SANTA MONICA
Sandbourne Santa Monica · Autograph Collection
United States
TRIP OVERVIEW
Day 1 – Santa Monica Pier · Santa Monica State Beach · Third Street Promenade
Day 2 – California Heritage Museum · Muscle Beach · Venice Beach Skatepark · Venice Canals Historic District · Bergamot Station Arts Center
Day 3 – Tongva Park · Palisades Park · Annenberg Community Beach House · Will Rogers State Beach · Getty Villa
Day 1
From Hotel: 7 min · 3 min → Santa Monica Pier
1. Santa Monica Pier~1 hr 30 min
Built in 1909 and extended in 1916, this municipal pier marks the western terminus of historic U.S. Route 66. It holds Pacific Park amusement park with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, a 1922 hippodrome carousel, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium below the deck.
Open 24/7
3 min · 4 min → Santa Monica State Beach
2. Santa Monica State Beach~1 hr
A 3.5-mile white-sand beach managed by Los Angeles County, stretching from the pier north toward Malibu. Facilities include a paved multi-use path, volleyball courts, lifeguard towers, and access to the 22-mile Marvin Braude Bike Trail running the length of Santa Monica Bay.
Open 24/7
10 min · 5 min → Third Street Promenade
3. Third Street Promenade~1 hr
Three car-free blocks of outdoor retail, dining, and street performance in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, running between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard. Anchored at the south end by Santa Monica Place; licensed street performers occupy designated zones throughout the corridor.
Open 24/7
Day 2
From Hotel: 14 min · 3 min → California Heritage Museum
1. California Heritage Museum~1 hr
A landmarked 1894 house — the "First Roy Jones House," moved to this site in 1977 and landmarked in 1979 — now home to a small museum with rotating exhibits on Southern California surf, skate, and Native American culture, including one guest-curated by original Z-Boy Nathan Pratt.
Wednesday - Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Monday & Tuesday
No pictures available.
27 min · 5 min → Muscle Beach
2. Muscle Beach~30 min
An outdoor weightlifting platform on Ocean Front Walk that gave rise to American bodybuilding and fitness culture starting in the 1930s–60s — training ground of early greats before the scene shifted to Gold's Gym. Still a working public gym today, framed by the boardwalk's carnival atmosphere.
1 min · 2 min → Venice Beach Skatepark
3. Venice Beach Skatepark~30 min
A 16,000-square-foot oceanfront concrete skatepark opened in 2009 on the sand next to Muscle Beach, with a street plaza, snake run, and pool section — one of the most recognized skateparks in the world, built directly on Ocean Front Walk with the Pacific as a backdrop.
17 min · 5 min → Venice Canals Historic District
4. Venice Canals Historic District~45 min
Six remaining canals from Abbot Kinney's 1905 "Venice of America" development, restored in 1991–93 and now lined with architecturally eclectic waterfront homes, gondola-style footbridges, and resident ducks — a quiet, non-commercial curiosity a few blocks from the boardwalk.
Open 24/7
13 min → Bergamot Station Arts Center
5. Bergamot Station Arts Center~1 hr
A former railroad depot — first used in 1875 as a stop on the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad — converted into a 5.5-acre campus of more than 20 fine art galleries, studios, and the City Garage theater. The Metro E Line's 26th St/Bergamot Station stop is immediately adjacent.
Tuesday - Saturday 11:00am - 6:00pm
Closed Sunday & Monday
Free
Day 3
From Hotel: 3 min · 2 min → Tongva Park
1. Tongva Park~30 min
A 6.2-acre park named for the Tongva people, opened in 2013 with undulating earthen berms, native and Mediterranean plantings, an amphitheater, and a dramatic overlook fountain — a striking modern counterpoint to Palisades Park's historic character next door.
Daily 6:00am - 11:00pm
23 min · 3 min → Palisades Park
2. Palisades Park~30 min
A 26.4-acre bluff-top promenade above the Pacific, established in 1892 and designated a historic landmark in 2007. Features include the 1912 Idaho Gate, a Native American totem pole donated in 1926, a rose garden, and a restored Camera Obscura — with unbroken ocean views the length of the park.
Daily 6:00am - 8:00pm
22 min · 3 min → Annenberg Community Beach House
3. Annenberg Community Beach House~45 min
The last surviving piece of "Ocean House," the 1929 beach estate William Randolph Hearst built for Marion Davies, later the Sand & Sea Club before earthquake damage in 1994. The Annenberg Foundation restored the site in 2009 as a free public beach facility, preserving the historic pool house and grounds.
Monday - Thursday 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Friday - Sunday 10:00am - 6:00pm
Free
4 min → Will Rogers State Beach
4. Will Rogers State Beach~45 min
A long, relatively uncrowded state beach named for the humorist and actor whose 345-acre ranch once covered this stretch of coast — less commercial than Santa Monica's own beach, with a wide sand stretch below the Palisades bluffs.
37 min · 7 min → Getty Villa
5. Getty Villa~2 hr
A reconstruction of the Villa dei Papiri, a 1st-century Roman country house buried by Vesuvius, built to house J. Paul Getty's antiquities collection. Cliffside gardens, a reflecting pool, and Mediterranean plantings surround galleries of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art.
Wednesday - Monday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Closed Tuesday
80 steps · no lift
Weekly Closures
Galleries & Fine Dining · Closed Sunday - Monday
Fine Dining · Closed Sunday - Tuesday
Tours
Viator
A 5-hour 30-minute bus tour departing downtown Santa Monica with stops at Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory area, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive.
5 hr 30 min · Group
A 3-hour 30-minute sightseeing tour departing from downtown Santa Monica covering Hollywood landmarks, celebrity home neighborhoods, and Beverly Hills.
3 hr 30 min · Group
A 5-hour 30-minute guided city tour with stops at Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory area, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.
5 hr 30 min · Group
Cappuccino
Espresso Cielo · 4.2 · 340+ reviews
Demitasse · 4.0 · 580+ reviews
Sunday - Friday 7:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Saturday
Restaurants Near Hotel
FIG Restaurant · 4.3 · 1380+ reviews
California cuisine with wood-fired pizza, fresh pasta, and market produce.
In the hotel · Ground floor
Daily 7:00am - 10:00pm
Rustic Canyon · 4.1 · 1560+ reviews
Seasonal wine bar with a rotating market-driven menu by chef Jeremy Fox.
Daily 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Élephante · 4.1 · 3600+ reviews
Rooftop Italian restaurant with ocean views and wood-fired coastal cuisine.
Tuesday - Friday 11:00am - 12:00am
Closed Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Milo + Olive · 4.5 · 2400+ reviews
All-day bakery and pizzeria with wood-fired pies and housemade pasta.
Daily 7:00am - 9:00pm
R+D Kitchen · 4.1 · 1640+ reviews
American bistro on Montana Avenue. Noodle salads, burgers, and small plates.
Daily 11:30am - 10:00pm
Downtown Restaurants
Din Tai Fung · 4.7 · 870+ reviews
Taiwanese chain known for Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings at Santa Monica Place.
Daily 11:30am - 9:30pm
UOVO · 4.4 · 1950+ reviews
Italian pasta from Bologna. Carbonara, cacio e pepe, and bolognese.
Daily 11:30am - 10:00pm
Colapasta · 4.8 · 670+ reviews
Bib Gourmand Italian pasta. Seasonal market sourcing and generous portions.
Monday - Thursday 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Closed Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Calabra · 4.3 · 450+ reviews
Rooftop Mediterranean restaurant atop the Proper Hotel with ocean views.
Monday - Friday 12:00pm - 10:00pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday
The Georgian Room · 4.2 · 60+ reviews
Italian steakhouse in the Georgian Hotel basement. Art Deco interiors.
Wednesday - Thursday 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Closed Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday & Tuesday
Dining Areas
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Main Street
Local Tastes
Baja Fish Tacos
Battered or grilled white fish in corn tortillas with crema, shredded cabbage, and pico de gallo. A California coastal staple from the Baja tradition, found at casual spots along Main Street and near the pier.
Avocado Toast
A California breakfast staple built with local Haas avocados on seeded sourdough, finished with lemon, red pepper flakes, and sea salt. Found across cafes and bakeries citywide.
In-N-Out Burger
The California chain founded in 1948. The Double-Double and Animal Style are the standard orders. The nearest location to the hotel is on Wilshire Boulevard.
Food Delivery
DoorDash
Foreign number: accepted — verification codes reach most international carriers.
The most widely used food delivery app in Santa Monica, with restaurant and grocery delivery covering the whole beachside area including Ocean Avenue and Main Street.
Uber Eats
Foreign number: accepted — verification codes reach most international carriers.
Uses the same Uber account as the ride app. Strong restaurant selection along Main Street, Ocean Avenue, and the Third Street Promenade corridor.
Getting Around
Uber
Foreign number: accepted — verification codes reach most international carriers.
The dominant rideshare option in Santa Monica and across Los Angeles. UberX handles most trips; surge pricing applies during beach weekends and evening peak hours along Ocean Avenue.
Lyft
Foreign number: not accepted — a US, Canadian, or Puerto Rican phone number is required for SMS verification.
Requires a US, Canadian, or Puerto Rican phone number for verification texts. Competitive with Uber on pricing and widely available throughout Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
Train Stations Near Hotel
Downtown Santa Monica Station
Western terminus of the E Line. Connects to Downtown Los Angeles, Culver City, and Expo Park.
Day Trips by Train
Culver City · 20 min
Mid-route Metro E Line stop. Museum of Jurassic Technology, Platform LA, and Washington Boulevard restaurants.
book at: Omio
Downtown Los Angeles · 45 min
Direct Metro E Line to 7th Street/Metro Center. Grand Central Market, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, and the Arts District.
book at: Omio
Pickleball
Pickle Pop · Indoor
Three indoor PPA courts. Open play, clinics, and court reservations available.
Monday - Thursday 7:00am - 9:00pm · Friday - Saturday 7:00am - 10:00pm · Sunday 7:00am - 9:00pm
Santa Monica Pickleball Center · Outdoor
Four outdoor courts with 100+ demo paddles. Reservations required online.
Daily 7:00am - 10:00pm
Michelin Restaurants
Mélisse
14-seat contemporary French tasting menu. Reservations required via Tock.
Citrin
Modern California cuisine à la carte. Bar walk-ins accepted from 5:30pm.
Hiking
Temescal Canyon Loop · Moderate
A canyon climb to a ridge above the coast, returning down the far side.
2.6 mi loop · 850 ft ascent
1 hr 30 min
Los Liones Trail to Parker Mesa Overlook · Moderate
A shaded start that opens onto a ridge running out to an ocean overlook.
7.5 mi return · 1,300 ft ascent
3 hr 30 min
Worth Knowing
The Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach north of the pier to Torrance Beach in the south — completely flat along the water. Starting at Santa Monica Pier and riding south to Venice takes about 30 minutes on a rental bike, passing Muscle Beach, the Venice Boardwalk, and the Venice Canals.
Bike rentals are available at the pier and along Ocean Front Walk.
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