The vibe: Coastal comfort at the epicenter of the action. Location: 1700 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA, 90401 | View on Google Maps. The last time the Regent brand was in Los Angeles, it was at the Regent Beverly Wilshire (now a Four Seasons) and had a starring role in 1990’s Pretty Woman. The “Reg Bev Will,” as Julia Roberts’s friend Kit described it, was a byword for aspiration and opulence, essentially the apex of L.A. glamour for a generation of movie fans. But how does the newly opened Regent Santa Monica Beach stack up—and stand out—in 2024 in a place with no shortage of alluring oceanfront hotels?