Santa Monica Proper Hotel

An Instagrammy hotel that actually delivers in person and looks as good as it photographs, if not better—thanks to Kelly Wearstler's dreamy designs and surprisingly good service.

• The fun but chic, layered designs
• The rooftop and its views over Santa Monica
• The hip factor: this is a cool hotel for cool (yet entirely unpretentious) people

Designer Kelly Wearstler spent four years collecting furniture and vintage pieces for Santa Monica Proper. The result: gorgeously layered public spaces and rooms, done in earth tones and with plenty of live foliage. It's playful, it's chic and it's designy. (And it's also surprising for Santa Monica: one Indagare member describes the hotel as “what you want a hotel in Mexico City to look like.” And that is spot on.)

The rooftop pool is small but buzzy—and can get noisy. It's a hard reservation to secure, but luckily, guests don't have to since the hotel always saves a few tables for guests. There is also a Mexican restaurant, Onda, started by alums of Contramar (Mexico City) and Cala (San Francisco).

Health and wellness are a focus here, both in the restaurant offerings—there are dietary-inclusive menus and produce is sourced from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market—and in the fitness center with its Peloton machines.

For a boutique hotel, service is better than you might expect. The friendly staff—while not necessarily anticipating your every need—will cheerfully deliver anything you ask for. And the ask itself, be it about housekeeping, concierge recommendations or car valet, can be made via text.

Travelers to Santa Monica who don’t mind being a few minutes off the beach and who are looking for a hotel that's equal parts relaxed and glam

• Santa Monica Proper is about five blocks from the beach and boardwalk. A drawback for some, but others will appreciate the subsequent lack of tourists passing by.