Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows
by the TopOfHotel team
The Fairmont Miramar is an in-city resort that feels like a green garden hideaway above the ocean bluff, just steps from the shops — its draw is the private bungalows, the resort pool and the Palisades Park location, more than the polish of every room in the main buildings.
The Fairmont Miramar is an in-city resort that feels like a green garden hideaway above the ocean bluff, just steps from the shops — its draw is the private bungalows, the resort pool and the Palisades Park location, more than the polish of every room in the main buildings.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
The first thing everyone remembers on arrival at the Fairmont Miramar is the giant Moreton Bay Fig — over a century old, with huge limbs shading the driveway. The tree has stood here since the land was the oceanfront estate of John P. Jones, a founder of Santa Monica in the late 1800s, and it is still the hotel's signature. Rooms split into three distinct characters. The Ocean Tower is the high-rise, with upper floors opening onto full views of the Pacific and Palisades Park in bright, easy California-coast tones. The older Palisades building carries a classic, retro feel. And the part reviews talk about most: the 31 private bungalows tucked through the garden, each as private as your own cottage among the trees. Stay in a bungalow and you feel pulled out of the city, even though you're in the heart of Santa Monica. The overall mood is a warm resort with a story behind it, not a standard city hotel.
Food and amenities
The point of staying here is living the resort life in the middle of town. At the center of the 5 acres is the outdoor resort pool, ringed by tall palms and cabanas — easy afternoons of California sun and a drink in hand. Nearby sit the Exhale spa and a fitness center for winding down after a day on foot. For food, FIG — named for the hotel's fig tree — serves seasonal California dishes in a semi-outdoor setting under the leaves, good for breakfast or dinner. The one that draws extra attention is The Bungalow, the bluff-side bar that has become a go-to Santa Monica evening hangout, with a sunset-over-the-ocean view many rate among the best cocktail spots in the area. The hotel is also pet-friendly, so the dog can come along, and staff service is a consistent bright spot in reviews — warm, attentive, and relaxing from the moment you step into the lobby.
Location and getting there
Location is one of this hotel's strongest cards. The Fairmont Miramar sits on the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Ocean Ave, directly across from Palisades Park, a narrow strip of green running along the bluff with one of the best ocean views in Santa Monica. Cross the street and you're walking in the sea breeze. It suits anyone who wants to see the neighborhood on foot: head south along the bluff path for about 12 to 15 minutes to reach Santa Monica Pier with its Ferris wheel and seaside rides, while the shops and restaurants of Third Street Promenade are only 5 to 10 minutes away. You can find dinner and wander in the evening without driving at all. For the rest of LA — Hollywood, Beverly Hills — you'll want a car or an Uber, since the city is spread out and there's no convenient transit at the door. The Metro E Line station at Downtown Santa Monica is about a 5 to 10-minute walk or short ride. Short version: if your trip wants a beachside-resort feel with daily walks around Santa Monica and the occasional drive elsewhere, this location nails it.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. The most common note in reviews is uneven room quality — this is an old hotel added onto over the years, and some Palisades-building rooms strike guests as dated and less polished than the price suggests, while Ocean Tower rooms and the bungalows are clearly newer and nicer. Pick your room type with care, and if the budget allows, upgrading to a bungalow usually buys the better experience. Second is price and extras: rates are luxury-tier to begin with, and valet parking plus a resort fee get added on, so some guests find the total runs higher than expected — check it clearly before you book. Third, it is not directly on the beach; the hotel sits on a bluff, so you cross to Palisades Park and walk down a slope to reach the sand and the Pier, which is worth knowing if you pictured stepping straight onto the beach. Finally, The Bungalow bar that buzzes in the evening — a real plus — can carry noise to some rooms on weekend nights, so light sleepers should request a room away from it.
Our take
After reading through a lot of real guest reviews, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows sells a "garden resort on a bluff above the ocean" experience in the middle of Santa Monica, with genuine character and a long history. If your mental picture of the trip is waking up in a private bungalow among the trees, lounging by the pool in the afternoon, crossing to Palisades Park for the ocean view, then closing the night with a sunset cocktail at The Bungalow before dinner near Third Street Promenade, this is a very neat fit. It is especially good for families who want wide lawns for the kids and for couples after a leafy resort feel that still walks to the city. But if you want every room to be uniformly new and sharp, or a hotel where you step straight onto the sand, the mix of room eras and the bluff-top setting are worth weighing. Overall we give it 8.8/10 — best for families and couples who want a beachside-resort feel while still strolling Santa Monica with ease.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- It is a genuine resort in the middle of Santa Monica, spread over roughly 5 acres on an oceanfront bluff, with green gardens and a giant Moreton Bay Fig over a century old at the entrance. That leafy, calm feel is rare in LA.
- The 31 private bungalows are scattered through the garden and give a level of privacy that feels like having your own vacation cottage. Plenty of reviewers say it is worth upgrading from a standard room to a bungalow.
- The outdoor resort-style pool is ringed with tall palms and cabanas — an easy, relaxed spot to soak up California sun all afternoon, backed by the Exhale spa and a fitness center.
- The location sits directly across from Palisades Park, so you can walk the bluff-side path to Santa Monica Pier in about 12 to 15 minutes and reach the shops of Third Street Promenade in a few. You barely need to drive to see the neighborhood.
- The Bungalow bar is a popular Santa Monica gathering spot at sunset, and FIG serves seasonal California food under the fig tree. Staff service is something many reviews single out as warm and genuinely helpful.
- This is an old hotel that has been added onto across several eras, so room quality is uneven. Some Palisades-building rooms strike reviewers as dated and less polished than the price suggests, while the Ocean Tower rooms and the bungalows are clearly more modern. Choose your room type carefully when booking.
- Rates sit firmly in the luxury tier, and several extras stack on top — valet parking and a resort fee among them. Some guests find the final total runs higher than the rate they saw at booking, so check the full breakdown first.
- The hotel sits on a bluff above the water, not directly on the sand. To reach the beach and the Pier you cross the street through Palisades Park and walk down a slope, and the lively Bungalow bar can carry noise to some rooms on weekend nights.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
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Insider Tips
- If the budget stretches and privacy matters most, upgrade to a garden bungalow — many reviews say it beats a main-building room. For ocean views instead, ask for a high floor in the Ocean Tower facing Palisades Park and the Pacific.
- Grab a sunset drink at The Bungalow bar; it is a favourite local hangout with a great ocean view, but weekends draw crowds and run loud late. If you are a light sleeper, request a room well away from the bar.
- Use the hotel as a walking base — cross to Palisades Park, follow the bluff to Santa Monica Pier, and shop Third Street Promenade, then save an Uber or rental car for occasional trips out to Hollywood or Beverly Hills.