Hotel MdR sits right in Marina del Rey, just a few blocks from the water and close enough to Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Venice’s main drag that you can walk to shops and restaurants. It’s four miles from LAX, which matters if you’re flying in and don’t want to spend an hour in a car before you can actually settle in with your dog.

The hotel recently went through a renovation, and what stands out is Barbianca Local Kitchen, an indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar that overlooks the pool. They do northern Italian food with a Napa Valley influence—the kind of place where you can sit outside in Marina del Rey’s mild weather year-round and actually enjoy a meal. Since the space wraps around the pool area, there’s a good chance they’ll have some outdoor seating where you and your dog can hang out while you eat, though you’ll want to confirm that when you call.

The location makes sense if you’re traveling for work. Google, YouTube, Sony Pictures, and Electronic Arts all have offices nearby in what people call Silicon Beach, so the hotel caters to that crowd. But it’s also practical for anyone visiting LA who wants to be near the coast without being in the thick of Santa Monica or downtown. Marina del Rey has a more low-key vibe than those areas, and the marina itself is a pleasant place to walk around—the waterfront path runs along the harbor and gives dogs a chance to stretch without feeling like you’re in a major tourist zone.

The temperate weather means you’re not dealing with extreme heat or cold, which is nice when you’re trying to figure out where to leave your dog during the day. You’ve got easy access to both the beach scene and the business district, depending on what you need.