Coastal chic suites, as close to the ocean as they come
I’m sick of the hard sell. The flashy smile. The slick pivot. I’m much more interested in humans that look like humans, wrinkles and cracked teeth, bad lighting and stray hairs and double chins. I probably need a social media break, it’s true, but it seems like every “surprisingly viral” thing that comes across my desk anymore has a lacquered and scrubbed to perfection avatar behind it—or in front of it, as TikTok would have it.
I don’t like this vibe because it stops other creative people I know from feeling like they can try. I know it’s stopped me in the past. Fuck that. The idea that Gen Z made social media more “real” is hilarious to me; the Gen Z era is about making reality look like social media. These dislikes are the same reason I fell in love with Venice V. It’s an old building filled with creative flourishes that never attempt to hide or demean what it actually is. That's how a hotel with no pool or gym or restaurant became one of my favorites in the city.
The lobby’s central mural, a portrait of city founder Abbot Kinney, is made out of skateboard wheels, a subtle nod to the nearby skate park and Z Boys who helped put Venice, California on the map in the first place. The building itself is a landmark, and has been there since 1915, with a history of long-term apartment rentals to early Hollywood icons like Charlie Chaplin and Clara Bow. Recently converted from apartments and reimagined as a hotel, the property officially opened in summer of 2021 and is part of Proper Hospitality's boutique hotel group, The Collective. It's not a perfect, pristine place—it's over a hundred years old—but it's incredibly beautiful, and in the running for best boutique hotel in the city.
You Are Here
5 Westminster Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Up until literally a few weeks ago, some of the largest homeless encampments in the country were spread throughout this area of Venice. Newly-elected mayor, Karen Bass, has been working with councilmember Traci Park to get the unhoused out of these tent encampments and into safe, affordable housing with a path toward stability. As the situation is still very much in flux, please be cautious when walking in and around the area, especially if you're a woman traveling alone. For now, the streets have been cleared, but this is a longstanding issue without an easy solution. Be mindful when you're in the area, particularly at night.
Located directly on the Venice boardwalk, this hotel's location is a boon in so many ways. It's a few minutes walk from the second iteration of Muscle Beach and the infamous skate park that's dictated so much coastal culture. The boardwalk and Venice/Santa Monica piers are there for shopping and sight-seeing, plus the beach is steps from the hotel's front door. If you're craving proximity to the Pacific, there's no better hotel for the money. The most affordable rooms can be had for close to $250 during low season, with higher-end penthouse options starting at $550 and up. That's hundreds of dollars cheaper than Santa Monica oceanfront hotels like Shutters and Casa Del Mar, and Venice is a better location, anyway.
Size Matters
King or Queen mattress, size varies
This is the boutique hotel style where every room is a little different, including bed size, and that's mostly because the rooms themselves vary widely in size. I stayed in one of the Penthouse suites in a room with a King bed, though even the Penthouses toggle between King and Queen mattresses so if that's important to you, better to call ahead and request the appropriate size/room. The bed was on a platform frame with a full leather headboard and a wooden bench at the foot, which was super convenient for luggage. Linen sheets and four extremely soft pillows meant I would've loved this bed no matter the size.
Picture Perfect
Coastal artistic chic
One of the selling points of this hotel is the aesthetic. The skateboard wheels in the lobby, along with tin ceilings and custom chandeliers. A guaranteed ocean view from every room. Exposed brick, wooden beams, and pristine, brand new white tile everywhere. The bathroom and kitchen area counters are made of marble, mini fridges are made from converted Marshall speakers, a cowhide rug covers the wide planked wood floor—it doesn't get better than this. This is not a quick flip by a hotel chain done to make money fast, but painstaking work from actual designers and a very involved owner who knows how to invest in expensive materials that last forever. The shower in my suite had a door on each side (!) and was flanked by his and her sinks, all done in marble and gold fixtures, complete with penny tile flooring. I think I took like three showers just because it felt so luxe. It's perfect for a staycation because the in-room amenities are very decadent, and the design makes all #content turn out incredible. There's even a vintage telephone in every room, no detail left unnoticed.
Wants & Needs
Products and mini-bar
The shower was stocked with full-size Aesop products during my stay, a huge win for Expensive Soap Girls everywhere. Two boxed waters and a Nespresso coffee maker came standard with every room, along with a tray of in-room snack options like Pirate's Booty aged white cheddar rice and corn puffs, Torres black truffle potato chips, plain M&Ms, Wonderful brand pistachios, Epic brand jerky, and Sun Bum sunscreen. These plus a few other snacks aren't complimentary but come at an additional cost. They all felt highly-curated to be local or small brands with healthier snack alternatives than just salt-y, carb-y options or pure sugar spikes.
Water Me
No pool or gym on site
Perhaps the only potential drawback for booking this hotel, the property doesn't have a formal pool, though it is closer to the ocean than any hotel in the area, and no gym, though as mentioned Muscle Beach and its limited facilities are nearby. The hotel offers bikes, skateboard and surfboard rentals (as well as beach towels) for guests and when I stayed, there was beach yoga as part of weekend programming. If the lack of pool is a huge deal for you but the hotel is otherwise perfect, I'd recommend looking into Resort Pass, picking a nearby pool, and combining the two. There's also a roof deck with chairs and other areas for sunbathing, which is most conveniently accessed from the Penthouse rooms. (If that still really won't do the trick, then this hotel isn't your place.)
Libations
Great White room service, FTW
Though there isn't a formal restaurant on the premises, Venice V has worked out a partnership with one of the best cafes in the neighborhood, Great White. Using the restaurant's app, hotel guests can order anything off the menu and have it delivered straight to their room—but if you're from out of town and want to get a sense of the Venice scene, walking the few blocks up to have a sit-down meal at the cafe is totally worth it. Also within walking distance: The Win-Dow's killer smash burgers, Tocaya fast-casual Mexican with vegan and vegetarian options, Ospi's stylish pasta, pizza and wine, Eggslut breakfast sandwiches, and Gjusta for high-end groceries and prepared foods.
Book your stay at Venice V right here.
Related Reading
The Five Most Stylish New Hotels in Los Angeles (Inside Hook)
Leah Edwards Is Confronting Hospitality’s Gender Gap As A Rare Female GM At The Venice V Hotel (Cinnamon Mag)
Concierge Confidential: The “Human Siri” From Venice’s Super-Trendy New Boutique Hotel Shares All Her Secrets (Inside Hook)
Links
Listening to: Julia Wolf — Good Thing We Stayed
Long game sugarspun pop, trembling alto shit talk, shruggy trap beatsPutting on my skin: Herbivore — Aquarius Pore Purifying Clarity Cream ($44)
Pillowy moisture, zero grease, saltwater taffy blueDrinking: Wilderton — Bittersweet Aperitivo ($36.99)
Non-alcoholic Campari dupe, drink over ice with lemon and seltzerPhotos by Mark Durling