Casa Del Mar

The 1920s beach-club-turned-hotel on Ocean Way, Casa Del Mar occupies a five-story terracotta building steps from the Santa Monica Pier, its lobby still framed by the original oceanfront colonnade. Rooms above the fourth floor keep unobstructed Pacific views; lower floors face the palm-lined promenade instead.

The beach itself starts at the property's front steps, and Third Street Promenade's shops are a ten-minute walk inland. A practical base for travelers wanting direct sand access without staying in downtown Santa Monica's denser core.