In years past this glorious location, a block from Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and two blocks from the beach, was wasted on one of those boring old corporate hotels — or, truth be told, the location very nearly elevated a chain hotel into something special. Now, in a new life as the Huntley, it’s aiming a bit higher — Santa Monica lacks a truly definitive hipster boutique hotel, and that’s the void the Huntley is trying to fill. With no little success, we might add. The Penthouse restaurant and bar are pretty reliably packed, not just for the food but for the atmosphere as well — the look is upscale retro-lounge, and private cabanas (sans pool) lend restaurant and bar tables a private-party vibe. It’s the work of the local designer Thomas Shoos, the man behind several of Santa Monica’s better restaurants, and the hotel’s other public spaces (and, to some extent, the rooms) bear his mark as well. These days, of course, a popular nightspot alone does not make a successful hotel. Fortunately the Huntley’s rooms are anything but an afterthought. Though compact, they’re comfortable and well-equipped, with the luxuries that matter: pillow-top beds, fine Italian linens, 42-inch plasma screens, and top-shelf bath products. Views of the city are none too shabby, and those of the beach and coastline are even better — book the Shoos-designed suites to make the most of the views, the space, and the extras (open soaking tubs, we’re looking at you). How to get there: The Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica is a 20-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport. Valet parking is available for $46.20 USD per day.