requires the guest checking in to be 21; Casa Del Mar is not adults-only and accepts families as well.
Yes. Santa Monica Proper has Surya Spa with Ayurvedic programs and a Recovery Suite; Casa Del Mar has a full-service spa and health club (supplier listing).
Casa Del Mar provides direct beachfront access. Santa Monica Proper is a short walk (about 8 minutes) to Santa Monica State Beach.
Explore how Santa Monica Proper Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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