What it’s really like staying at the brand-new Regent Santa Monica Beach

It may be a California comeback, but the Regent brand of today is nothing like it was in 1990, when it took a star turn as the hotel backdrop in "Pretty Woman."

Regent Santa Monica Beach officially opened its doors last month — a return to U.S. shores for the brand that was previously best-known stateside for the Regent Beverly Wilshire, an ultraluxe Beverly Hills property that is now affiliated with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. The Regent brand has gone through several changes over the years; it is now under IHG Hotels & Resorts affiliation, and the pressure is on to make this smaller imprint an ultraluxury star for the IHG network.

We've checked out Regent's new vibes in Hong Kong and Vietnam in the past two years and have been blown away. So, how does the Southern California revival stack up? Find out for yourself below.

What is Regent Santa Monica Beach?

While the Regent Santa Monica Beach — one of TPG's most-anticipated hotel openings of the year — is new, the building it occupies isn't. The property was formerly a Loews-affiliated hotel that closed in early 2023 for an extensive $150 million renovation, resulting in the now-open Regent. Part of that renovation entailed reducing the more than 340-room count at the Loews to create the Regent's spacious 167 guest rooms and suites.

That means even entry-level guest rooms have ample elbow room and feel more like suites than "just" guest rooms. Most of the property's rooms and suites feature Pacific Ocean views, but be mindful when you go to book that there are city-view rooms, too. The hotel also fronts Santa Monica's Ocean Front Walk path and is just steps from the famed Santa Monica Pier.

On the drinks and dining front, the new Regent features Orla, a Mediterranean bar and restaurant concept from celebrity chef Michael Mina, and Sweet July Cafe, an all-day cafe and retail concept from lifestyle maven Ayesha Curry. Out by the Regent's Azure Pool deck, guests will be able to enjoy poolside cocktails and nibbles at Azure Bar, but that wasn't open during my visit.

How to book Regent Santa Monica Beach

My two-night hosted stay was complimentary (rates started at $1,100 per night during my time in Santa Monica), but guests can book a stay at Regent Santa Monica Beach directly through the IHG reservations channels and the IHG One Rewards mobile app.

Keep in mind: The hotel also charges a hefty $90 nightly resort fee, which includes a daily $50 resort credit that can go toward dining (but not in-room dining) or a treatment at the Guerlain Wellness Spa (more on that later). The resort fee also covers welcome refreshments, access to electric bikes, beach butler service for two and waived pet fees (which Regent Santa Monica Beach tabs at $250, per the hotel website).

IHG One Rewards members will especially want to book directly through IHG channels to earn elite-qualifying nights and enjoy all the perks associated with their loyalty tier.

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When booking the Regent Santa Monica Beach, you'll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for IHG stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic IHG One Rewards elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Earn 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Silver Elite status.

The location

Regent Santa Monica Beach is a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). While ride-share services like Uber and Lyft are prevalent in the area, it might be useful to rent a car like I did to explore nearby areas like Malibu and Venice, or farther away, tourist-heavy districts like Hollywood. Overnight valet parking at the hotel is $90 per night.

Regent Santa Monica Beach overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. The hotel sits between Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica's Ocean Front Walk, affording guests a waterfront path to stroll, run or bike mere steps from the hotel. Those who prefer to shop 'til they drop as their go-to cardio will find luck at the Third Street Promenade, a retail thoroughfare just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.

Checking in

Some of Regent's brand standards revolve around mantras like "With Compliments," "Personal Haven" and "Extraordinary Experiences," but I was curious how well this might translate from Asia to the U.S., where I find hotels often lag in terms of shock-and-awe hospitality compared to those on the other side of the Pacific.

Regent Santa Monica Beach is no such laggard.

A Regent Experience Manager will reach out ahead of your arrival to discuss any extra needs or personal touches, and they'll also talk about curating your room's complimentary Refreshment Gallery (Regent's luxe term for the minibar). Once you arrive, you'll be whisked into the Regent's atrium lobby decked out with curved, plush couches and rounded upholstered chairs — all in various shades of sandstone.

My Regent Experience Manager greeted my husband and me in the lobby with chilled towels and lavender-infused lemonade to sip while taking care of incidentals and confirming details of our stay. Be sure to check out the expansive monitor in the check-in area, as it's supposed to livestream sunrise and sunset over the Santa Monica Pier (which you can also experience for yourself in person just a few steps from the back entrance of the hotel). While my room was immediately ready, guests arriving early can also take advantage of the Regent's arrivals lounge, which features showers to freshen up and plenty of work space and seating areas to kill time until check-in.

After just a few minutes, we were heading up to our 720 Oceanfront King — named for this entry-level room's 720 square feet — on the top floor of Regent Santa Monica Beach. A separate Regent staffer had already taken care of our luggage.

I was curious how much of this welcome pomp and circumstance and knowing us by name was because the team was tipped off that a hotel reporter was checking out the property for a few days. But a friend swung by during our second day in town with her toddler son, and before we even met her in the lobby, she had texted, "This property! Eight people helped me at valet!"

The team even remembered her son's name after the first introductions; of course, that is likely because her son is far more adorable than my husband and yours truly.

The rooms

Regent Santa Monica Beach has a variety of guest room and suite categories, but it's probably an insult to the place to refer to entry-level rooms as, well, entry-level. This room category resulted in the combination of two former guest rooms from the property's Loews era, and guests — present company included — will salivate over just how much space comes in a starter room. Of course, remember: Even starter rooms here typically begin at $1,100 per night.

The Oceanfront King guest room featured a living room that included separate seating and dining areas as well as a workstation, flat-screen television (visible from the bedroom) and minibar, er, Refreshment Gallery. There was also a Juliet balcony off the seating area that was perfect for sunrise and sunset photoshoots. The complimentary refreshments in the Refreshment Gallery included things like tahini-spiced nuts, yogurt-covered raisins, Nespresso pods, tea and water.

Beyond an archway was the bedroom that featured a king-sized bed with a surprise of monogrammed pillowcases for each of us. There was a small seating area here, as well as large nightstands on either side of the bed with ample places to plug in smartphones and tablets to charge overnight. Another Juliet balcony was just off the bedroom overlooking the ocean, and there were both sheer and blackout curtains to give you as much privacy as you wanted.

Housekeeping comes by twice daily, and evening turndown service included leaving us a fresh flower and a small tube of Perricone MD moisturizer on the pillow — because pre-bedtime skincare is far more important than a small chocolate square you'd find on the pillow at other luxury brands, if you ask me!

Just off the bedroom was a vanity area and walk-in closet with an abundance of supplies and amenities to help along with the primping process, like a Dyson hairdryer and a clothes steamer. Part of Regent Santa Monica Beach's "With Compliments" extras includes free laundry or pressing of three items of clothing during a stay — enough to look your best and wrinkle-free for a meal at Orla downstairs. There was also a decorative box in the vanity area stocked with products you may have left home, like a shaving kit, dental kit, loofah and mouthwash.

The dual-vanity bathroom was another winner in terms of having ample room to spread out (the result of merging two bathrooms from the old Loews setup), and you have the option of soaking in the tub or rinsing off in the enormous walk-in shower. Regent also has me hooked on Perricone MD products (much to the detriment of my wallet), and you'll find those here in full-sized bottles meant to stay in the room and not in your checked bag after check-out. Luckily, my husband also fell in love with Perricone products during our stay, so maybe this means I won't have to keep hiding the deliveries anytime I order them for back home.

I was also able to get a peek at some of Regent's other guest rooms and suites, including the presidential-esque Santa Monica Suite around the corner from my room on the eighth floor. This sprawling 3,200-square-foot suite has incredible views of the ocean and Santa Monica Pier, as well as a game room, dining room and a spacious walk-in closet. Consider the splurge if you're really looking to stretch out and entertain during your next Santa Monica getaway.

Dining at Regent Santa Monica Beach

Well-known names are behind many of the dining and drinking establishments at Regent Santa Monica Beach. Celebrity chef Michael Mina is behind the Mediterranean-inspired Orla, an all-day restaurant that also includes Orla Bar in the middle of the hotel's atrium lobby. Lifestyle guru Ayesha Curry backs Sweet July Cafe, which offers a mix of California-inspired fare and coffee and tea drinks just off the lobby.

Over the span of our two-night trip, we frequented both venues, and you won't go wrong with either. Sweet July is a casual spot to enjoy an iced coffee and pastry to get the day going, and to peruse some retail items (Curry's Sweet July brand is popular for its olive oil, house blend coffee and mugs, to name a few). The space is picture-perfect with bistro seating, wood-paneled counters and refrigerators fit for a "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" kitchen.

But it's not cheap to look this fabulous: A croissant and iced coffee clocked in at just under $20. The breakfast sandwich with prosciutto and pesto ($16) was a highlight, but the real showstopper to start the day was the Everything Croissant stuffed with scallion cream cheese ($11) that we got to split. I mourned having to fork over the remaining half after I had the first few bites.

Mina's Orla is clearly already a hit with locals, as evidenced by the number of people I saw streaming in and out of the hotel each night just for the restaurant. We were lucky to enjoy Orla a few times, for lunch and dinner and for a nightcap at Orla Bar.

The indoor dining area feels like an upscale brasserie (well, as much as it can feel like a cute brasserie within a five-story atrium lobby), with nods to the nautical vibes of Southern California: Brass accents and yacht-style plank flooring give the space an at-sea feel without the drama of motion sickness. But the hottest tables in town are found on Orla's veranda, where you can soak in Pacific Ocean views while nibbling on mezze and sipping a Hot to Handle zero-proof tequila mocktail ($18).

Veranda seating outside was coveted, even during crisp evenings over the span of my late October stay. Don't worry: There are heat lamps and blankets to keep you warm throughout your meal, so you don't miss out on some incredible sunsets over the Pacific.

Orla's menu is inspired by Mina's Egyptian heritage. For lunch, I'd recommend going the $39 prix-fixe route as I did, as you'll be able to sample a mezze starter round of whipped chickpea hummus, grilled halloumi, beets, marinated olives and lamb meatballs along with salad. It's a hearty enough starter course that I completely forgot it was to be followed by a marinated shrimp skewer served with arugula freekeh (not that I'd ever complain about these deliciously grilled crustaceans).

Guests also have the option of adding on a $14 middle course of either macaroni bechamel or spicy duck orzo. An $8 dessert supplement is also on the menu. At night, Orla offers a souped-up, curated version called the My Egypt Experience, which runs $105 per person (with the requirement that the entire table participates) and includes a variety of entrees like a char-grilled branzino and a kebab platter.

Those looking for a little theatrics added to their cocktails should also consider the $35 Tableside Mediterranean Gintonico, which is crafted in a tableside cart from gin infused with spices and botanicals procured from the Santa Monica farmer's market.

Similar to Sweet July, Orla isn't the cheapest place to eat in town, but views like this come at a cost.

Wellness amenities

I was excited to check out the Regent's Guerlain Wellness Spa, as the French luxury skincare and cosmetics brand also recently opened a spa near my home at Raffles Boston. Let's just say my hometown Guerlain Wellness Spa could fit in the changing area of the one at Regent Santa Monica Beach.

The palatial 10,000-square-foot spa features 12 treatment rooms (including a VIP double suite) and a post-treatment Champagne room (that primarily offered baked goods and water in a decadent space during my visit). Construction was just wrapping up during my visit, but I did get a peek at where saunas, steam rooms and plunge pools are about to open. I opted for a 90-minute honey repair facial that left me glowing, both from the skin treatment as well as from a relaxing scalp and arms massage I received while some of the products were setting on my face.

While the spa was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, I also made time for an invigorating start to each day of my stay in the Regent's two-story fitness center, where I used a range of strength training and cardio equipment. The facility is Equinox-level gorgeous and has enough equipment for all types of workouts.

Group fitness classes are also slated to be offered and are included in the nightly resort fee.

Reasons Regent Santa Monica Beach might not be for you

While there's plenty to love about Regent Santa Monica Beach, it might not be for everyone. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind:

• Even with Regent's "With Compliments" ethos, it's a very expensive hotel in terms of nightly rates and even the price of a cup of coffee.
• If you think you're going to want to spend a lot of time in trendy neighborhoods like Silver Lake or West Hollywood while visiting Los Angeles, it's best to look for a hotel closer to that part of town than in Santa Monica. Rush-hour traffic here can be brutal.

Accessibility

There are accessible paths to public spaces at Regent Santa Monica Beach, including restaurants like Orla, meeting rooms, the fitness center, the swimming pool and the Guerlain Wellness Spa. The valet parking service is equipped to accommodate vehicles outfitted for accessible transport, and service animals are welcome. There is a chair lift into the swimming pool.

Regent Santa Monica Beach offers accessible guest rooms and suites, which include hearing and mobility accessibility, and some feature roll-in showers.

Checking out

It was hard saying goodbye to Regent Santa Monica Beach and our incredible room with a view. Sure, I've been reporting on this hotel since it was first announced early last year, but even my husband and good friend from outside the industry were both wowed by the attentive service and luxe offerings. Plus, the entire team was friendly to those of all ages.

My friend texted me after she left our hangout: "Hats off to the Regent! That's the perfect spot to enjoy the finer things with baby. They treated us like royalty!"

I'm happy to report the royalty treatment extended to those of us looking to enjoy the finer things sans baby, too. IHG can be proud of its Regent revival in the U.S.

Related reading:

• The award travelers guide to IHG Rewards
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
• Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
• Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
• The best hotel rewards programs in the world
• Best hotel credit cards