The Pool at Oceana Santa Monica, LXR Hotels & Resorts

"Guests can relax alfresco around a fireplace beside the pool or in an Ocean Lounge that does triple duty as library, restaurant (the menu is a blend of traditional steak and lobster, and New Age bites like hamachi tuna carpaccio), and bar (whose trademark milk shakes are infused with vodka or rum)"

"Sit by the window for sweeping ocean views, or prop up by the pool during the bar’s healthy happy hour from 5 p"

"Guests can relax alfresco around a fireplace beside the pool or in an Ocean Lounge that does triple duty as library, restaurant (the menu is a blend of traditional steak and lobster, and New Age bites like jalapeno tuna tartar), and bar (whose trademark milk shakes are infused with vodka or rum)"

"So does the relaxed but attentive service, and fun extras like poolside iPads and spiked milkshakes"

"This quaint hotel is complete with lush tropical greenery, two pools and a jacuzzi often dominated by a young crowd"

"Most rooms also feature private balconies and some offer ocean views; others overlook the hotel's European-style swimming pool and lush courtyard"

""Gorgeous" rooms and suites (with Frette towels, Egyptian cotton linens and high-def TVs) in a "beautiful deco building" across from the beach in Santa Monica set this "lovely, intimate" find apart; the "knowledgeable" staff, fitness center and large heated pool with poolside dining and drinks are also draws"

"Well-trained staff are unusually accommodating, and the Ocean Lounge restaurant serves contemporary California cuisine and smart cocktails by the pool (try the 'poolside lemonade')"

"A pale exterior, mid-century furniture, and a courtyard swimming pool make this 70-room boutique hotel—right across the street from the beachside bluffs at Palisades Park—feel like classic Santa Monica"

"Signature Ocean View suites with private balconies are the best in the house, though unlike the Poolview Lanai Suites that are the same size, these lack dividers between the living areas and sleeping areas"