The Huntley Santa Monica Beach’s lofty 18 storeys affords a panorama of the Pacific Ocean and Malibu Mountains that even locals consider the best view around. Stunning suites and boutique service elevate the SoCal experience to new heights.
If you’re after a laidback coastal stay with an upscale feel in the centre of Santa Monica, the Huntley Santa Monica Beach offers that quintessential SoCal style in spades.
Tucked into a quiet, tree-lined residential section of Second Street yet close to the city centre and coastal drawcards, the 1960s building underwent a soft reno in 2024 and stands out among Santa Monica’s hotels by offering suites with an unobstructed view.
Checking-in
The Huntley Santa Monica Beach is part of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts luxury property portfolio and is located 19km from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – around a 25–45-minute drive, depending on the time of day.
Set just two blocks from the iconic beach, Huntley Santa Monica Beach offers an exceptional modern luxury stay just an eight-minute walk to the open-air Third Street Promenade shopping and entertainment precinct and twice-weekly Santa Monica Farmers Markets and under 15 minutes from the iconic Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Ocean.
From the lobby to the rooms to the in-house restaurant, every aspect of Huntley Santa Monica Beach is chic and modern with an emphasis on airy, white and light décor.
The lobby is resplendent in stylish, metallic accents and natural textures, a precursor of the elevated coastal chic ambience throughout the hotel’s event spaces and 204 rooms, including 16 suites.
The room
With so many thoughtful touches and luxe features, the Signature Suite is easily one of the most stylish rooms I’ve stayed in.
For starters, it’s seriously spacious at 56sqm with a Huntley Premium king-size bed swathed in Egyptian cotton sheets and a rotating dual mirror/HDTV screen that swivels to separate the bedroom from an equally generous living area with a modular sofa, coffee table and armchair, plus a desk and fully stocked minibar, including top-shelf full-size spirits.
Shelving over the desk holds a curated array of design books, biographies and buzz-worthy novels – from Marilyn Monroe to Michelle Obama’s Becoming to All Fours by Miranda July. And you can control everything from lights to curtains via a control pad at the entrance.
The spa-style suite features an oversized vanity, complete with Bulgari amenities, and positioned across from a deep spa bath, leading to a separate shower and toilet with Italian stone walls. The towels are ridiculously plush, as are the bathrobes.
Each suite has different design elements, such as intricate chandeliers and bedside lights, making each stay unique, and guestrooms located on floors 9–17 offer an unobstructed view – a rarity in Santa Monica.
Food and drink
The Huntley Santa Monica Beach has two in-house eateries representing each end of the scale in positioning and location. The internal ground-floor Gene’s Cafe has SoCal-cool neon and pastel hues and a beachy casual menu to match with coffee, snacks and essentials.
At the other end, The Penthouse is famous for its million-dollar panoramic views. Make your way up to the 18th floor via the secret glass elevator for the full VIP treatment and settle into an ocean-facing table. Time your dining to coincide with a glorious Pacific Ocean sunset to make your meal extra-special. On Thursdays, a jazz duo also lends a swoony ambience.
Chef Manny Padilla tells me he sources his seasonal ingredients directly from the Santa Monica Farmers Markets and the California-inspired coastal cuisine menu is bursting with local freshness with a focus on steaks, seafood and modern Italian.
Being California, the drinks menu offers regional and international wines, signature cocktails and zero-proof options.
As a plant-based diner, I try a California produce cornucopia with an amuse bouche created from a single fry with spicy olive, followed by an heirloom tomato salad with cucumbers and macadamia and a charred cauliflower steak with yellow Thai sauce on greens and quinoa risotto. The flavours are complementary, not overwhelming.
The service is similarly outstanding, thanks to waiter Michael, a local who is expertly knowledgeable with his recommendations about both the menu and the neighbourhood.
Prefer to stay in? There’s in-room dining as well as in-room spa treatments available.
Amenities
It’s Santa Monica, so you’re going to want to spend some time away from the hotel. Guests can take advantage of the hotel bicycles to explore the iconic stretch from Santa Monica to Venice Beach for four hours’ free hire with a helmet and a lock on a first-come, first-served basis. Beach towels are also available for a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
There’s no onsite pool as such, however, there is a petite outdoor whirlpool plunge spa and relaxation lounge in a sheltered patio if you’d prefer to catch some rays away from the beach. You can also get a workout in at the gym if Muscle Beach isn’t your scene.
If you’re driving to the Huntley Santa Monica Beach, valet parking is available. The hotel also offers a complimentary luxury SUV chauffeur service up to a three-mile radius (around 5km) – perfect for shopping at Santa Monica Place.
The verdict
This is not your average beachside retreat. It’s much, much more. The Huntley Santa Monica Beach brings LA luxury to the iconic setting, sprinkling understated modern glamour and effortless SoCal coastal cool to elevate your stay.
With stylish suites and guestrooms with luxe amenities at your fingertips, a hip restaurant hotspot at the top (with that covetable sunset view!) and Santa Monica Beach just a short stroll below, the Huntley Santa Monica Beach blends the best of coastal LA and the city into one memorably indulgent stay.
The details
- Address: 1111 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403
- Room type: The Huntley Santa Monica Beach has 204 suites and rooms, including the Signature Suites
- Check-in: 3pm
- Check-out: 12pm
- Rates: From USD$400-$1,000 per night
- Website: thehuntleyhotel.com
The writer was hosted by Santa Monica Tourism & Travel.
