Hotel Erwin

Hotel Erwin is a boutique hotel on Pacific Avenue in Venice, a few steps from the Venice Beach Boardwalk. It has 119 rooms in total, 86 rooms and 33 suites, and it sits in a neighbourhood where street art and surf culture are part of everyday life.

The location is the main reason to stay. Within a minute or two you can be on the boardwalk, watching skaters at the Venice Beach Skatepark or walking along the sand, and the beach bike path makes it easy to ride north to Santa Monica Pier or south towards Marina del Rey. Ask about the outlook when booking if a view matters to you.

At the top of the hotel, Kassi Venice Beach is a rooftop venue run by the Wish You Were Here Group, with drinks and food served against a backdrop of ocean views. It is popular at sunset, when it draws locals as well as guests, so it can be lively on weekend evenings.

The hotel suits couples, friends and younger travellers who want to be in the middle of Venice's beach life, and it can work for families who prioritise beach time over quiet evenings. It is less suited to travellers who want to be close to Downtown or Hollywood, which are a long drive away in traffic. Rates are mid-range to upper mid-range by Los Angeles beach standards.

For meetings and group bookings, the hotel lists a sales team and the email [email protected], and there is a main phone line for general enquiries. Parking in Venice is limited, so ask about the hotel's parking arrangements when booking if you are driving. Mornings in Venice are a good time to explore before the crowds arrive, when the boardwalk is quiet and runners and cyclists have the beach path largely to themselves. Staying right by the beach means you can return to your room between outings, which is a real advantage in hot weather or when travelling with children who need a break from the sun.

Abbot Kinney Boulevard, with its restaurants such as Gjelina and the Gjusta bakery, is a short walk inland, and the Venice Canals are about ten minutes away on foot. Buses run along Pacific Avenue and Main Street towards Santa Monica, where the Downtown Santa Monica station connects to the Metro E Line.