Is Santa Monica Proper Hotel worth it? Honest pros and cons
Yes — Santa Monica Proper Hotel is worth it if you want a design-forward, wellness-focused stay within easy walking distance of the beach and Third Street Promenade. Expect strong on-site wellness and dining (rooftop pool and Calabra), high-style rooms, and valet/extra fees for services like parking and some spa programs.
In this guide
Location & neighborhood
Santa Monica Proper Hotel sits at 700 Wilshire Blvd (entrance on 7th St) in central Santa Monica. The hotel is about a 0.4-mile, roughly 8-minute walk from Santa Monica State Beach and around a 6–10 minute walk to the Third Street Promenade.
Nearby green spaces and attractions within easy walking distance include Reed Park (across Wilshire Blvd), Tongva Park, Palisades Park, and the Santa Monica Pier (about 0.5 miles). Public transit connections and bike paths let you reach other Westside destinations without driving.
- Address: 700 Wilshire Blvd (entrance on 7th St), Santa Monica, CA 90401
- Walk to Santa Monica Beach: ~8 minutes (0.4 miles)
- Walk to Third Street Promenade: ~6–10 minutes
- Nearest major airport: LAX (approx. 7–10 miles)
| Nearby spot | Approx. walk/drive time |
|---|---|
| Santa Monica State Beach | About 8-minute walk (0.4 mi) |
| Third Street Promenade | About 6–10-minute walk |
| Santa Monica Pier | About 9–10-minute walk (0.5 mi) |
Rooms and wellness-minded design
The hotel has 262 rooms and suites designed by Kelly Wearstler with a wellness focus. Room types include Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed; Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds; Premier Room; Premier Suite; Suite (Sunset); Deluxe Suite; Room (Performance Wellness); and Proper Sleep Room, among others.
Several room concepts focus on sleep and fitness: for example, Room (Performance Wellness) includes in-room fitness equipment, and Proper Sleep Room is arranged around sleep-focused amenities. Housekeeping is available on request, and in-room Wi‑Fi is included.
- Selected room names (exact): Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed; Deluxe Room, 2 Queen Beds; Premier Room; Premier Suite; Suite (Sunset); Deluxe Suite; Room (Performance Wellness); Proper Sleep Room
- In-room Wi‑Fi included for all guests
- Housekeeping on request
| Room type | Typical bed | Wellness note |
|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Room, 1 King Bed | 1 King Bed | Standard design-forward room |
| Room (Performance Wellness) | 1 King Bed | In-room fitness equipment options |
| Proper Sleep Room | 1 King Bed | Sleep-focused amenities |
Rooftop pool, dining and nightlife
Santa Monica Proper Hotel has the area's rooftop pool deck — the hotel says it’s the only rooftop pool in Santa Monica — open daily from 8:00 am until sundown. Poolside seating and pool access are reserved for hotel guests; taxes and fees for the stay include pool access.
Calabra is the rooftop Mediterranean–Californian restaurant and bar, serving brunch, lunch and dinner with ocean views; Palma is the lobby lounge serving small plates, juices and cocktails. Both venues take reservations and are listed with published hours.
- Rooftop pool hours: 8:00 am – sundown (hotel guests only)
- Calabra hours include weekend brunch and daily dinner service (check the hotel site for current times)
- Palma lobby lounge offers all-day small plates and cocktails (hours vary; Palma reservations available by phone)
| Dining venue | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calabra | Rooftop Mediterranean–Californian | Brunch/Lunch/Dinner; indoor-outdoor with ocean views |
| Palma | Lobby lounge | All-day small plates, juices, cocktails |
Spa, fitness and recovery facilities
Surya Spa is the hotel's full-service Ayurvedic spa offering signature treatments such as Abhyanga + Shirodhara and multi-day Panchakarma programs; spa hours are published as daily 8:00 am–8:00 pm on the hotel site (some listings show minor variations). Treatments can be long and are priced separately from room rates.
The hotel also offers a 24-hour, 2,500 sq ft fitness center with Peloton bikes, Woodway treadmills, Technogym equipment, reformer Pilates machines and free weights, plus complimentary weekly yoga and bootcamp classes. The Recovery Suite includes a sauna, cold plunge and red light therapy wall.
- Surya Spa hours (hotel): 8:00 am–8:00 pm (verify when booking)
- Fitness center: open 24 hours with a mix of cardio, strength and Pilates equipment
- Recovery Suite: sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy (private use)
| Facility | Availability |
|---|---|
| Fitness center | Open 24 hours |
| Surya Spa | Daily, hours listed 8:00–20:00 (book services separately) |
| Recovery Suite | Private booking; therapies separate |
Families, pets and accessibility
The hotel welcomes children of all ages and offers family rooms, but the minimum check-in age is 21 — anyone under 21 must be checked in by a parent or legal guardian. Guests 18 and older may be charged the adult rate when booking.
Santa Monica Proper allows dogs (up to two per room, max 45 lbs each) for a non-refundable pet fee; cats are not accepted. The hotel provides wheelchair-accessible public paths, accessible concierge, washrooms, pool and elevators.
- Children: welcome, but unaccompanied minors cannot register rooms (21+ check-in requirement)
- Pets: dogs allowed (max two per room, each under 45 lbs), $100 non-refundable fee per pet; cats not accepted
- Accessibility: accessible routes, public washrooms, elevator and accessible pool
| Policy | Key detail |
|---|---|
| Minimum check-in age | 21 (guest must show photo ID and credit card) |
| Pet policy | Dogs only, 2 max, 45 lb limit, $100 non-refundable fee |
| Children | All ages welcome; children under 21 need parent/guardian to check in |
Practical pros and cons — quick checklist
Below are the main strengths and trade-offs to weigh when deciding whether the hotel fits your trip.
Costs such as valet parking, spa treatments and some dining are additional; Wi‑Fi in-room and public-area Wi‑Fi are included.
- Pros: design-forward rooms by Kelly Wearstler; the only rooftop pool in Santa Monica; strong on-site wellness (Surya Spa, Recovery Suite, 24/7 gym); very walkable to beach, pier and shopping.
- Cons: mandatory 21+ check-in requirement (limits unaccompanied younger travelers); valet parking and spa programs carry extra fees; dogs are allowed but restaurants/rooftop bar restrict animals.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Rooftop pool | Unique to Santa Monica but reserved for hotel guests and included with stay |
| Valet parking | Available but charged separately with variable rates |
| Spa programs | High-end Ayurvedic services available for extra cost and long appointments |
