A landmark of California’s golden-age glamour is entering a new chapter. Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that The Georgian, an oceanfront hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, is now part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – a move that strengthens the brand’s growing footprint across the state.
The addition places The Georgian alongside other distinctive California properties in the collection, including Carmel Valley Ranch, Hotel Figueroa, Kissel Uptown Oakland, and Mar Monte Hotel.
Opened in 1933, The Georgian was developed by hotelier Rosamond Borde and designed by architect M. Eugene Durfee. Its art deco silhouette and unmistakable turquoise façade quickly made it a defining feature of Santa Monica’s coastline – and a magnet for Hollywood’s early elite.
That identity has been carefully revived. A meticulous restoration completed in 2023, led by JB Hotel Group, returned the façade to its original hue while preserving and reinterpreting period details across the property. Art deco plasterwork, moldings, and historic interiors were refreshed, while landscaped terraces and coastal planting now frame uninterrupted Pacific views.
Hyatt’s leadership has emphasized that the hotel’s individuality will remain central. Tamara Lohan, global brand leader for luxury at Hyatt, described the property as “confident and timeless,” pointing to its theatrical design language and cinematic heritage as defining strengths rather than elements to be diluted.
The hotel offers 84 guestrooms, including 28 suites, many oriented toward the Pacific. Interiors draw directly from 1930s design codes – curved forms, layered textures, and soft, diffused light that mirrors the coastal setting.
The result is not a recreation but a reinterpretation – a contemporary hospitality experience anchored in historical narrative.
Food and beverage concepts extend the storytelling. The signature restaurant focuses on seasonal Californian produce within an art deco setting, while the bar channels the hotel’s Hollywood-era past through classic cocktails and a more intimate atmosphere. A café space, open from morning through sunset, connects the hotel to the local community.
Culture is embedded in the property’s identity. The Library features a curated collection by artist Hugo Guinness, with books selected by Lee Kaplan of Arcana: Books on the Arts.
Meanwhile, Gallery 33 functions as a year-round exhibition space highlighting local and international creatives. Since reopening, it has hosted works by figures including Sharon Stone, Billy Zane, Alexandria Hilfiger, Danny Minnick, and George Byrne.
