The Kinney Venice Beach – Hotel Review

The comfy, quirky digs of The Kinney Venice Beach makes the perfect temporary pad for an LA wayfarer. Like the boundary-pushing personality of its neighbourhood, the hotel packs a big punch with colour and exceptional location in the heart of Venice; impressing guests with a smattering of appreciated amenities including plunge pool and a very LA breakfast offering (acai bowls: tick) in the lobby lounge. Read on for the full review.

Inside, you won’t find the kind of hyper-groomed interiors that proliferate the beachfront hotels of nearby Santa Monica; the mildly-Mid-century stylings are cool but chill and the cosy courtyard adorned by a white ping-pong table and gas-powered fire pit are purposefully casual. Not that you’d expect anything else with a mural-wrapped exterior – this is Venice, after all.

Where is The Kinney Venice Beach? 

Almost shouldering a corner of Marina del Rey, The Kinney Venice Beach is about a kilometre-and-a-half back from the Venice Beach promenade (take West Washington Boulevard and you’re there). In good traffic, the trip to LAX can be as quick as 15 minutes by cab (or much longer if you’ve hit peak hour).

What’s near The Kinney Venice Beach?

Local cool cats frequent Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a strip of trendy cafes and boutiques that begins about 50 metres from the hotel’s front door. You’ll likely start the day here (Intelligentsia is the stop for those who take their coffee seriously) and end it here, too (the fresh pasta of Felix Trattoria is loved by locals). 

Swimmers will obviously swing past Venice Beach, about 20 minutes west on foot, and sightseers might swing past Venice Canals on their way – they’re about 15 minutes walk away.

Room types 

Bright-yellow door frames. Geometric carpets. Teal curtains and rainbow-sploshed wallpaper. While there’s a distinct visual personality to these bold rooms, the effect isn’t incongruous or OTT – it feels like the warm home of an artsy friend. In the bathrooms, guests will find Lather bath goodies and fluffy robes and comfy beds and coffee makers in the rooms.

Restaurants and bars 

There are no on-site eateries at The Kinney but made-to-order options are available for guests, with coffee urns. Past options have included granola pots, acai bowls and cereals.

Travel for work

Rooms have small dining tables that could fit a laptop and a coffee, and wi-fi is included in the room rate.

Pool and gym

Both the pool and gym are small (to say the least) so why not head down to Muscle Beach (a 25-minute walk) instead for a sun-soaked workout?

Accessibility   

While the hotel is wheelchair accessible, there’s only one room with a wheelchair accessible shower, so be mindful that booking far in advance may be necessary.

What you need to know

Bicycles are available for guest use but there’s a fee involved.