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4.5
#8 of 37 hotels in Santa Monica
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Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Palihouse Santa Monica is a boutique beach lodge offering 38 generously appointed classic rooms as well as stunning studios, one and two-bedroom guest suites featuring fully-equipped kitchens. In continuous operation since 1927, Palihouse Santa Monica (formerly The Embassy Hotel Apartments) is an outstanding example of Moorish-influenced Mediterranean Revival Architecture. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood, Palihouse Santa Monica is only a few minutes walk from some of Santa Monica's most famous attractions including the Third Street Promenade, Farmer's Market and the Santa Monica Pier. Amenities include a Fitness Center featuring Peloton bikes, house bicycles to use during your stay, a guest-exclusive cafe, lobby lounge, and courtyard, an afternoon lemonade and candy bar, a daily mocktail social hour, bocce ball court, and more.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Palihouse Santa Monica has captivated guests with its unique vintage Hollywood charm and whimsical decor, creating a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. While some travelers question the value, citing high costs for certain outdated amenities, the hotel's location is frequently praised for its tranquility and convenience to local attractions. The spacious rooms with kitchens are a hit, despite some maintenance concerns.
The staff's warm and attentive service is often highlighted, contributing to a memorable stay. Cleanliness is another strong point, with commendable housekeeping. However, the additional fees for amenities like bikes and gardens have left some guests wanting more.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Limited
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Quiet opulence is the best way to describe the Palihouse. It is so full of character and could not be more different to the impersonal large chain hotels. Our room was a king deluxe and was more like a mini apartment. We stayed at the end of our trip, for 4 nights to have some relaxation, and the room was perfect as we had great space. The staff were wonderful , helpful and friendly. The house keeping was first class. It is an older building so can’t offer full accessibility but if you don’t need that , this is a wonderful place to stay.
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Date of stay: August 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Check Accessibility
Quiet lobby
No alcohol
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Christopher Rivera, General Manager at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 31 Aug 2022
Dear JEKHam65 Thank you for staying with us I'm happy to hear you had a wonderful time with us. Thank you for the staff and housekeeping feedback I will definitely share with the team and hope we see you back soon.
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such a wonderful stay at the Palihouse! Amazing design, softest bed, and kindest staff to boot. The Palihouse team truly made the experience incredible. From making coffees to getting our bikes ready for us, they are so kind and accommodating. You can tell they are taking very seriously precautions to keep the staff and guests safe, with sanitizer and clear guidelines and transparent language around the efforts to keep the rooms and hotel clean between visits in this COVID age, I felt safe and assured that we were in a clean space that also provided room for distancing, without sterilizing their warm regard or beautiful and comfortable space. We will be back!
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luiz Reis, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 8 Jul 2020
Hello Victoria, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your experience with us. It makes me really happy to hear that you truly enjoyed your experience at Palihouse Santa Monica. We can't wait to welcome you back! Fondly, Luiz
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It’s a cute boutique hotel. Staff was extremely helpful and welcoming. They offer breakfast/brunch and ample space to relax in lobby and outdoors. Mostly staircases; saw sign for elevator but never used it. They have bikes for rental. They sanitize everything from pens to room keys. They offer hotel slippers, comfortable. The kitchen has a pan utensils and cups and plates, dish soap and the fridge comes with ice cube tray. Freezer has quick freeze button. No microwave. A few blocks from beach strand, very convenient location. Parking a bit rough, valet $55/night. Most streets are permit only. Overall had a comfortable stay, thank you!
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Mandel, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 17 Nov 2020
Dear Wendy, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your experience with us. It makes me really happy to hear that you truly enjoyed your stay at Palihouse Santa Monica. We look forward to welcome again at your home away from home! Fondly, Luiz Reis
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We stayed in a $1300 per night 2 bedroom suite. The first surprise was no complimentary water, so we went to the glasses in the bathroom. The first glass had white residue in the bottom so the previous guest had used it for their toothbrush and housekeeping simply flipped the glass over uncleaned! I then went down to the kitchen to grab new glasses and the wine glasses were sticky as they too had been returned to the cabinet uncleaned after someone had used them for wine. From the rooms you hear everyone in the hallway, every toilet flush in the hotel and every faucet squeak as someone turns if on. As we checked out , I asked my teenage daughter whose sock was by the bedside table and apparently it was not ours! Housekeeping had cleaned so quickly after the first guest they did not even see a whole sock! the Huntley is a block away and just got AAA 5 stars and will be our next stay.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: February 2020
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Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from StephaniePalisociety, Manager at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 21 Feb 2020
Dear jimE4423HT, Thank you for your review of Palihouse Santa Monica and I thank you for your honest feedback as this situation we are of course taking very seriously. I am so sorry to read of the issues you experienced during your stay. As you can see by all of our other reviews a couple of things people rave about is how clean and quiet the hotel it, so this is certainly not normal for us, so I do apologize. I only wish that you had brought these issues to our attention during your stay so could have addressed them and made things right for you. I have sent you a personal message as well to see if there is some way we can attempt to improve the situation. I look forward to hearing back from you and addressing this situation. Best, Greg Shortt | Housemaster
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We had the great good fortune of staying at The Palihouse Hotel last weekend while visiting our daughter in Santa Monica. The staff was vey welcoming and the check in process was easy. Our room was nicely appointed, with a very comfortable bed and linens. The floor to ceiling glass doors opened to allow a wonderful cooling breeze day and night. The tv was easy to use, and the rain shower had great water flow and temperature range. The nights were wonderfully quiet, and each morning we took advantage of the delicious breakfast offerings. The back patio is a beautiful place to dine - it’s like an Italian garden. The front garden area is also lovely, with beautiful plantings and old cypress trees. There is a European feeling to the hotel, which was built in the 1920’s in the Moorish style of the day. The architecture is beautiful and makes the hotel exceptional. You really feel a part of old Hollywood. We’re looking forward to our next visit. This place feels like home!
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Mandel, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 14 Jun 2021
Hello there, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your experience with us. It makes me really happy to hear that your stay at Palihouse Santa Monica did not disappoint. I am glad you got to experience the "old Hollywood" vibe and had a chance to enjoy our morning offerings. We can't wait to welcome you back! Fondly, Luiz Reis Regional General Manager
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I will preface this with the fact that the Palihouse chain is one of my favorite boutique chains in the states; however, this was my first stay in the Santa Monica location (sadly weho location closed, so I opted for the more west option).
In all my Palihouse stays, this was another level of incredible. Starting with the incredible staff, I was checked in by the Area Operations Director Luiz (with mask on, temp check ready, and behind a glass partition) who was remarkably friendly and gave great information and instructions about the area as well as COVID-19 precautions and hotel requirements. He was also incredibly kind and told me about the new silverlake location as well as Seattle (which looks stunning). The Santa Monica location was super clean, close to the beach and any shops needed, and the decor, like all in the Palihouse family, was incredible. I would recommend this location to anyone.
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Date of stay: July 2020
Value
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Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Mandel, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 10 Aug 2020
Dear Aaron, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your experiencing with us. It was a great pleasure having you at Palihouse Santa Monica. We hope to welcome you back in the near future at Palihouse Santa Monica. Fondly, Luiz
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Palihouse nailed it in every way for my stay july 4th weekend. in the depths of pandemic i was able to have an above and beyond enjoyable stay and feel as safe as any other time before. the staff was awaiting my arrival and had every step of quick and easy check in process sorted with attention to sanitized keys, card, and luggage. the staff although with covered faces transcended to most friendly and convivial feeling. we borrowed bikes for day and they were sanitized and prepped for us and made for a great day out on boardwalk. the design of Palihouse santa monica is impeccable and guest public spaces really special. the staff allowed my girlfriend to have haircut and colored outside in courtyard which was also special thing to to do. i am looking forward to coming back for visit. hotel is two blocks from beach and in lovely and super quiet neighborhood. slept w veranda doors open. if anyone is looking for a domestic summer vacation or an LA beach staycation then book Palihouse Santa Monica post haste. you will he glad you did! :) shout out to front desk gent Luis ans Rosie who let us borrow her personal car parking pass for street parking. THANK YOU!! /johnny c
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Date of stay: July 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Luiz Reis, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 8 Jul 2020
Hello Jonny, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your experience with us. It makes us all happy to hear about such an amazing experience. We look forward to your return! Best, Luiz
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We stayed in penthouse 2 b. Not much furniture. No armchairs to sit only a stool.no coffee table. The blinds in the rooms or bathhrooms can not be partially opened. The water in the shower went capold after a short time. The elevator must be from 1920 and should be in a museum but not in an hotel. The furniture in the reception is not fit for an hotel where you pay 500$ par night
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: January 2023
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Hector Viramontes, General Manager at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 30 Jan 2023
Good evening and thank you for leaving your constructive review. I am very sorry that you did not have a good experience experience with us! I see that you had booked one of our penthouse rooms for one night and so I am very saddened to hear that you were dissatisfied with the furnishings in the room! There I cannot change what is placed in the rooms, I will definitely follow up with my housekeeping staff to ensure that the furnishings in the room are in the best condition. I am also very sorry about the issues regarding the bathroom window and hot water! I assure you, had we been made aware of these items during your stay we would have done our best to rectify the situation right then and there or provided you a more suitable room. Please feel free to contact me, directly, at the hotel should you like to discuss your experience more in detail and should you like to stay with us again in the future we might discuss other room types that would better fits your needs. Thank you and I certainly hope you are well. Have a wonderful evening! Sincerely, Hector Viramontes Hotel Manager Palihouse Santa Monica
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You can't beat the location of this hotel, right in Santa Monica, but on a quiet street where there isn't a ton of foot traffic. My room was at the literal front of the property and it was still really quiet. The building his historic and has some quirks that accompany that (especially the elevator, which is quite old and a little difficult to manage) but it's also very nicely appointed. My shower had Diptyque products in it, and there's a nice mini 'bar' of drinks and snacks. The property doesn't serve/offer alcohol, so if that's a must for you, unfortunately you won't find a stacked bar. The staff was largely really friendly and willing to help, but I got a lot of weirdly conflicting information about like, check-out times and when the night manager is on, and etc. Not a crisis, just considering the price point, was a little rocky. And speaking of the price point, this was on the higher end of my budget personally, which is fine as I wanted a boutique hotel in Santa Monica, if you're looking for a place with more amenities (like beachfront or a full lobby bar or office/workspace) you may not prefer this space. I found it overall very nice and unique and would return.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: April 2022
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Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We found Palihouse very last minute after a disastrous Airbnb experience, and they saved us!! The extremely nice Palihouse team (even the night-shift concierge who checked us in at midnight) made the hotel feel like home. We were working from home, so the apartment-style suite was perfect for us. There was plenty of space in the living room to work, a cute kitchen to cook, a separate dressing room, and a bedroom to relax in. In quarantine, it was truly a dreamlike getaway! My morning coffee in the back patio of the hotel was the highlight of my day! The concierge has bikes you can borrow, and the Santa Monica beach is a 5 minute bike ride away from the hotel. This is truly a gem!!!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Value
Rooms
Service
Room Tip:Try to get a room with a larger bathroom
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Andrew Mandel, Owner at Palihouse Santa Monica
Responded 17 Jul 2020
Dear guest, Thank you so much for taking the time to sharing your dreamy experience with us. It makes me extremely happy to hear that you felt just like home. We can't wait to welcome you in again in the future! Fondly, Luiz
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Check on a google maps, there are 3 gyms and 3 yoga studios in 2-3 block distance. But it depends when you are traveling and if due to the social distancing rules gyms are opened at all! Good luck!
Hi the hotel has valet parking which was a lovely luxury it’s not easy to get around the LA sights due to traffic. We used a tour company based in Santa Monica who picked us up at the hotel and took us to all the sights .
Hi Smiler E,
Thank you for your inquiry and interest in Palihouse Santa Monica. There is a Metro bus stop about 3 blocks from the hotel. This stop is for the 720 bus that will connect to all Metro buses and Metro rail lines in the city. Please let me know if there is anything else that I can assist with. Cheers!
There are more places to choose from in the Santa Monica area.
PRICE RANGE
HK$3,208 - HK$4,108 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaSanta MonicaSanta Monica
NUMBER OF ROOMS
38
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Palihouse Santa Monica?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Will Rogers State Historic Park (3.8 km), Annenberg Community Beach House (1.1 km), and Los Angeles California Temple (7.2 km).
