This ivy-covered Santa Monica retreat offers seriously spacious suites and California cool vibes, but at $600 per night (or 90,000 Hilton points!), the inconsistent service and back-alley views left me wondering if I'd overpaid for Instagram-worthy architecture.
Looking back at my stay at Oceana Santa Monica, I have to say – this place is a real mixed bag. I spent one night here in April and while there's definitely some charm to this LXR property, it didn't quite blow me away for the price point.
Let's start with the elephant in the room: this hotel is pretty far north in Santa Monica. We're talking a solid 15-minute walk to the pier, which isn't exactly convenient if you're planning to spend time at the beach.
On the flip side, you're super close to the Palisades, which is nice if that's more your scene. The neighborhood feels more residential and less touristy, which could be a plus or minus depending on what you're after. Just know what you're signing up for location-wise.
I originally booked a One-Bedroom Lanai Suite, but here's where things got interesting. When I checked in, I asked about upgrades with my Hilton Gold status. The front desk wanted to charge me an extra $600 for an upgrade, which felt pretty steep.
They did end up giving me a One-Bedroom Kitchenette Suite instead, but I drew the short straw on location. While my friend scored an ocean-view room, I got stuck on the first floor with a beautiful view of... the back alley. Complete with trash cans. Not exactly the California dream, right?
The morning noise from service vehicles was rough too. Nothing like being woken up by garbage trucks and delivery vans when you're trying to sleep in on vacation. If you're a light sleeper, definitely request a room facing the interior courtyard or higher up.
That said, the suite itself was legitimately impressive once you got past the view. Those glass French doors make everything feel super grand when you walk in. It's a nice architectural touch that adds some drama to the space. There's glass throughout – even between rooms – which looks cool but means zero privacy until you pull the curtains.
The living room was absolutely massive – honestly, way too much space for just me. We're talking full-sized couch, multiple chairs, dining table for four, and still room to do cartwheels. The geometric patterns on the ceiling were a nice design touch, and the large TV was positioned perfectly for lounging.
The kitchenette came with a decent-sized fridge, dishwasher, and basic cookware. Nothing fancy, but definitely functional if you want to save money by not eating out for every meal in pricey Santa Monica.
The bedroom was a real highlight. That California king bed was a godsend – at 6'4", it's always a treat when my feet don't hang off the edge. The mattress was that perfect medium-firm that high-end hotels seem to nail. Plus, there's a tablet next to the bed that controls pretty much everything in the room, from lights to temperature to the do-not-disturb sign.
The bathroom deserves a serious shoutout. Those gorgeous seafoam green tiles really nailed that coastal vibe without being too on-the-nose beachy. The herringbone pattern on the walls added some nice texture. Bamford amenities are always a nice touch – love that geranium scent. The water pressure though? Let's just say it was more of a gentle rain than a power shower. Fine for a relaxing rinse, not great if you're trying to wash out hair product.
This place has serious California motel vibes – but in a good way. Think three-story building wrapped around a central courtyard, with those classic outdoor corridors connecting everything. It's got that vintage charm but with modern updates that keep it from feeling dated.
The exterior is probably the coolest part. The entire building is covered in this living wall of greenery that's absolutely Instagram gold. Seriously, it's stunning and really sets the property apart from every other hotel in the area. I must have taken a dozen photos of it from different angles.
The pool sits in that central courtyard, which looks nice but means you're not getting much direct sunlight throughout the day. It's also pretty small – we're talking maybe 20 feet long. The geometric black and white tile surrounding it is gorgeous though, and the loungers were comfortable. Just don't expect to be swimming laps or catching rays all afternoon.
The lobby is surprisingly tiny – more of a pass-through than a place to hang out. There's a nice fire feature in the middle that adds some ambiance, but beyond a couple of chairs, there's nowhere to really settle in. It's clear they want you to spend time in your room or at the restaurant.
The gym was decent for a boutique property. Nothing groundbreaking, but they had the essentials covered with newish equipment that actually worked. A couple of treadmills, free weights, and some resistance machines. It'll do the job if you need to squeeze in a workout.
Here's where things got weird. Most of the staff were great – friendly, helpful, typical California hospitality. But the front desk guy working both days of my stay seemed to have a personal vendetta against me. No idea what I did, but this guy wanted nothing to do with me. Barely made eye contact, answered questions with one-word responses, just generally acted like I was ruining his day by existing. Super odd in an otherwise friendly environment.
The mandatory $50 resort fee stung a bit (only waived for Diamond members), but you do get $25 daily in food credits. Not terrible, but nobody likes surprise fees. The fee supposedly covers WiFi, gym access, and some other amenities that honestly should just be included at this price point.
I used my credit at Sandpiper restaurant on checkout day. The food was... fine. Nothing special, and definitely overpriced even by Santa Monica standards. My grilled chicken sandwich came on a brioche bun with some herb fries. The chicken was well-seasoned, but for what they were charging, I expected something more elevated. The fries were good though – nice herbs and properly salted.
The restaurant space itself is pleasant, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor patio has heat lamps for those cool coastal evenings. Service at the restaurant was notably better than at the front desk.
I paid $600 per night in cash for this stay, which honestly feels about $150 too high. This is more of a $450/night property in my book.
For points enthusiasts, they wanted 90,000 Hilton points per night, which is absolutely steep. That's the same category as some Park Hyatts and St. Regis properties. For context, you can usually find solid Hilton properties in great locations for 50,000-70,000 points. At 90,000 points, I expect something truly special, and this wasn't quite it.
Given that Hilton points are worth about 0.5 cents each in my valuations, you're looking at $450 in point value for a room that costs $600 cash. The math doesn't really work unless you're drowning in Hilton points and have nowhere else to burn them.
The spacious suites are genuinely nice, the architecture is unique with that stunning green facade, and there's definitely some California cool factor here. The design touches throughout show real thought and creativity.
But between the inconsistent service, the resort fee, my lovely alley view, and the steep pricing (both cash and points), I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. At $600 per night, I expect everything to be firing on all cylinders, and that just wasn't the case here.
Would I stay again? Maybe with a Hilton Free Night Certificate, but probably not at full price or points. If you're looking for a quieter Santa Monica experience away from the pier crowds and value space over location, it could work. The suites really are impressive in terms of square footage and amenities.
For the right price – let's say $400-450 per night – this becomes a much more attractive option. But at $600 plus resort fees, there are better values in LA. The Oceana has its charms, but at these rates, I expected a bit more polish across the board.
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Looking back at my stay at Oceana Santa Monica, I have to say – this place is a real mixed bag. I spent one night here in April and while there's definitely some charm to this LXR property, it didn't quite blow me away for the price point.
Let's start with the elephant in the room: this hotel is pretty far north in Santa Monica. We're talking a solid 15-minute walk to the pier, which isn't exactly convenient if you're planning to spend time at the beach.
On the flip side, you're super close to the Palisades, which is nice if that's more your scene. The neighborhood feels more residential and less touristy, which could be a plus or minus depending on what you're after. Just know what you're signing up for location-wise.
I originally booked a One-Bedroom Lanai Suite, but here's where things got interesting. When I checked in, I asked about upgrades with my Hilton Gold status. The front desk wanted to charge me an extra $600 for an upgrade, which felt pretty steep.
They did end up giving me a One-Bedroom Kitchenette Suite instead, but I drew the short straw on location. While my friend scored an ocean-view room, I got stuck on the first floor with a beautiful view of... the back alley. Complete with trash cans. Not exactly the California dream, right?
The morning noise from service vehicles was rough too. Nothing like being woken up by garbage trucks and delivery vans when you're trying to sleep in on vacation. If you're a light sleeper, definitely request a room facing the interior courtyard or higher up.
That said, the suite itself was legitimately impressive once you got past the view. Those glass French doors make everything feel super grand when you walk in. It's a nice architectural touch that adds some drama to the space. There's glass throughout – even between rooms – which looks cool but means zero privacy until you pull the curtains.
The living room was absolutely massive – honestly, way too much space for just me. We're talking full-sized couch, multiple chairs, dining table for four, and still room to do cartwheels. The geometric patterns on the ceiling were a nice design touch, and the large TV was positioned perfectly for lounging.
The kitchenette came with a decent-sized fridge, dishwasher, and basic cookware. Nothing fancy, but definitely functional if you want to save money by not eating out for every meal in pricey Santa Monica.
The bedroom was a real highlight. That California king bed was a godsend – at 6'4", it's always a treat when my feet don't hang off the edge. The mattress was that perfect medium-firm that high-end hotels seem to nail. Plus, there's a tablet next to the bed that controls pretty much everything in the room, from lights to temperature to the do-not-disturb sign.
The bathroom deserves a serious shoutout. Those gorgeous seafoam green tiles really nailed that coastal vibe without being too on-the-nose beachy. The herringbone pattern on the walls added some nice texture. Bamford amenities are always a nice touch – love that geranium scent. The water pressure though? Let's just say it was more of a gentle rain than a power shower. Fine for a relaxing rinse, not great if you're trying to wash out hair product.
This place has serious California motel vibes – but in a good way. Think three-story building wrapped around a central courtyard, with those classic outdoor corridors connecting everything. It's got that vintage charm but with modern updates that keep it from feeling dated.
The exterior is probably the coolest part. The entire building is covered in this living wall of greenery that's absolutely Instagram gold. Seriously, it's stunning and really sets the property apart from every other hotel in the area. I must have taken a dozen photos of it from different angles.
The pool sits in that central courtyard, which looks nice but means you're not getting much direct sunlight throughout the day. It's also pretty small – we're talking maybe 20 feet long. The geometric black and white tile surrounding it is gorgeous though, and the loungers were comfortable. Just don't expect to be swimming laps or catching rays all afternoon.
The lobby is surprisingly tiny – more of a pass-through than a place to hang out. There's a nice fire feature in the middle that adds some ambiance, but beyond a couple of chairs, there's nowhere to really settle in. It's clear they want you to spend time in your room or at the restaurant.
The gym was decent for a boutique property. Nothing groundbreaking, but they had the essentials covered with newish equipment that actually worked. A couple of treadmills, free weights, and some resistance machines. It'll do the job if you need to squeeze in a workout.
Here's where things got weird. Most of the staff were great – friendly, helpful, typical California hospitality. But the front desk guy working both days of my stay seemed to have a personal vendetta against me. No idea what I did, but this guy wanted nothing to do with me. Barely made eye contact, answered questions with one-word responses, just generally acted like I was ruining his day by existing. Super odd in an otherwise friendly environment.
The mandatory $50 resort fee stung a bit (only waived for Diamond members), but you do get $25 daily in food credits. Not terrible, but nobody likes surprise fees. The fee supposedly covers WiFi, gym access, and some other amenities that honestly should just be included at this price point.
I used my credit at Sandpiper restaurant on checkout day. The food was... fine. Nothing special, and definitely overpriced even by Santa Monica standards. My grilled chicken sandwich came on a brioche bun with some herb fries. The chicken was well-seasoned, but for what they were charging, I expected something more elevated. The fries were good though – nice herbs and properly salted.
The restaurant space itself is pleasant, with both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor patio has heat lamps for those cool coastal evenings. Service at the restaurant was notably better than at the front desk.
I paid $600 per night in cash for this stay, which honestly feels about $150 too high. This is more of a $450/night property in my book.
For points enthusiasts, they wanted 90,000 Hilton points per night, which is absolutely steep. That's the same category as some Park Hyatts and St. Regis properties. For context, you can usually find solid Hilton properties in great locations for 50,000-70,000 points. At 90,000 points, I expect something truly special, and this wasn't quite it.
Given that Hilton points are worth about 0.5 cents each in my valuations, you're looking at $450 in point value for a room that costs $600 cash. The math doesn't really work unless you're drowning in Hilton points and have nowhere else to burn them.
The spacious suites are genuinely nice, the architecture is unique with that stunning green facade, and there's definitely some California cool factor here. The design touches throughout show real thought and creativity.
But between the inconsistent service, the resort fee, my lovely alley view, and the steep pricing (both cash and points), I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. At $600 per night, I expect everything to be firing on all cylinders, and that just wasn't the case here.
Would I stay again? Maybe with a Hilton Free Night Certificate, but probably not at full price or points. If you're looking for a quieter Santa Monica experience away from the pier crowds and value space over location, it could work. The suites really are impressive in terms of square footage and amenities.
For the right price – let's say $400-450 per night – this becomes a much more attractive option. But at $600 plus resort fees, there are better values in LA. The Oceana has its charms, but at these rates, I expected a bit more polish across the board.
