With the Return of The Georgian Hotel, Santa Monica Is Getting Its Groove Back

By Christina Pérez

The first time Jon Blanchard visited Santa Monica’s The Georgian Hotel, some 13 years ago, he was instantly struck. “I’ll never forget it,” he says of that moment. “It hit me like a bolt of lightning and I just knew. I thought, ‘one day, I want to own this place.’”

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It’s easy to see why. With its bright turquoise exterior, striped awnings, and quirky Art Deco architecture, the building looks like something straight out of a Wes Anderson film. Located just a few blocks north of the iconic Santa Monica Pier, it presides over the bustling waterfront like a pastel beacon, begging to be admired. But up until very recently, there wasn’t much reason to actually venture inside. After a series of owners and a stint as a retirement home, the interior had lost much of its original charm.

Which was a shame. Because when The Georgian first opened in 1933, it was considered Southern California’s crown jewel. Locals called it the “First Lady”: nodding to its towering eight-story height, elegant aesthetic, and its reputation for hosting notable (and often notorious) guests. Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, and Marilyn Monroe were regulars, as were Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone. Much like the Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip, it was the place to see and be seen, except outside the front door, there were rolling waves, golden sand, and mountain views.

Now, The Georgian is beginning to resemble its old self again. In 2020, Blanchard’s company BLVD Hospitality—known for bringing the Ace Hotel and Soho House’s Soho Warehouse to Downtown L.A.—purchased the landmark property, finally making good on that long-ago lightning bolt. With the help of the design firm Fettle, Blanchard and his co-founder Nicolo Rusconi spent the last two years painstakingly refurbishing the hotel’s 84 guest rooms (including 28 suites), two open-to-the-public restaurants, dining terraces, art gallery, library, and lobby bar.

“It was really just about stripping it back to what it was before,” explains Fettle’s Tom Parker. “Not in terms of architecture, but in terms of spirit; bringing back the sense of frivolity.” To that end, there are plenty of Golden Era-inspired touches in jeweled, sunset hues. The lobby, with its impressive arched ceilings, has been transformed into an attractive restaurant with a U-shaped bar—featuring blush-colored walls, yellow quartzite tables, custom velvet furniture, and an inlay stone floor. Original details, like ceiling medallions and intricate crown moldings, have been carefully restored. Under the striped awnings outside, the ocean-facing terraces have been outfitted with curved yellow banquettes, palm-shaped ceiling fans, and a garden’s worth of hanging plants. It’s a style Parker calls “Havana Deco”—lush and timeless, yet still fresh.

And also, very fun. True to the hotel’s original DNA, a sense of playfulness abounds. In the guest suites, an ancient-looking button marked “champagne” will summon a bellhop in a baby blue uniform wielding a bottled-filled bar cart. Next to the check-in area, a rotary phone has been pre-loaded with vintage-sounding voice messages that allude to the hotel’s storied past. The library, curated by Lee Kaplan of Arcana Books, features titles from female California literary icons Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. Art by the actress Sharon Stone and archival black-and-white images (procured from the Santa Monica History Museum) hang on the walls, while large-scale floral arrangements by Jean Pascal are scattered throughout. “We wanted to create whimsical, magical moments while also leaning into the history of Santa Monica and the story of The Georgian,” explains Blanchard.

They’re also hoping to help usher in a new era for the neighborhood, much like they did in Downtown Los Angeles when they worked on the Ace Hotel. Though Santa Monica has always had fans and is heavily touristed, when it comes to cool factor, it’s often eclipsed by Venice, its freewheeling neighbor to the south. “We don’t think the timing could be any better,” Blanchard says. “We’re seeing a lot more movement to Santa Monica; it’s on the map again.”

He’s not wrong. Lately, there has been an influx of noteworthy restaurants, hotels, and events. In 2019, the Kelly Weartsler-designed Proper Hotel opened to much acclaim; that same year, Hotel Oceana re-opened with a glossy makeover by New York designer Anna Busta. Over on Main Street, restaurants like Cobi’s, Crudo e Nudo, Little Prince, Heavy Handed, Vamos Vamos, and Pasjoli, have been drawing crowds and stellar reviews. This year, Los Angeles’ iteration of Frieze Art Fair relocated from Beverly Hills to its new home at the Santa Monica Airport; next year, the members-only club San Vicente Bungalows will open a sprawling new outpost next to The Georgian. And soon, the Ocean Avenue Project, a mixed-use development designed by the architect Frank Ghery will also arrive, bringing more restaurants, shops, an art museum, and another hotel.

“Everyone’s ready for this next chapter of Santa Monica, while also preserving what makes it unique,” says Rusconi. “It’s the quintessential California lifestyle over here—you’ve got the PCH, the beach, the sunsets; you can walk around. It’s exciting to see what’s happening, that people are appreciating all that again.”

The entrance to The Georgian in Santa Monica.

You’ll find The Georgian opposite the piers of Santa Monica. With 84 rooms and 28 suites, the property is a hub for visitors looking for exceptional service and rich history. Inspired by both the Romanesque Revival and Art Deco movements, The Georgian (which started welcoming guests in 1933) maintains its status as one of the neighborhood’s preeminent hotels. The beginning of a new chapter awaits.

Amenities: Restaurant, bar, private parking, fitness center, free Wi-Fi, complimentary bicycles

Address: 1415 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA 90401