
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
Best for direct access to Santa Monica Pier, the beach, and Santa Monica’s shopping/dining on foot.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Santa Monica Proper Hotel is a five-star, design-forward coastal hotel in central Santa Monica with a rooftop pool and an emphasis on Ayurvedic wellness—best for travelers who want direct beach access and an urban beach-town base. The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey is a five-star waterfront marina hotel with marina views, a full-service spa and tennis courts—best for travelers who want a marina-front luxury stay near Venice Beach and boating.
Updated · about 6 km apart

Best for direct access to Santa Monica Pier, the beach, and Santa Monica’s shopping/dining on foot.

Best for marina views, on-site tennis and a quieter waterfront location near Venice.
When Santa Monica Proper Hotel wins: choose Proper if you want to be within easy walking distance of Santa Monica State Beach, the Pier and Third Street Promenade, if you value Kelly Wearstler–designed interiors, the Westside’s only rooftop pool, and an Ayurvedic spa program.
When The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey wins: choose the Ritz-Carlton if you prefer a marina/waterfront setting, on-site tennis courts, a larger traditional luxury-hotel footprint with concierge and club-style services, and easy access to Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney.
Bottom line: both are five-star options on L.A.’s west side; pick Santa Monica Proper for a central beach-and-shopping base with a modern wellness focus, or pick The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey for marina-front calm, tennis and resort-style hotel services.
| Category | Santa Monica Proper Hotel | The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Design-forward, wellness-focused beach hotel with a lively rooftop scene | Traditional five-star marina-front luxury with resort-style facilities |
| Location | 700 Wilshire Blvd — about an 8-minute walk (0.4 miles) to Santa Monica State Beach | 4375 Admiralty Way — on the Marina del Rey waterfront, near Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney |
| Size (rooms) | 262 rooms and suites | 304 guestrooms |
| Ages / audience | All ages welcome; minimum check-in age 21 (minors welcome when accompanied) | All ages welcome; not adults-only |
| Pools | Rooftop pool (Santa Monica’s only rooftop pool); guest-only hours 8am–sundown | Outdoor pool (1 outdoor pool, plus a hot tub) |
| Restaurants & bars | Calabra (rooftop Mediterranean–Californian) and Palma lobby lounge | On-site restaurant(s) and 24-hour room service (number of restaurants: 1 listed) |
| Spa & wellness | Surya Spa (Ayurvedic treatments, Recovery Suite with cold plunge/sauna/red light therapy) | Full-service spa on site (name not published) |
| Signature features | Kelly Wearstler interiors, rooftop pool deck, Surya Ayurvedic Panchakarma programs | Waterfront marina location, outdoor tennis courts, boat/sea activities nearby |
| Parking & transit | Valet parking (fee), Big Blue Bus/Expo Line access nearby | Valet parking (surcharge reported), convenient to LAX |
| Known for | Rooftop dining/pool and immersive Ayurvedic spa programming | Marina-front luxury with tennis courts and traditional Ritz-Carlton services |
Santa Monica Proper sits on Wilshire Boulevard a short walk from the beach, the Pier and Third Street Promenade.
Choose Proper if you want to be within easy walking distance of Santa Monica’s main beach attractions.
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey sits on Admiralty Way next to the marina, a short drive to Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney.
Choose the Ritz-Carlton for a quieter waterfront base near Venice and easy marina access.
Proper’s 262 rooms and suites emphasize wellness design and a mix of restored landmark character and new interiors.
Choose Proper for rooms with a strong wellness and design focus near the beach.
The Ritz-Carlton offers 304 guestrooms with many room types that include marina or partial marina views and balconies.
Choose the Ritz-Carlton for rooms with marina views and private balconies.
Santa Monica Proper centers dining around its rooftop restaurant Calabra and the lobby Palma lounge.
Pick Proper for elevated rooftop dining and a lively hotel bar scene near the pool.
The Ritz-Carlton provides on-site restaurant service with 24-hour room service and a bar/lounge for drinks.
Pick the Ritz-Carlton for traditional full-service dining and reliable room service at a marina-front hotel.
Proper’s standout outdoor asset is the Westside’s only rooftop pool deck paired with Calabra.
Choose Proper if a rooftop pool and sunset views are high priorities.
The Ritz-Carlton offers a more conventional ground-level outdoor pool plus additional marina-side recreation.
Choose the Ritz-Carlton for tennis, marina activities and a traditional pool set in a marina environment.
Proper emphasizes a deep wellness program via Surya Spa plus active rooftop and fitness offerings.
Choose Proper if specialized Ayurvedic programs and an active wellness program matter most.
The Ritz-Carlton provides a full-service spa plus fitness and a quieter waterfront evening environment.
Choose the Ritz-Carlton if you want conventional spa treatments paired with marina activities and a calm evening setting.

Santa Monica Proper — within an 8-minute walk of Santa Monica State Beach and the Pier.

The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey — located on the marina with easy access to sailing, kayaking and boat tours.

Santa Monica Proper — Surya Spa’s Ayurvedic Panchakarma and the Recovery Suite offer uncommon wellness programming.

The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey — outdoor tennis courts, lessons on site, and a more traditional resort footprint.
Santa Monica Proper is closer — roughly a 9–10 minute walk to the Pier; The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey is several kilometers south and requires a short drive.
Santa Monica Proper has Calabra, a rooftop Mediterranean–Californian restaurant. The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey has on-site dining but a rooftop restaurant name is not published.
No — both properties welcome guests of all ages. Santa Monica Proper requires the guest checking in to be at least 21; The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey requires an adult (18+) to assume liability at check-in per its policy notes.
The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey — it sits on the marina and lists sailing, kayaking, boat tours and other water sports nearby.
Explore how Santa Monica Proper Hotel stacks up against other hotels nearby:
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