Boards on bikes and bikes on boardwalks characterise Manhattan Beach, a quintessentially-Californian beach town. As young trendsetters trickled south into its sister cities, Hermosa and Redondo, Manhattan Beach morphed into a polished seaside respite with a reputation for respectability. Residents still enjoy its sun, its surf, and its sportiness, they merely do so with a mellowed attitude and an earlier bedtime.
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A Sophisticated Beach Town In Southwest LA
Professional athletes and powerful executives make their home in Manhattan Beach, California's most expensive coastal city.
Despite its high price tag, the city maintains a low-key vibe.
It is still the beach, after all.
Bikes, boards, and bipeds make their way past million-dollar mansions and California bungalows on their way to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
The wooden promenade offers the perfect perch to surf watch.
Aquarium Cafe chills beach goers down with ice cream cones and lemonade cups.
Reel it in.
You're a great catch.
The Strand: The Boardwalk that Connects Beach Towns
A bike path and pedestrian promenade, The Strand stretches along Manhattan Beach's shoreline.
It connects 22 miles of coast from Pacific Palisades to Torrance.
Walk. Jog. Rollerblade. Multitask.
Dining and Drinking In Manhattan Beach
Spirits, grub, brews, and burgers compose many of Manhattan Beach's seaside menus.
In Manhattan Beach, patio dining feels just fine.
Better Home and Garden Boutiques
Hand-dipped candles and hand-woven wares fill the shelves of Manhattan Beach's boutiques.
Here, shopping and surf culture blend to create a couture beach-inspired aesthetic.
In this city, there are even boutique sweets.
Becker's has been baking since 1942.
Riding Giants In Manhattan Beach
Searching for surf?
Check out the Pier and El Porto.
They're swell.
Residential Retreats In Manhattan Beach
Balconied homes line up along the beach and beyond the sound of the ocean.
Little cottages and grand mansions share precious real estate.
Photography
Airbnb works with local photographers to capture the spirit of neighbourhoods all around the world. The photography on this page includes work by:
Rob Kalmbach
Rob is an editorial & commercial art photographer based in LA. On a recent assignment to South Africa with Ghetto Film School, he documented student filmmakers. On the Airbnb project, Rob says: “I love exploring the City of Angels. The other day, I photographed in pouring rain, thinking the worst, but ended up with some of my best shots. The people I meet on a daily basis amaze me."
Michal Czerwonka
Michal Czerwonka is a contract photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. Born in Poland and raised in Canada and the Midwest, his early travels led him to photography. When not on assignment Michal cruises the Pacific coast with his wife Soyoung and their Beagle looking for good waves and good people. His work has appeared in The New York TImes, The Wall Street Journal, LIFE Magazine, TIME Magazine, National Geographic Traveller, amongst others