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1940
The Eden
Santa Monica, California
The Eden
1301 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California 90401 Original Property Opened in 1940 Historic Hotels of America member since 2025Perched high on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, The Eden is an emblem of Santa Monica, California. Built as the Shangri-La Apartment Hotel in 1940, the sleek building was a forward-looking structure in the small seaside city known for its surf and sun. Having opened with the motto “America’s New Design for Living,” the gleaming-white, oceanside hotel has become an architectural icon. The hotel has appeared in multiple movies, hosted luminaries like Elizabeth Taylor, and even witnessed covert wartime innovations.
The hotel reopened in 2025 under the name The Eden. This living landmark embraces its storied past. The hotel is just steps away from oceanside dining and recreation, including the legendary Santa Monica Pier. With seaside guestrooms, poolside cocktails, and luxurious amenities, The Eden invites guests to embrace the historic hotel’s charming golden-age glamour.
Discover
- Marvel at The Eden’s iconic façade. Built in 1939 and designed by architect William E. Foster, The Eden is a notable example of Streamline Moderne architecture. The Art Deco-style geometric pillars, glass entryway, and stepped roofline especially echo the profiles of ships docked nearby in Santa Monica Harbor. The Eden’s façade embraces the sunny Southern California weather by blending indoor and outdoor spaces, such as the covered, open-air walkways.
- Explore the influential architectural styles of Los Angeles County, including the futuristic Googie-style architecture. Named after a West Hollywood coffee shop, Googie forms are a playful and colorful take on space-age designs. A structure’s bold angles and large signs were designed to attract attention from automobile drivers, and the surviving Googie buildings have since become heritage sites representing post-World War II Americana.
- Discover the notable neighbors of The Eden in Santa Monica. Nearby landmarks include the Bay Cities Guaranty Building, completed in 1929 and commonly known as the Clock Tower Building. The Charmont Apartments are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, while the nearby Edgemar is a mixed‑use complex designed by Frank Gehry in the 1980s.
Explore
- Hike the scenic trails in Topanga State Park or Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. A short drive from The Eden, the area offers hiking trails for a range of recreation levels, providing coastal or canyon views for a quiet escape from the city.
- Learn about the history of Santa Monica and Los Angeles County at the local history centers. Housed at the local public library, the Santa Monica History Museum offers dynamic exhibitions, events, and workshops about the region’s history from its indigenous Tongva roots to its growth as a coastal California town. The nearby California Heritage Museum hosts everything from food truck bazaars to exhibitions about surfing. The museum is housed in the First Roy Jones House, owned by the son of Santa Monica’s founder, John Percival Jones.
- Explore the long heritage of Los Angeles County through its emblematic ranch houses. Built in 1818, Ávila Adobe is the oldest standing residence in Los Angeles city. Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens was built in 1834 on one of the first Spanish land grants in the region, now present-day Long Beach, while the Will Rogers State Park preserves the legacy of the beloved ranch that once stood on its grounds.
Experience
- Experience leisure time by The Eden. The rooftop provides 360‑degree views and hosts yoga sessions, wellness programming, and community events. Complete with the saltwater pool, the open-air courtyard is the setting for seasonal outdoor movie nights and casual lawn games. Guests have access to a dedicated movement studio for yoga, Pilates, and guided wellness sessions.
- Test out the famous equipment at Santa Monica’s Muscle Beach. Originally established in the 1930s, Muscle Beach became a gathering place where gymnasts and bodybuilders trained and performed, including athletes such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno.
- Explore over 170 murals throughout the city’s streets and public buildings, ranging from historic WPA-era works like the City Hall Mural to contemporary installations in the City Services Building. Bicycles are available at The Eden for exploring the nearby sites.
- Experience the nostalgia of an American road trip at the “End of the Trail” Route 66 marker on the Santa Monica Pier. After crossing eight states and over 2,400 miles, westward drivers of Route 66 would be greeted by views of the Pacific Ocean. Running from Chicago to Santa Monica, historic Route 66 was established in 1926 and quickly became known as the Main Street of America.
Taste
- Taste California-grown produce from local Santa Monica Farmers’ Markets on The Eden’s menus. The seasonal selection is so fresh that world-class restaurants from across Los Angeles County source ingredients from the downtown Santa Monica vendors. Guests can try dishes created by these cherished local ingredients at the lobby coffee bar.
- Sip seasonal cocktails with breathtaking views and sunsets at Velvet Rose. Classic, spirit-forward cocktails are served in the hotel’s candlelit vinyl-only rooftop lounge as a nod to old Hollywood.
- Taste fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California. Dungeness crab, swordfish, and Pacific oysters are found on menus across the region. The proximity to the ocean’s bounty produces delectable dishes including sushi, fish tacos, and ceviche.
- Eat at a classic American establishment: Mel’s Drive-In. Originally launched in San Francisco, Mel’s Drive-In pioneered the carhop service and became associated with nostalgic Americana when it served as a filming location in the 1973 film American Graffiti. The Santa Monica location especially celebrates Santa Monica’s automobile legacy as part of its Route 66 heritage.
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National Trust for Historic Preservation Month Rate – Save 15% Off Best Available Rate
Friends of Historic Hotels of America receive up to 15% off the Best Available Rate using the code NHP.
