It’s called “A Santa Monica Retreat By The Sea,” and for good reason. The Channel Road Inn, right off Highway 1, in the Rustic Canyon area of Santa Monica is a gem of a bed and breakfast. If you’re going to the Los Angeles area, and you’re looking for high-end service and accommodations, without a severe price tag, then the Channel Road Inn is exactly where you want to stay. It’s quite possible that this charming inn is located in the best possible place in all of the Los Angeles area. At one side of the inn sits an ocean view, with a two-minute walk to the beach and the well-known bike path. To the other side is a drive through Rustic Canyon, a beautiful area laced with luxurious but original homes, windy roads, sweeping vistas, and the Will Rogers State Park practically in the backyard. And in addition, commerce at Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, and the famous 4th Avenue stairs are just around the bend. This is a centrally located inn whose location is exceptional.
But that’s just the outside of the inn. What’s inside and on the grounds provides its own respite from the busy traffic and hectic lifestyle of the surrounding Los Angeles area. While there recently, my husband and I stayed at the inn for two nights in guestroom No. 9, a 
“Superior Queen with Fireplace.” The room boasts a queen size bed, luxurious linens, a sofa, chair, desk, television, gas fireplace, magazines, robes, a private patio, a full bathroom with two sinks and a bathtub/shower, two cookies upon arrival, and an overall warm, modern, friendly, comfortable, and generous room. It was a delightful stay. Not a single complaint. Pure relaxation.
Oftentimes at bed and breakfasts the rooms are so tiny, you can barely fit two people in them, the walls are so thin you can hear every conversation going on around you, and the innkeepers are busy bodies. But this isn’t the case with the Channel Road Inn. The inn is spacious enough to accommodate 15 rooms that are designed so that you don’t feel like you’re breathing on your neighbors. Plus, there’s a roomy living room with a raging fire downstairs, a library, outdoor sitting areas, a garden, a hot tub outdoors, an adorable dining area, and various other nooks that create an 
enormous sense of privacy. In addition, wine and hors d’oeuvres are served in the early evening, and snacks and beverages are available throughout the day. A warm breakfast is also served each morning, and meal accommodations are made for early risers. Guests can borrow bikes from the inn and take a bike ride, as well as come and go at any hour. One evening we came home at 11 p.m., and there was a group of women sitting downstairs near the fire, drinking wine and having a great time together. Their voices didn’t carry, and they were welcome to enjoy their time together, without infringing on anyone else’s experience.
I’ve stayed in a lot of bed and breakfasts and the Channel Road Inn is by far one of the best places that I’ve been to. With its comforting design, charming nature, extensive amenities, and perfect location, it’s no wonder that this place is such a hit with its visitors. You won’t want to leave.
For more information, visit channelroadinn.com or call 310-459-1920.
