Sandbourne Santa Monica, a new 175-room hotel designed by Icelandic architect Gulla Jónsdóttir, has opened on Ocean Avenue, in Santa Monica, Calif. This beachfront property aims to enhance the upscale hotel scene in Santa Monica by engaging all five senses. The hotel’s design features natural textures, sculptural elements, and earth tones. Jónsdóttir is known for such projects as Comal at Chileno Bay Mexico and Le Grand restaurant in Paris.
The hotel’s lobby features a mural by artist Guerin Swing, crafted from fire hoses from the Santa Monica Fire Dept. Direct access to Santa Monica Beach, a heated pool, and state-of-the-art fitness center are among the amenities. Sandbourne’s event spaces total 10,000 square feet, with plans for a full-service wellness spa in 2025. A private 200-square-foot onsite dog park is available for guests with dogs.
Inside, the hotel offers a terracotta-toned sanctuary with clay pottery and lush plants. The terrace and courtyard feature lush greenery, lounge seating, and firepits. Sandbourne also hosts an artists-in-residency program, inviting ceramics artists to create and showcase their work on the property. Guests can participate in a Ceramics by the Pool class, led by local artists.
The hotel’s restaurant, Marelle, led by Chef Raphael Lunetta, offers California-driven cuisine. The 187-seat restaurant includes handmade ceramic pendant lamps designed by Jónsdóttir in collaboration with Laviva Home.
