Twenty years ago, Viceroy Santa Monica opened as LA’s hottest design-driven luxury hotel and it has now been reimagined for a new generation of LA creatives with a fresh, beach-forward approach that reflects the contemporary design scene in West LA.

The new Viceroy Santa Monica reflects a fresh, beach-forward approach. Reinvigorated public spaces exude the city’s creative energy and reflect the contemporary design scene in West LA. Inspired by the mid-century lines of the original architecture, the design team crafted a modern, art-driven indoor-outdoor experience that combines urban and coastal-casual styles with a touch of eccentricity that nods to the hotels storied past. The new lobby is bright and open, with natural wood elements and a playful palette. The hotel’s arrival and lobby open to the Pacific Coast Highway and a metal brise soleil and murals by local artists add a contemporary twist to the architectural façade.

A custom sculptural seating element anchors arrival and feels as though it rolled in from the Pacific Ocean. The focal point of the library is an oil portrait which served as the muse for Kelly Wearstler’s original project: a woman in a Peacock Green top. The vibrant hue is a key accent color in the space, forming an art portal into the new library which in turn opens to the garden courtyard though a glass overhead door.

A reimagined poolside courtyard features an outdoor bar, fire pits, and breezy cabanas with a see- and-be-seen experience. The new restaurant celebrates Santa Monica’s climate with an operable glass wall extending the full width of the dining area. Part indoor, part outdoor; part restaurant, part poolside bar, the hotel’s new restaurant and bar, Sugarpalm, is the vibrant social hub of the hotel - an experience that defies traditional dining labels.

Photography: Mike Schwartz