Daytime Dining at the Proper Hotel Santa Monica, and it was Luxurious
Wanting to hit-up all the drool-worthy interior design-y places in LA — when my international friend suggested we dine at the Proper Hotel in Santa Monica (note - they just opened a new Downtown LA location, will try later) — I had to say YES.
Drool worthy Kelly Wreastler interior, ground-floor lobby // Image by Linh Da Tran
The exterior is very ho-hum, as in it looks very corporate, and non-descript! I only noticed it was a high-end hotel when some tourists were standing outside and chatting while I locked my bike up! Oh, my! What is this place? And of course, it had to be the Kelly Wearstler designed hotel that all key influencers visit and hit up for that daily IG fix!
Pretending to be rich! Ground floor library-esque lobby area
The interiors were even more beautiful than the IG photos suggest!! I recommend soaking in the full experience by booking a dining reservation at the Calabra Rooftop deck!
I can definitely imagine myself chatting with stylish girlfriends at the rounded bar stools, at a Sunday brunch, or an afternoon break! The rooftop seating filled up quickly (we arrived at 11:30a) so recommend a reservation — especially during peak summer hours.
Rooftop, outdoor, rounded bar // Image by Linh Da Tran
Peek the swimming pool (hotel guests only) side on your way to the bathroom. The roof top deck includes an open-air, round bar with bar stools, and curved (custom-looking) bar top! There’s another section of an interior bar with slide away walls — so it feels more protected but still outdoors-y. Views were mainly of palm trees, and pretty clouds!!
Price: Menu was horribly overpriced! However, if you want to be surrounded by luxury, transported to another world, and bask in all things by the brilliant Kelly Wearstler — I know of no better place to hang out! For that short, brief 60 minutes, I feel rich!! As my friends say, I was feeling “very LA”.
The Food: My friend ordered the avocado toast, she was satisfied. It was not small and not large — exactly as expected.
I ordered a lentil soup - I couldn’t tell if it was out of a box or freshly made, but this made no difference in my enjoyment of the decadence Proper Hotel!!
I would recommend, as it was a generous portion; I was left feeling full. Nothing to ring home about, but nothing to complain about other than the obvious expectation that it will be overpriced, as per the beautiful surrounds hinted at!
Outdoor nook, by the pool!! Wowzer, right?
All about these carved crevices, curved edges! Indoor lobby nook, this is your standard influencer photo shoot spot!!
Rooftop lounge area, near the pool!
Checkout the tiling and bathroom finishes (drool)
If y’all check it out - let me know what you think and if this post was helpful. Always want to bring you LA worthy news about what’s going on in our ever changing city! XOXOX linhdy@outlook.com
700 Wilshire Boulevard, Entrance on 7th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401