The Georgian is pure Santa Monica splendor
The Newcomers features exclusively hotel openings or re-openings and properties that have undergone major renovations. Our reviews will emphasize cultural and historical contexts and highlight how these properties enhance both local communities and hospitality scenes.
You Are Here
1415 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Considering it was almost three years ago when The Georgian officially re-opened in April 2023, it doesn’t really fit the parameters for a newcomer anymore. But since this is one of the hotels that inspired me to start the blog (which also lets you know just how long I’ve been trying to get it off the ground) I’m still going to include it. Located a few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier, the hotel is not on the beach—it’s separated from it by Ocean Avenue, a hill, and PCH—but the proximity does offer ocean views from the restaurant and almost every room.
Picture Perfect
One of the best reasons to stay at a hotel is to experience the architecture and interior design. Both this property and another one of my favorites, the Santa Monica Proper, are significant because of their design factor. The striking turquoise facade (see below) sets expectations high before guests even enter the building. That’s just one design element that signals how seriously the hotel takes its aesthetic presence. The re-opening in 2023 came after Fettle Design and BLVD Hospitality worked to restore the building to its original decadence and style.
The hotel’s striking exterior, courtesy of The Georgian
Originally built back in 1933, The Georgian is one of very few hotels that was historically owned and operated by a woman, Rosamond Borde, who hired architect M. Eugene Durfee to channel then-popular Romanesque Revival and Art Deco styles. Because of its history, the hotel cheekily refers to itself as “Santa Monica’s First Lady,” and the painstaking care taken with the restoration makes the name ring true. The Georgian 2.0 brings together historic Art Deco flourishes with a thoroughly modern sensibility, and all the arched windows and ornate moldings make staying here feel a little bit like stepping back in time.
Size Matters
The rooms are what catapults this hotel to the top of my list. Whether you’re in one of their sprawling suites, complete with private bar, record player, and a separate living space, or just a signature room, the decor and quality of the amenities is incredibly striking. Globe lighting and bright, curved headboards continue the Art Deco throughline into the rooms, with light wood floors, thick rugs and beach-themed art. In the bathrooms, R+Co products and showers with bathtubs are a welcome touch for a building from this era. Some hotel rooms have such wonderful design that every single element looks like the perfect backdrop for a photo—this is such a place. Beautyrest mattresses with Bellino linens don’t hurt either.
“Bar Splendido,” courtesy of The Georgian
Wants & Needs
If you do splurge on a suite, one of the coolest amenities I’ve ever seen is the in-room bar setup. The hand-crafted “Bar Splendido” comes complete with buttons for champagne and dessert to be delivered on request, and is fully stocked to create any cocktail your heart desires—glassware included. It goes above and beyond any mini-bar experience.
Water Me
One caveat, there’s no pool or gym, so if that’s a core need for you do not book a stay here. If you do want some movement, Alo yoga mats in every room are perfect to take outside for some beach yoga.
Libations etc.
The first floor is reserved for the lobby, an in-house art museum, and of course, the signature restaurant, Sirena. Though the beach is across Ocean Avenue and down the hill a ways, the restaurant does afford water views, always a huge plus. If you’re not satisfied with the view from your room, simply pop down to Sirena and get a nice glimpse from there. Inside, velvet and Italian marble lend an air of splendor to the space, and outside, hanging flowers and pink and yellow banquettes and chairs are even more picturesque. If you want to explore the property further, get to know their hidden subterranean steakhouse, The Georgian Room, which functions solely on an if you know, you know basis. It’s probably my favorite steakhouse in the city.
