Hidden Gem in Santa Monica - Huntley Hotel

Today, Sam and I decided to check out the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica. After pouring $18 million for a comprehensive redesign in 2005, the Huntley emerged as a beautiful luxury hotel. Right at 2nd and Wilshire, the location is great for out of town guests who want to stay near the beach but enjoy the hustle and bustle of 3rd street. We didn't get to peek inside the rooms but judging from some pics, they definitely carried the general theme throughout - contemporary glamour mixed with that pretty and airy beachy feel.

Just walking up to the hotel, we were impressed with the decor...

I hate taking pictures but I left this in because I wanted to show the entrance way...

Their main lobby has a 3-D piranha wall that was pretty interesting...

We decided to have lunch at "The Penthouse", a rooftop restaurant and ultra lounge with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean,the Malibu Mountains and the city skyline...

Most impressive and beautiful were the private dining areas that had hanging chandeliers (I have an obsession with chandeliers, as you can tell by the Met logo)

All in all, if you want the feel of a luxury hotel like the Ritz or St. Regis but want something less stuffy and more chic, the Huntley may be for you. We had a great lunch at "The Penthouse", enjoyed a spectacular view, and came away feeling like we truly found a hidden gem in Santa Monica.

The Huntley Hotel
1111 Second Street
Santa Monica, CA, USA
310-394-5454

Tags: hotel, design, huntley, monica, restaurant, santa, travel

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Comment by Mary on June 16, 2008 at 2:52pm: I am totally impressed by the price of the lunch. A nice new find for a co-worker birthday or celebration lunch.

Comment by alice on June 16, 2008 at 9:49am: i love brocade home! their chairs are beautiful. definitely bookmarking that site. thanks for the tip!

the food was actually very good, as was the service. sammy ordered one of the specials, a crab sandwich, i had a mixed salad - portions were pretty big. it's totally a great place to take out-of-town guests, nice view...

We walked away spending $35 with tip and tax included, not too bad.
They also have these three areas for private parties - would be great for bridal showers, baby showers or even wedding receptions (for parties of 80 or less)....

I actually liked the place more than the Viceroy...the decor is less loud and more elegant.

Comment by Kara on June 16, 2008 at 9:23am: how was the food? What did you order? What was the price range? Common Alice, more details!!! ;)

btw... I'm obsessed with chandeliers too. www.brocadehome.com makes some really chic ones for a good price. :)