Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

Set at the head of Wilshire Boulevard where it meets Ocean Avenue, the Fairmont Miramar occupies bluff-top ground across from Palisades Park, with Santa Monica Pier a ten-minute walk downhill. The five-star property suits couples and business travellers wanting beach-adjacent quiet without staying directly on the Third Street Promenade crowds.

Bungalow rooms sit apart from the main tower, scattered around a century-old Moreton Bay fig tree that predates the hotel itself. The pool deck stays open past sunset for guests who miss the afternoon sun.

Venice's boardwalk lies a short drive south along the coast.