The Best Hotels to Book in Venice Beach

If you’re in the mood for a surf-and-sand vacation but don’t feel like busting your budget, this Venice beach hotel should fit the bill. The snug, all-white rooms are like a two-inch heel – chic but sensible – and positioned on a fairly quiet section of the Venice Boardwalk. Enjoy that cup of morning coffee on the rooftop deck or the cozy beachfront patio, then grab a free beach chair, umbrella and boogie board and set up for a day of slothdom next to the waves.

No matter whether you need a quick overnight getaway or an inspiring long-term base to finally write that screenplay, this Venice Beach hotel has you covered. The boardwalk setting ensures an instant immersion in SoCal beach culture and easy access to great shopping and the idyllic Venice Canals. Each unit, from petite studios to family-friendly two-bedroom cottages, is kitted out with a kitchen, although you might well be tempted to sample the Latin-inspired food at the on-site Fig Tree Café – neighborhood-adored since 1978.

A giant “V“ graces the façade of this Venice Beach hotel that’s been a landmark right on the iconic Boardwalk since 1915. Of late, the one-time residence of early Hollywood movie stars like Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow has been rebooted as a playground for plugged-in fun seekers while preserving such charming original features as the bronze-doored elevator. Eclectically furnished open-plan rooms come with custom LED lighting, grand ocean views and luscious linens. For extra space and privacy, book a rooftop bungalow.

The mural-adorned exterior of the Kinney is a good indicator of the playful vibe you’ll find inside. The fairy light-illuminated AstroTurf courtyard is primed for rounds of rowdy beer pong with several ping-pong tables, while the dreamy pool is perfect for cooling off during spells of LA heat. Perch here with a morning coffee, or watch the sky turn cotton-candy pink with a margarita cocktail at sunset. Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a 10-minute stroll away, so you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to eating out. Be sure to book ahead to nab a table at local favorite Gjelina.

Wake up to views over Venice Beach’s palm-fringed Boardwalk, or fall asleep to the lapping of the waves – this is about as close as you can get to the ocean while still being on solid ground. Pack your low-key beach gear to blend in with the trendy crowd – both at the beach and the hotel’s popular rooftop bar. Linger at this prime spot with a cocktail and a late-night boogie under the stars, before retreating to your enormous comfy bed for a blissful night’s sleep.

The Inn at Venice Beach is all about friendly vibes and wallet-friendly prices. While rooms are kept simple with burnt orange feature walls, the communal areas turn heads with beaded light fittings and colorful murals. Venice Beach and the Boardwalk are just five minutes away on foot, so you can beat the crowds and pick your spot for watching the tide roll in. And when you want to explore further afield, simply hop on the bus, which stops directly outside the hotel, and be whisked away to another corner of the City of Angels.

Surfboards mounted on exposed brick walls give Venice Breeze Suites that laid-back surfer vibe you’re probably looking for, while the fully equipped kitchen appeals to self-caterers. After a few days, you may even start to feel like a local – and when you wake up to Pacific views each morning, you might just be tempted to stay and make that a reality. When you’re not riding crests and swells, soak up the sun that LA is so famous for on a rooftop lounge chair, or head out to explore nearby cafés and restaurants like Felix – a delightful Italian transplant where fresh pasta is made right before your eyes.