What is Viceroy Santa Monica?

Viceroy Santa Monica is a Selected hotel located in Los Angeles Area, United States. It has been recognized by the Michelin Guide for its exceptional hospitality and unique experience.

How many Michelin Keys does Viceroy Santa Monica have?

Viceroy Santa Monica has been awarded Selected by the Michelin Guide, indicating a very special stay.

Where is Viceroy Santa Monica located?

Viceroy Santa Monica is located in Los Angeles Area, United States, in the North America region.

What makes a Selected hotel special?

Selected hotels provide very special stays with excellent service and a unique sense of place.

How do I book Viceroy Santa Monica?

You can view more details and booking information for Viceroy Santa Monica through the Michelin Guide website. Each Michelin Keys hotel offers a unique booking experience tailored to their guests.

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Viceroy Santa Monica

Name: Viceroy Santa Monica
Address: 1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Los Angeles Area, North America, United States
Rating: 4.2

Selected

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View the official listing on the MICHELIN Guide.

Hotel Details

Location

1819 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

United States, North America

Brand

Viceroy

Location

Viceroy Santa Monica · Los Angeles Area, United States

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Expert Review: Viceroy Santa Monica

Viceroy Santa Monica: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Viceroy Santa Monica, a "Michelin Key Selected" property, consistently earns praise as a stylish and well-located boutique hotel offering a blend of modern design and a relaxed, upscale coastal vibe. Guests frequently highlight its prime location, attentive service, and vibrant atmosphere, making it a popular choice for both leisure and business travelers seeking a sophisticated experience near the beach.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The Viceroy Santa Monica generally receives a "Very Good" rating, with a Booking.com score of 8.2 out of 10 based on nearly 1000 reviews. The MICHELIN Guide's post-stay ratings from verified guests also reflect a strong positive sentiment, with a score of 18.6 out of 20. The overall sentiment is highly positive, with guests appreciating its blend of luxury and charm.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud several aspects of the Viceroy Santa Monica:

Location: Its proximity to Santa Monica Beach and the pier is a major draw, with many attractions within walking distance.
Design & Ambiance: The hotel's "modern, vibrant luxury" and "chic" interiors, including a recently renovated, warmer, and more organic look, are frequently complimented. The decor, designed by Kelly Wearstler, features a Hollywood Regency style.
Amenities: The two outdoor swimming pools with cabanas, a well-equipped fitness center, and complimentary bike rentals are highly valued.
Service: Friendly, helpful, and attentive staff are often cited as a key highlight.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Viceroy Santa Monica are described as clean, comfortable, and well-designed, reflecting a "California clean and cheerful" aesthetic. Following a 2023 renovation, accommodations now feature sun-and-surf-inspired decor with original work from local artists.

Comfort: Guests frequently mention comfortable beds with premium bedding, including fine Italian linens and down duvets.
Design & Features: Rooms are equipped with high-definition flat-screen TVs, Bluetooth speaker alarm clocks, in-room safes, mini-bars, and full-sized bath amenities by Neil George or Corpus Naturals. Many rooms offer balconies, and about half are oriented towards the Pacific Ocean, providing ocean views that guests find justify the added expense.
Size: Standard Viceroy King Rooms are approximately 320 square feet, while Grande Rooms offer 470 square feet, and suites are 640 square feet or more.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's restaurant, Sugar Palm Santa Monica, is a central part of the dining experience. It serves locally sourced international fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is noted for its vibrant atmosphere.

Atmosphere: Sugar Palm offers a sprawling indoor-outdoor setting, with poolside dining, a garden lounge, and a wraparound bar that extends outside.
Cuisine: The menu features coastal flavors, with dishes designed to pair well with the sunny Santa Monica ambiance. Guests have also enjoyed the happy hour menu. An a la carte breakfast is served daily.
Convenience: Room service is available, and there's a coffee shop/cafe on-site for daytime treats.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Viceroy Santa Monica are consistently praised for being "friendly and helpful," "top notch," and "attentive."

Hospitality: Guests often recall warm welcomes, personalized greetings, and staff who "really get to know their guests."
Efficiency: The service is described as efficient.
Multilingual Staff: Staff members are fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

6. Location & Accessibility

The Viceroy Santa Monica boasts an "ideal location" in Santa Monica, just "steps to the ocean" and a "short walk to the pier."

Proximity to Attractions: It's conveniently situated near Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier (a 10-15 minute walk), Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica Place, and a plethora of restaurants, bars, and shops. Venice Beach is also easily accessible by bike.
Transportation: The hotel is approximately a 20-30 minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Free bicycle rentals are available for registered guests, offering a great way to explore the area. Valet parking is available for a fee. The property is also wheelchair accessible.

7. Value & Pricing

The Viceroy Santa Monica is considered a luxury boutique hotel. Prices for a 1-night stay for two adults can start from approximately $305 to $384, excluding taxes and fees, as of early 2026. Rates can start from around $300 a night.

Resort Fee: There is a daily Guest Amenities Fee of $40 plus taxes, which covers amenities such as high-speed internet, priority bicycle rental, welcome drink, fitness center access, and in-room bottled water.
Comparison: While it's a luxury hotel, some reviews note that it is generally notably cheaper than its direct luxury competitors in the immediate area, such as Shutters on the Beach and Casa del Mar. However, its value for money rating on Booking.com is 7.4 out of 10.

8. Common Complaints

While generally positive, some recurring issues or criticisms include:

Resort and Valet Fees: The additional resort fee and the costly valet parking are noted by some guests.
Bathroom Size: Some guests have found the bathrooms to be on the smaller side, though they are clean and well-maintained with marble.
Elevator Noise: A few guests have mentioned that the elevator can be quite loud, especially for rooms on higher floors.
Kid-Friendliness: Some reviews suggest the hotel's vibe, with its "sexy lounge" and "sceney pool," might be less kid-friendly compared to other nearby hotels.
Bed Firmness: One guest mentioned the bed being firmer than preferred.

Sources

Points to Consider

•While generally positive, some recurring issues or criticisms include:

Google Reviews

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4.2

1,179 reviews

Recent Guest Reviews

Carl Gao

Local Guide2 weeks ago

Room: My wife and I had an ocean view room on the 8th floor. The view was wonderful during the daytime. Although the building has been renovated, its age shows a bit in the HVAC and plumbing systems, and more annoyingly, the door's key card reader (which took several swipes before opening each time). Our bathroom layout was a bit inconvenient since the sink countertop was quite small. A bedside w...

Response from the owner

Dear Carl, Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We’re so glad you enjoyed the ocean views, the food highlights, and the overall service from our team and it’s great to...

Scotty Fister

Local Guide2 weeks ago

this hotel deserving a higher rating than it has. the rooms are quite nice, and the lobby is well designed with modular seating. the views out the front when the sun is setting are really lovely. but the biggest thing is the staff are all so wonderful and helpful. anything I asked about they bent over backwards to help with.

Response from the owner

Dear Scotty, Thank you so much for sharing your kind review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the rooms, the lobby, and the sunset views. Our team takes great pride in providing ...

Charles Joseph Berry

Local GuideEdited 2 months ago

Happy Holidays and for us we landed at the coolest stop for our first night in Santa Monica. This has been a grand start, the decorative lobby is a creative directors dream. The room is chic and delicious. Sugar Palm we had drinks and a bite to eat at the bar so we could keep looking at the art surrounding us. We look forward to spending time at your other locations, as well. I will say this and ...

Response from the owner

Dear Charles, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear that your first night in Viceroy Santa Monica was such a memorable one. It’s great to know you enjoyed o...

Ali Dey Daly

Local Guidea month ago

Our stay at Viceroy Santa Monica was fantastic and felt like a true vacation from start to finish. We stayed in a junior suite with a sea view, and it was absolutely worth it—bright, spacious, and incredibly relaxing, with beautiful ocean views that set the tone the moment you walk in. The hotel strikes a great balance between laid-back coastal energy and polished hospitality. Everything feels ea...

Response from the owner

Dear Ali, Thank you for sharing such a wonderful review of your stay at Viceroy Santa Monica. We’re delighted to hear that your experience felt like a true vacation from beginning to end. <b...

Cameron

a month ago

This place has changed for the better. It used to be the trendy place to go with limos out front, a bar as soon as you walked in, and tacky and obnoxious people everywhere. Now it’s had a facelift, and is much more serene, peaceful, and professional. The rooms are clean and sparkling, the lobby is inviting and warm, and the staff is welcoming and helpful. Highly recommended.

Response from the owner

Dear Cameron, Thank you for sharing your experience and kind recommendation. We’re thrilled to hear that you’ve noticed and appreciated the positive changes, from the refreshed atmosphere to ou...

Leanne Adsett

Local Guide5 months ago

We visited Los Angeles from the UK and decided to stay in Santa Monica as it was a quieter location in comparison to Hollywood and DTLA. We chose to stay at the Viceroy Hotel based on the glowing reviews and I can honestly say the hotel, staff and service was impeccable! The location is within a convenient walking distance to Downtown Santa Monica metro station, where you can get the E line into D...

Response from the owner

Dear Leanne, Thank you for sharing such a detailed and thoughtful review. We’re delighted to hear that your stay with us exceeded expectations, from the welcome and amenities to the spacious ro...