About The Monica

Built in the early 1960s, The Monica emerged during the golden age of West Coast cool—just as surf rock, convertible Cadillacs, and mod fashion defined the California dream. Its sleek mid-century modern design, with clean lines and breezy balconies, quickly made it a favorite escape for actors, musicians, and beach lovers wanting to avoid the chaos of Los Angeles.

During its early years, The Monica hosted wrap parties for movie shoots, jazz nights under the stars, and secretive celebrity rendezvous. A young band called The Monicas—named after the hotel itself—played weekly on the rooftop, and their cult following gave rise to a string of infamous pool parties.

In the 1980s, the hotel fell into decline, worn down by salt air, changing tastes, and the shadow of nearby high-rise developments. But it never lost its soul. Struggling artists, filmmakers, and vagabonds filled the rooms with new energy, turning The Monica into a quiet icon of counterculture living.

By 2003, a Santa Monica preservation group acquired the building and launched a sensitive restoration. Today, The Monica is a boutique hideaway that honors its groovy roots with retro furnishings, vinyl record players in every room, and murals painted by former guests. It remains a symbol of coastal nostalgia and creative rebellion—timeless, a little wild, and always just a few steps from the sand.