Key Takeaways From My Review of Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica [2026]

The author was a guest of Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. All opinions are the author’s own, and Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows had no input in any part of this review.

Nothing quite beats Santa Monica, California, where the weather is gorgeous, and the beach is never far from your door. I lived in the area in the early 2000s and was excited to return in early March 2026 with my husband and 3 kids for a trip down memory lane.

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows could not have been a better epicenter for our trip, as its spectacular location was central to our experience; we were within walking distance of amazing sunsets, abundant outdoor activities, and vibrant nightlife. I’ll review how to book this property (including options with points and credit card programs), give you a peek at 3 accommodation types, and dive into the amenities and dining options.

Booking Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows offers 5 standard room types, 6 suite types, and 6 bungalow types. The Miramar Ocean View Suite, in which I was booked in for my spring break stay, had a nightly rate of $2,041. The lowest available rate that night was the Fairmont Palisades 1 King at $603.

The $50 daily resort experience fee included unique fitness-themed benefits, such as access to the EMWell Spa facilities, 50% off fitness classes, 2 hours of complimentary e-bike use per day, complimentary beach cruisers, and complimentary workout gear and apparel delivered to your room. Other inclusions included a one-time $25 Soko Sushi credit, daily koi feeding, filtered water stations throughout the hotel, and complimentary tickets and discounted admission to area museums.

The hotel participates in Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts. If you book online here, benefits include a room upgrade (when available), daily breakfast, and a $100 property credit. Similar benefits can be had with Capital One’s Premier Collection.

Hot Tip:

Make sure to check the hotel’s Offers page, as deals for a third or fourth night free are available for select rooms and dates through the end of 2026. The hotel is also offering a Route 66 Centennial Package this year.

Fairmont is part of the Accor group and participates in the ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program. Members get 5% off nightly rates, so make sure to join. You can earn ALL Reward points during your stay, starting at 25 Reward points per €10 spent (about $11.50). Several rewards programs are transfer partners of Accor at varying ratios: Bilt Rewards (3:2), Capital One Miles (2:1), Citi ThankYou Rewards (2:1), and Rove Miles (1.5:1). With those points, you can redeem in increments of 1,000 Reward points for every €20 (about $23).

Location

The hotel is across the street from Palisades Park, which stretches along the bluff above the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) at beach level.

It’s across the street from the California Incline, where you can drive or walk from Ocean Avenue down to the PCH.

To access Santa Monica State Beach or the famous Santa Monica Pier, there are several pedestrian overpasses from Palisades Park.

Shopping and dining at the pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade are just steps away. You can also utilize the Lucid Air house car to get dropped off within a 3-mile radius of the hotel.

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 9 miles from the hotel and takes about 30 to 45 minutes by car.

A Storied History

The founders of Santa Monica bought the land where the hotel sits in 1875, with the founder’s wife planting the property’s iconic Moreton Bay fig tree soon after.

Though the hotel has passed through many hands since the 1920s, it joined Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in 1999 and has undergone several renovations since.

Unique Rooms

The Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows has rooms and suites across 2 buildings, the Palisades Tower and the Ocean Tower. It boasts the most ocean-view rooms in Santa Monica and is the only hotel in the area with bungalows.

Miramar Ocean View Suite 1 Bedroom 1 King

The Miramar Ocean View Suite was ideal for our family of 5, though it had its quirks.

The suite entry led to a living room with a sofa bed, an armchair, a closet, a dining table, and a bar area with a Keurig and a minifridge. The room’s design aesthetic was retro and funky, with pops of color and vintage graphics from Santa Monica’s yesteryear. Accessories, like a record player (with a collection of vinyl) and a tripod lamp, really helped the room feel unique.

There were also several windows with blinds, perfectly arranged so we could see the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the pool area below.

I absolutely love a property that recognizes when you’ve booked for 2 adults and 3 kids and prepares the room accordingly. In this case, the sofa bed and rollaway bed were premade and ready for sleeping. The welcome amenities accommodated everyone in the family without anyone having to share (have you tried splitting 2 macarons among 5 people before?). And finally, there were enough towels for everyone to shower with, without having to call down for more. Fairmont hit it out of the park in ensuring the room was appropriately ready for us.

The master bedroom had a grand bed frame, and the room felt luxe yet comfortable. The distressed wood dresser paired well with the decorative glass vases and clear glass lamps. Considering many older properties don’t always have a ton of outlets, I liked that an outlet station with USB-A and standard ports was arranged on one of the nightstands. A power strip was accessible at the other nightstand. Unfortunately, there was no workspace in the bedroom; the dining room table served as the main workspace.

The only bathroom was in the master bedroom, just past a large closet. The vanity area was private but open to the bedroom, and the toilet and shower portion of the bathroom could be closed by a door. Bath amenities were from Le Labo and smelled absolutely incredible.

If you’re considering this suite configuration for multiple guests, know that having just 1 bathroom in the bedroom means any living room guests have to pass through the bedroom to use it. If you want privacy at night, having guests who need to use the bathroom may infringe on it.

Signature Bungalow

The Signature Bungalow is configured as a king bed or 2 doubles and may or may not include a patio. The room’s green and earthy color palette really worked with the garden atmosphere, and the shower/tub combo featured an unconventional circular tile design.

Bi-Level Bungalow Suite

The Bi-Level Bungalow Suite can accommodate 4, and instantly feels like home for families. The downstairs living room had a sofa bed, a dining table, a TV, and a patio. The upstairs bedroom had a king bed and 2 separate patios. The design touches were mostly muted with unique materials and vibrant green and blue accents.

Amenities

Pool

The pool and hot tub were open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and are bookable by nonguests with ResortPass. I appreciated the sunscreen and water on offer, and guests could also order from a menu for delivery to the pool. In warmer months, there is a poolside movie series and s’mores.

Hot Tip:

Note the large poolside mural of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He reportedly starts his day by cycling from the hotel to Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, then back to the hotel for breakfast at FIG. And yes, I did see him walk by briefly during my tour of the property.

The garden grounds surrounding the pool were perfect for lounging, and I particularly loved the Sunset Terrace, which was aglow come nighttime.

Fitness Center

The second-floor fitness center was open 24 hours a day and featured a spacious layout of treadmills, Pelotons, ellipticals, weight machines, and free weights. The outdoor fitness patio had more Pelotons, free weights, and stretching equipment.

The first floor had a relaxation room, which would have been perfect after a trip to the sauna and a cool dip in the pool.

Hot Tip:

Other on-site amenities include the EMWell Spa, Lloyd’s Barbershop, Em Styles Salon, and retailers Vilebrequin and Atelier by Edward Avedis. Overnight parking is $79 per night plus tax.

Food and Beverages

FIG

FIG is open daily for breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. Brunch is served weekends from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

Breakfast is ordered from an à la carte menu of traditional favorites. For what is offered, the menu is a bit pricey, but it reflects the atmosphere of where you are staying.

The indoor patio-esque garden room was quite ethereal, with greenery hanging from the ceiling. We were served by a friendly waiter named Oscar, who took great care of us. My family ordered chilaquiles, pancakes, and breakfast burritos, and everything was delicious. We were also treated to a fruit platter and an assortment of baked goods (including warm croissants!), which disappeared quickly with my kids.

For dinner, FIG serves seasonal Californian cuisine with a varied menu that highlights seafood, butcher’s cuts, pizza, and varied vegetable sides.

Other Dining Options

• Afternoon tea: Sip tea and nibble from a selection of finger foods on Saturdays and Sundays at 12 p.m.
• The Bungalow: This night lounge serves drinks and bar bites Thursdays to Saturdays starting at 5 p.m., closing at midnight on Thursday and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
• Dogtown Coffee: Freshly-brewed favorites and breakfast staples are served daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Lobby Lounge: The lounge is open Sunday to Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Live Jazz music is scheduled Thursday to Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m., and guests can get close to the action by pulling up a chair directly to a ledge around the piano.
• Soko Sushi: This 8-seat sushi bar is open Monday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Sushi-making classes can also be booked Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Final Thoughts

Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows is a special property steeped in history. Its perch on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean puts you in the heart of the Santa Monica action, whether you want to visit the area beaches, shop local, or dine nearby.

Rooms at this over-100-year-old hotel are coastal chic — immediately comfortable yet refined, with touches of beach nostalgia throughout. Waking up to a stunning view of the ocean can’t be beat, but the garden bungalows are also a unique way to elevate the comforts of home while on vacation.

Booking through a program like Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts or Capital One Premier Collection is an easy way to enhance your stay, with benefits like room upgrades (when available), free breakfast for 2, and a $100 property credit. Make sure to compare these rates to the hotel’s own offers to see where you might get the best deal.