I travel to LA for business often. Recently I discovered the Ambrose, a small, artfully elegant, cozy and environmentally-conscious hotel. Its my new favorite spot. Its about a mile's "morning jog" to the beach. The complimentary breakfast is a great scene that feels like a family gathering for coffee and croissants, reading newspapers and chatting. Very "home-y." Add to that a friendly helpful staff and a complimentary car service to get you around the neighborhood and you get a really great experience overall. Definitely recommend.

We came across the Ambrose while searching for Santa Monica hotels on the web. If you want to stay near the beach - and pay those rates - fine. We moved inland a bit and found this gem at a more affordable cost. It seems to be an older hotel, but it is kept up immaculately - absolutely spotless. Lots of wood panelling, older decor, Persian carpets, etc - but beautifully and tastefully maintained. It is not a large hotel, either, so it has an intimate feel. The front desk service was terrific - knowledgeable, helpful, friendly staff always ready to help with advice, car rentals, etc. The rooms were superb, great beds, all the 'bits and pieces' for a comfortable stay, and the little live bamboo plants in the bathrooms gave a 'nature' touch. The continental breakfast included in the room rate is the best we have ever encountered - from fruit and granola for the dieters to big sticky cinnamon rolls for the more indulgent. We travel a lot to a lot of places and have stayed in many hotels, but this is now right up among the top on our list anywhere. We'll be back!!!!

Just got back from a 4-day trip to Santa Monica and Los Angeles. We stayed at the Ambrose on the recommendation of friends for its proximity to a weekend function in Malibu. We were looking for a place to come back from daily activities and relax. Overall, we were not disappointed, but there were a few bumps worth mentioning. Our flight got in early on Thursday, and we drove around L.A., checking out the sights to kill time before check-in, which was at 3pm. By 1pm, we, lifelong east-coasters, were frustrated enough with L.A. traffic and beeping Mercedes to cool off in our room. We walked in to the lobby, standing behind a woman who did not have a reservation. Strangely, she was able to get a reservation while we were told to come back at 3pm, when a room would be available. We came back after 3pm and checked in to a clean, air-conditioned room. There was also a balcony that was big enough for us to sit out and relax at night or in the morning, although it did primarily overlook a funeral home across the street. We had dinner reservations for 7pm, so we called down to the front desk to request their London taxi for transport anywhere in Santa Monica and was told that we could not call to reserve the taxi, but had to request it 5-10 minutes before needing it. So, we went down to the lobby and requested the taxi and were told "I guess that's alright," and off we went. The breakfast buffet was very good, but was more like a feeding frenzy than a buffet. The client?le in attendance were very stuffy, and we felt like we were attending an upscale cocktail party. The hours are abbreviated, although they are extended on the weekends, so food went quickly. However, having the breakfast available in the hotel saved us time and effort to seek out grub in the city. Overall, a plus. The rooms were cleaned very well, and the hotel was mostly quiet, with a subdued, relaxed vibe most of the time. Although, the walls are a little thin. Parking was also a major benefit, although we were surprised to pull up on the first night to see the gate down and our key card needed to open it (which was slightly problematic, since the key card required multiple attempts for the mechanism to read it- ditto on the exterior doors). Check-out was easy, but we fretted an additional charge since our bathrobe (a possible $75 charge) was removed and never replaced. On mentioning this, the staff seemed pretty confused by the idea, but ended-up writing something down. It is to be seen if anyone read what he wrote. Overall, the hotel was an adequate respite from the bustle of the city, and we were satisfied. The major pluses were access to the hotel taxi, the free breakfast, parking, and the hotel's cleanliness. The minuses included the staff, which all seemed to be collectively on their first day, the location/view, thin walls, and the set-up of the bathroom (sliding door didn't actually lock). The price was appropriate for what it was, and so was the value. If you're considering staying at the hotel, arrive with some patience and be prepared to drive a good distance to anything.

Stayed at the Ambrose in premiere room on the first and last night of a 3-week trip. First night both hot water boilers had broken so no hot water but the engineers stayed up all night to fix them, so no hot water until late morning. Without even having to ask, the fast-track check-out bill had deducted $60 as compensation from the room rate - a nice touch. Not the end of the world, and didn't detract from our beautiful room with 2 balconies and the most oppulent bedding . The breakfast was a casual buffet affair laid out in the lounge area, and enough choice for everyone - fresh juice, fruit salad, yoghurts, cereals and pastries and hot drinks. Whilst the hotel is not where all the action is in Santa Monica, it is a nice quiet area and the free London Taxi is a nice touch. Would definitely recommend this hotel.

Rarely does a hotel look even better in person than it does on the website. The Ambrose does. The location is fabulous - quiet, but close to the excitement if that's what you're looking for. FREE parking! FREE & adorable biofuel London cab anywhere you want to go in Santa Monica. LOVELY complimentary breakfast. Splendid decor. BEST staff EVER!