I loved staying at the Zen Studio. I cannot recommend this place enough for solo travelers, business travelers, and for any couple who wants a peaceful retreat in beautiful Santa Monica. Ray was a great host and provided very clear instructions and recommendations throughout my stay. I was here for three weeks, and was able to contact Ray through text and phone about any concerns or questions I had. I also spoke with April, the housekeeper, who very graciously let me back into the studio when I had forgotten my key.
The space is so chic and reminds me of a minimalist Japanese apartment. It has its own private entrance and the closed-off front courtyard was lovely to relax in with ultimate privacy. As a solo traveler, safety is a high priority and I couldn't have felt more secure. The studio was lovingly stocked with extra blankets, heater, a fan, floor cushions, extra towels/toiletries/toilet paper - they really thought of everything a guest may need during their stay that it was very easy to settle in. The shower worked very well and had great temperature control. Loved the long desk space to do some work and the mini fridge to keep any snacks/leftover takeout.
The neighborhood is very lovely, safe, and very walkable - being able to take a morning walk to the farmers market, Cafe Gratitude, and Bluestone coffee really made me feel like I lived in the neighborhood. It was only 10 minutes away from my workplace, and is close to many popular Santa Monica destinations.
As previous reviews have stated, this studio is connected to a larger estate (you do not interact with any of the guests there) and you will hear some sound through the walls at certain times. However, in the three weeks I stayed there, I never had a problem having peace and quiet and any disturbance ended by 10PM. For visitors longer than one week, there is an additional cleaning fee that had to be discussed outside of AirBnb, but Ray was very good at communicating how to manage that and open to working around my schedule. I cannot wait until I have another opportunity to stay here for work again! Much better than any business hotel stay.