I recently found myself with an opportunity to travel to Santa Monica with my husband. An overnight getaway at the historic, boutique hotel Case del Mar? Yes, please! Join me to take a peek inside this iconic hotel. (this review is solely my own and not sponsored in any way)
The hotel was originally built in 1926 inspired by the villas along the Mediterranean. It sits on the beach with views from Palos Verdes to Malibu and is walking distance to the Santa Monica Pier. We found this location to be perfect and we were able to walk to many restaurants and sights in Santa Monica.
With my first steps through the front door, I was in awe. The entryway has two winding staircases leading to the lobby and a gorgeous tile floor. I stumbled in jet lagged and tired from a long, early flight but was immediately put to ease by the smiling staff eager to help. I took a deep breath and exhaled, ahhh.
For a luxury hotel, I felt the rooms were elegant but cozy at the same time. This was the perfect combination to feel instantly at home but also indulgently blissful.
Each room comes with its own personal rubber ducky. A nice touch so things are not taken too seriously!
In the lobby there are lots of spots to relax and unwind.
The hotel has a bar, cafe/lounge and restaurant. They all offer fabulous views of the ocean and Santa Monica Beach. We decided to order lunch so we found a table with a view at Terrazzo Lounge. The menu is Italian inspired with market fresh ingredients.
With views this good, you don't feel like you are missing out on sightseeing while you linger over lunch. Just by simply sitting and sipping wine, you get to see a whole lot! (the pic below was taken through the window next to our table)
Our room had a wonderful view of the Santa Monica Pier so I was able to feel the energy of the activity below while I took a moment to lounge in bed and catch up on some reading.
If lounging isn't your thing, no worries! There's lots to do. The hotel provides guests with bikes to take a ride along the boardwalk or if you want to hang out on the beach, they provide umbrellas and chairs. All of these amenities are free of charge. There is also a pool area with more of those breathtaking views of the ocean.
When the sun was beginning to set, we hit the bar to have a drink and watch the glowing colors of twilight.
With this perfect location, the beach and ocean are always at your finger tips. We walked down the path to the beach to take an evening stroll and then went next door to Shutter's, the sister hotel of Casa del Mar, for dinner.
We rose early to take a short walk on the beach before breakfast. Then just a few blocks away from the hotel we ate at Cora's Coffee Shoppe. It is a quaint cafe with outdoor seating and an amazing menu sourced from the local farmer's market.
It was almost time to check out, but we wanted to take advantage of the free bike offer. We were quickly outfitted with bikes and sent on our way along the boardwalk. It was a beautiful morning!
Alas, our time at Casa del Mar had come to an end. I felt so fortunate to have this overnight getaway. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a bit of luxury and escape. Bop on over to here to read about my day wandering the streets of Santa Monica. For now, I will leave you with the glory of a California sunset. (taken through the window of the hotel lounge)
#casadelmarhotel #santamonicapier #santamonica #hotelreview #shuttersonthebeach
