Though it's only been operated as a Fairmont hotel since 1999, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel has deep roots in Santa Monica—as old as those of the Moreton Bay fig tree at its doorstep, planted in the late 1880s on what was then the estate of silver baron John Percival Jones, co-founder of the city of Santa Monica. In the 1920s, the estate became the Miramar Hotel, and aside from a brief stint as a military facility in World War II, it's been in continuous operation as a hotel since then.

As befits a Fairmont property, the building is replete with marble, fountains, artwork and elaborate floral arrangements. All the standard high-end hotel amenities are in place. But the standouts are the bungalow suites, clustered around the pool and a cascading fountain. Designed in the Craftsman style, each suite features French doors that open onto private patios. Guests seeking a coastal panorama can select rooms in the Ocean Tower, and the largest rooms can be found in the oldest part of the hotel, the Palisades wing (built in 1924).

The hotel restaurant, renamed FIG after the heritage tree, is flourishing under the direction of chef Ray Garcia. His creations are fueled by produce from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, which draws chefs from around the city every Wednesday morning. Other restaurant choices are steps away, along Ocean Avenue and the Third Street Promenade. And if only a corn dog and cotton candy will fill the bill, those can be had at the Santa Monica Pier, within strolling distance at the southern end of adjacent Palisades Park.

Amenities

• 24-hour room service
• 42-inch LCD flat-screen television
• In-room pay movies and Nintendo games
• High-speed Internet access
• Alarm clock-radio
• Refreshment center
• Bathrobes
• Gift shop
• Barbershop
• Business center
• Babysitting available
• Concierge
• Laundry services
• Valet parking ($30 per night)
• Pet-friendly
• Exhale MindBodySpa
• FIG Restaurant