Style near the sea in Santa Monica

By Colleen Mastony | Tribune staff reporter

November 12, 2006

The Huntley, Santa Monica, Calf.

1111 2nd St.

Close--but not too close--to the touristy 3rd Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier, this posh Southern California hotel is just a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean and tucked away on a quiet, palm tree-lined street.

Oversized white curtains flank the entranceway and open to a large lobby where nearly everything glitters and shines: the marble floors, dramatic lighting, dozens of candles and huge floor-to-ceiling mirrors.

More of a hip lounge than a hotel lobby, the place has enough seating--boxy white leather chairs and soft leather benches--to receive a Hollywood-sized entourage. Decorated in a vintage-chic style, the lobby sports retro shag rugs, polished wood lounge chairs and a subtle ocean theme that includes sting-ray hide embossed in the front desk.

CHECKING IN: We arrived early--at 12:30 p.m. for a 3 p.m. check-in. The bellhop whisked our bags away, and the friendly blond at the reception desk pointed us to a coffee shop around the corner. The room, she said, would be ready in an hour.

ROOMS: Built in the 1960s, the 209-room hotel (including 20 suites and one penthouse) underwent its most recent remodeling about a year ago. We booked a deluxe city view king on the fourth floor.

The dark and dramatic hallway--chocolate-colored carpeting, textured wallpaper and a beam light above each door--opened onto our bright and airy room (406). A large window, set off by elegant green satin ceiling-to-floor curtains, offered a view of rooftops and swaying palm trees. The king-sized platform bed, with a beautifully tufted fabric headboard, was dressed in luxurious white linens, a puffy down duvet and five large down pillows. The wall-to-wall ivory carpeting was so plush that I immediately took off my shoes and did a dance.

The room clearly had been remodeled recently. Everything--from the modern dark wood furniture to the freshly painted molding along the 10-foot ceilings--was clean and new. The room was furnished with a dark wicker chair with a green cushion, olive green ceramic lamps, modern ink prints of ocean coral, a 42-inch plasma TV and a well-stocked mini-bar (champagne, wine and beer, gouda cheese and crackers, stuffed martini olives and gourmet chocolates).

The room also had a small desk with a comfortable swivel chair, a two-line telephone, a desk lamp, the typical assortment of hotel stationery and a high-speed Internet connection. (In-room DSL and wireless costs $9.95 for 24 hours; Internet access is offered free in the second-floor business center.)

The large walk-in closet had mirrors on both sides of the door, an extra pillow, several shelves, two pairs of slippers, two plush terrycloth robes, a small safe, an ironing board, an iron, a luggage holder and a dozen wooden hangers.

BATHROOM: Modern and luxurious with marble-tiled walls and floor, the bathroom came stocked with Gilchrist & Soames soaps and lotion, a makeup mirror, a hairdryer and a phone. It could have had a few more towels; we ran out the first day. The sink--with a polished-steel, square-shaped basin--looked like a work of art; but it had a flat bottom and did not drain well.

ROOM SERVICE: Full menu from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; limited menu overnight.

KID/FAMILIES: The hotel caters more to business travelers than to families. There is no pool, but the beach is within an easy walking distance. The concierge can supply the phone number of a babysitting service that will send a nanny to the hotel.

PERKS & PEEVES: The staff is friendly and accommodating. However, we called for fresh towels, and no one ever brought them. Instead, the staff turned down our bed and left two pieces of chalky-tasting milk chocolate on the nightstand. I would have preferred the towels. Though the hotel Web site lists complimentary daily newspaper, ours wasn't outside our door in the morning. When I asked, the staff told me they only provide newspapers on weekdays.

Still, the cafe carries newspapers and serves overpriced but excellent coffee, lattes and cappuccinos. The penthouse restaurant that offers apparently breathtaking views was closed for renovations and is expected to reopen by January.

BOTTOM LINE: Reservations can be cancelled without penalty up to 4 p.m. the day prior to arrival. After that, there is a cancellation charge equal to one night's stay. Our deluxe city-view king was $269, plus 14 percent tax. City-view rooms range from $239 to $369. Ocean-views range from $269 to $450. Suites range from $550 to $750. Handicapped accessible rooms are available. 310-394-5454; www.thehuntleyhotel.com.

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