When heading to the sun-drenched shores of Santa Monica, choosing your hotel is no mean feat. With around forty options to choose between, you need to decide between traditional style glamour, historical icons and more contemporary offerings. When looking for an effortlessly elegant choice that’s entwined with history and offers a luxury experience, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is a no-brainer. A five-acre urban resort perched on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, it’s walking distance from all the local sites and attractions yet also feels like a slice of tropical paradise.
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The Fairmont Miramar Hotel encapsulates all that Santa Monica’s about. It oozes understated luxury, leaving you feeling utterly spoiled without a hint of pretentiousness. There’s a core focus on wellbeing here with classes such as yoga, pilates and HIIT on offer. Simply check out the schedule ahead of time to find out what’s on during your stay.
There’s also a fully-equipped gym that includes a sun-drenched terrace, meaning you can work up a sweat while breathing in the ocean air and feeling a gentle sea breeze on your face. Help yourself to ice-cold cucumber water or an isotonic energy drink before making your way to the on-site restaurant Fig – named after the hotel’s iconic fig tree for breakfast.
In Fig you can tuck into fat pancakes drizzled with syrup and loaded with plump jewel-coloured berries, avocado toast packed with flavour, eggs any style, homemade granola, a full Santa Monica cooked breakfast, french toast and so much more. Wash it down with one of their fresh juices – again, packed with vitamins and the ideal way to set you up for the day ahead.
As well as breakfast at Fig, you can indulge in brunch, dinner, cocktails and lighter bites. An American Bistro committed to fresh, seasonal cuisine it offers rustic decor bathed in light and mouthwatering dishes all throughout the day. Ingredients are sourced from the local farmers market and from specialty foragers who comb the coastline for hard to find items. Whether you want to sip champagne alongside local market oysters or indulge in a fresh pasta dish or woodfire pizza, you’ll find it here.
Other dining experiences include the Lobby Lounge for a more informal experience, right in the thick of the action, or Soko – an intimate Japanese restaurant with just eight seats. Here you can relish fresh sushi in a truly intimate setting.
For the coffee lovers among us, Dogtown Coffee in the hotel’s main promenade is a must-visit spot at least once during your stay. The first and only outpost of Dogtown Coffee, it pays homage to the spirit of Southern California’s surfing and skateboarding culture of the original coffee shop. Sip on piping hot lattes or a cappuccino, appreciating the coveted organic micro-roast, or why not opt for their specialty iced coffee, complete with a bitter caramel syrup and topping of sea salt foam.
Room wise, there’s 297 elegant guest rooms and suites, including 31 1930’s bungalows – some of which even have Peloton bikes on their own private patio area. During my stay I’m in one of their suites in their 1924 Palisades Wing. Situated on the fifth floor it offers breathtaking views of the ocean just ahead, with the tops of palm trees peeping through the windows and sunlight that streams in, drenching the space with a majestic glow.
The bed is comfortable in such a way that you just melt into the mattress and pillows, while a large TV located opposite offers endless entertainment, or you can simply lay back and watch the world pass you by. Slip into their soft dressing gowns and slippers, make yourself a coffee from the in-room machine, place the needle of the record player and let the sun caress your face as you sink into the sofa with a good book. It’s impossible not to feel completely at peace here, from the relaxing decor complete with natural wood elements and soft colours, to the many amenities that mean you don’t need to ask for a thing. Sustainability is a big focus here, with wooden room cards, no single-use plastic and glass water bottles that you can fill up yourself from the facilities in the corridors. It’s these things that really put the Fairmont Miramar at the forefront of the hotel scene and make for an unforgettable experience.
When you’re not in the gym or feasting on incredible dishes, spend your time lounging around the pool or in the on-site spa where a range of treatments are available. You can get your hair done in the on-site hairdressers and pursue the clothing boutiques just off the main lobby. It’s a hotel with everything you could possibly need if you don’t wish to leave, but with so many enviable destinations just a stone throw away, it works just as well as a base for exploration.
The Fairmont Miramar encapsulates all that Santa Monica is about, from the focus on health and wellbeing, to the luxurious touches and exemplary service. Whether you’re looking for a base to indulge in fine food and drink and flop on a sunbed under the balmy skies, or somewhere that is perfectly situated to discover the surrounding area, it has it all. Take advantage of the hotel’s free bikes, where you can pedal down to the boardwalk along miles of coastline, meander to the local farmers market on a Wednesday, start your day with yoga and a green juice and end it with cocktails under the stars. Majestic, magical and somewhere that really has it all, make the Fairmont Santa Monica your place to stay the next time you head to the city. It’s the easiest choice you’ll ever make.
101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Book your stay at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
