
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Best for a compact, design-forward Santa Monica stay within walking distance of the Pier and beach.
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Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a five-star, 262-room city-coast luxury hotel with the Westside's only rooftop pool and an Ayurvedic spa; read this if you want a walkable Santa Monica base for beaches, dining, and wellness. Terranea Resort is a large five-star oceanfront destination resort in Rancho Palos Verdes with many pools, restaurants, and resort activities; read this if you want an expansive oceanfront property for resorts-style downtime and family programming.
Updated · about 30 miles apart

Best for a compact, design-forward Santa Monica stay within walking distance of the Pier and beach.

Best for an all-in-resort experience on the ocean with multiple pools, on-site activities, and event space.
When Santa Monica Proper Hotel wins: choose Proper if you want immediate access to Santa Monica’s dining, Third Street Promenade, and the Pier, plus a focused wellness program (Surya Spa, Recovery Suite) and the only rooftop pool on the Westside in a smaller, design-led hotel.
When Terranea Resort wins: choose Terranea for a broad resort offering on the coast—multiple outdoor pools, golf lessons and on-site activities, several restaurants and bars, and facilities geared to long stays or families who plan to stay on property.
Bottom line: pick Santa Monica Proper for a compact, walkable Santa Monica experience with a strong wellness focus; pick Terranea if you want a full-scale oceanfront resort with many pools and on-site recreation and don’t mind the drive from central Santa Monica.
| Category | Santa Monica Proper Hotel | Terranea Resort |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Design-driven luxury boutique with wellness focus and city-beach convenience | Large five-star coastal destination resort with broad family and event programming |
| Star rating | 5-star | |
| Location | 700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica — about an 8-minute walk to Santa Monica State Beach and close to the Pier | 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes — oceanfront on a coastal bluff with resort grounds and trails |
| Size (rooms) | 262 rooms and suites | 582 rooms (supplier listing) |
| Ages / family friendliness | All ages welcome; 21+ minimum to check in unaccompanied | All ages welcome (children's club and supervised childcare available for a surcharge) |
| Pools | One rooftop pool (Calabra Rooftop Pool, 5,165 SF) reserved for hotel guests | Four outdoor pools and children's pool, plus poolside bars and cabanas (surcharge on cabanas) |
| Restaurants & bars | Two signature venues: Calabra (rooftop Mediterranean-Californian) and Palma (lobby lounge) | Five restaurants, 5 bars/lounges and 4 poolside bars (supplier listing) |
| Spa & wellness | Surya Spa — Ayurvedic treatments, signature 2.5-hr Abhyanga + Shirodhara, Recovery Suite; 24/7 fitness center and classes | Full-service spa with treatment rooms plus on-site fitness classes and activities |
| Known for | Westside's only rooftop pool, Kelly Wearstler design, flagship Ayurvedic spa | Oceanfront resort scale, multiple pools, on-site golf and extensive resort activities |
| Event & meeting space | Extensive event space (16,000+ sq ft listed for weddings; overall meeting space >24,000 sq ft) | Conference space and meeting rooms; ballroom and banquet facilities (supplier listing) |
Santa Monica Proper sits on Wilshire Blvd a short walk from the Pier, beach, and Third Street Promenade.
Choose Proper for walkability and immediate access to central Santa Monica.
Terranea Resort occupies an oceanfront bluff in Rancho Palos Verdes with resort grounds and coastal trails.
Choose Terranea if you want oceanfront grounds and on-site coastal access, and don’t need walkable city dining.
Proper offers 262 rooms and suites with Kelly Wearstler interiors and wellness-focused amenities.
Proper focuses on designed city rooms with wellness touches in a mid-size hotel footprint.
Terranea’s varied accommodation mix spans standard rooms to ocean-view casitas and bungalows.
Terranea offers a broader range of ocean-view and suite-style rooms for different party sizes.
Santa Monica Proper centers dining around Calabra on the rooftop and Palma in the lobby.
Proper’s food program is compact and focused, anchored by a notable rooftop restaurant and bar.
Terranea lists five restaurants and multiple bars across the resort.
Terranea provides more on-property dining choices and poolside service options for multi-day stays.
Proper has the Westside’s only rooftop pool, reserved for hotel guests.
Pick Proper for a unique rooftop pool plus easy beach access off-property.
Terranea features multiple outdoor pools, poolside bars, and direct oceanfront grounds.
Terranea is better if you want several pool options and a resort-style pool program on an oceanfront property.
Proper emphasizes Ayurveda and curated wellness alongside a 24/7 fitness center and evening rooftop dining.
Choose Proper for a wellness-first stay with city-evening options close by.
Terranea combines a full-service spa, fitness offerings, and evening restaurant/bar options across the resort.
Terranea suits guests looking for a broad wellness and activity program on-site, with built-in evening dining and bars.

Santa Monica Proper — steps from the Pier, Third Street Promenade, and an 8-minute walk to Santa Monica State Beach.

Terranea Resort — multiple outdoor pools, poolside bars, on-site golf and many activity options across the property.

Santa Monica Proper — Surya Spa (Ayurvedic programs), Recovery Suite and 24/7 fitness with wellness classes.

Terranea Resort — children’s club, supervised childcare (surcharge), and many family-oriented on-site activities.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel — about an 8-minute walk to Santa Monica State Beach and roughly 0.5 mile to the Pier.
Terranea Resort — supplier listing shows four outdoor pools plus a children's pool; Santa Monica Proper has one rooftop pool.
Yes. Both welcome families and children. Santa Monica Proper requires the person checking in to be at least 21 (guests under 21 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian). Terranea offers children's programs and supervised childcare for a surcharge.
Santa Monica Proper has a strong, specialist wellness offering (Surya Spa and Recovery Suite) focused on Ayurvedic treatments; Terranea also offers a full-service spa but with a broader resort program.
Explore how Santa Monica Proper Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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