Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food Scene
Always a crowd favorite, delicious bread, smoked trout, sandwiches. Very casual but all about the food over there. I love the breakfast egg sandwich !
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset AveAlways a crowd favorite, delicious bread, smoked trout, sandwiches. Very casual but all about the food over there. I love the breakfast egg sandwich !
One of my favorite spots --- Amazing Indonesian food, hardly a wait except on saturday/friday nights. Fancy, pricy but worth it mouth watering food. Recommend the crab dip, the braised beef, and fried egg noodle
47 locals recommend
Wallflower
609 Rose AveOne of my favorite spots --- Amazing Indonesian food, hardly a wait except on saturday/friday nights. Fancy, pricy but worth it mouth watering food. Recommend the crab dip, the braised beef, and fried egg noodle
Love this lunch spot! the Bahn Mi is exquisite, the owner partially cooks the bread and finishes it when it is ordered so you get a perfect sandwich every time. I recommend eating there so the sandwich isn't soggy. Favorite: pork belly
15 locals recommend
Banh Mi. Venice
307 Lincoln BlvdLove this lunch spot! the Bahn Mi is exquisite, the owner partially cooks the bread and finishes it when it is ordered so you get a perfect sandwich every time. I recommend eating there so the sandwich isn't soggy. Favorite: pork belly
Great happy hour 5-7. The sushi isn't the best but the chicken wings, pork, ribs, and bbq are pretty tasty! Also great sake specials. Tuesday is happy hour all day
10 locals recommend
RIZE
2906 Lincoln BlvdGreat happy hour 5-7. The sushi isn't the best but the chicken wings, pork, ribs, and bbq are pretty tasty! Also great sake specials. Tuesday is happy hour all day
Cerveteca
523 Rose AveExcellent Fish tacos in a more trendy setting
Great local spot for coffee, cheap and healthy breakfast but pretty bland to me
300 locals recommend
Groundwork Coffee Co.
671 Rose AveGreat local spot for coffee, cheap and healthy breakfast but pretty bland to me
Vegetarians come here for thai food, more casual, less trendy, but a good restaurant setting that seats quickly.
If not vegetarian go to night + market (but possibly long lines there, best thai food in LA)
38 locals recommend
Satdha
2218 Lincoln BlvdVegetarians come here for thai food, more casual, less trendy, but a good restaurant setting that seats quickly.
If not vegetarian go to night + market (but possibly long lines there, best thai food in LA)
Healthy fast lunch/breakfast/dinner for the budget conscious. I highly** recommend the street tacos that are set up at night outside of the parking lot on lincoln blvd (look for string lights and a line). Tacos/burritos/quesedillas. The Suadero, Al pastor, and Asada are my favorites in that order
Open late till 12pm / 12:30am
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdHealthy fast lunch/breakfast/dinner for the budget conscious. I highly** recommend the street tacos that are set up at night outside of the parking lot on lincoln blvd (look for string lights and a line). Tacos/burritos/quesedillas. The Suadero, Al pastor, and Asada are my favorites in that order
Open late till 12pm / 12:30am
No sign on the restaurant because its a cult favorite in LA! If you're on abbot kinney and aren't afraid to spend many of your dollars definitely come to LA's favorite restaurant
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdNo sign on the restaurant because its a cult favorite in LA! If you're on abbot kinney and aren't afraid to spend many of your dollars definitely come to LA's favorite restaurant
Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
540 Rose AveYUM.
Breakfast Sandwiches are great! lines are kinda long an annoying, maybe call ahead and order.
174 locals recommend
Flake
513 Rose AveBreakfast Sandwiches are great! lines are kinda long an annoying, maybe call ahead and order.
Fast casual and affordable lunch spot, a lot of food. Vegetarian friendly, and I feel great after eating this kind of food. Middle Eastern food from NY Chefs!
CAVA
326 Lincoln BoulevardFast casual and affordable lunch spot, a lot of food. Vegetarian friendly, and I feel great after eating this kind of food. Middle Eastern food from NY Chefs!
Dune Venice
9 Dudley AveHot new restaurant, very tasty middle eastern food
Tried salad pizza once and I forever crave it! 5 dollar semi healthy lunch if you're out spending all your money at abbot kinney
184 locals recommend
Abbot's Pizza Company
1407 Abbot Kinney BoulevardTried salad pizza once and I forever crave it! 5 dollar semi healthy lunch if you're out spending all your money at abbot kinney
great food and brunch and coffee and bread. Fun beautiful place to eat, pricey but worth the ambiance and food
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose Avegreat food and brunch and coffee and bread. Fun beautiful place to eat, pricey but worth the ambiance and food
Drinks & Nightlife
My favorite speakeasy. Great music, great bar, great design, expensive cocktails. Come here on a friday to dance to hip funky music!
201 locals recommend
No Vacancy
1727 N Hudson AveMy favorite speakeasy. Great music, great bar, great design, expensive cocktails. Come here on a friday to dance to hip funky music!
Good Times at Davey Wayne's
1611 N El Centro AveThe title says it all, cool place to go out in LA !
Amazing happy hour for food and drinks every night except saturday. Pizza's for $5, Martini's, ect. Not crowded, not too scene, no lines, but great ambiance. Come with friends
181 locals recommend
Jones Hollywood
7205 Santa Monica BlvdAmazing happy hour for food and drinks every night except saturday. Pizza's for $5, Martini's, ect. Not crowded, not too scene, no lines, but great ambiance. Come with friends
Cute ambiance, close by, but a lot of bro's and tourists, but if thats your thing you'll love it!
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdCute ambiance, close by, but a lot of bro's and tourists, but if thats your thing you'll love it!
TENANTS OF THE TREES
2810 Hyperion AveCool, hip, and super fun music
Romantic bar, great drinks, chill atmosphere. Definitely not a destination but a great place to start or end a night
74 locals recommend
The Lincoln
2536 Lincoln BlvdRomantic bar, great drinks, chill atmosphere. Definitely not a destination but a great place to start or end a night
Entertainment & Activities
BIKE RIDE!!
Its very touristy but I still do it every weekend and do this with all my friends. It never gets old! Bike down to santa monica for mountain views, or venice for more of a down and dirty vibe. The boardwalk gets crowded so definitely be alert when riding!
815 locals recommend
Venice Beach Boardwalk
517 Ocean Front WalkBIKE RIDE!!
Its very touristy but I still do it every weekend and do this with all my friends. It never gets old! Bike down to santa monica for mountain views, or venice for more of a down and dirty vibe. The boardwalk gets crowded so definitely be alert when riding!
Beautiful, classic hollywood theater. HUGE IMAX! great movie experience and they have a cool touristy gallery
1423 locals recommend
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood BlvdBeautiful, classic hollywood theater. HUGE IMAX! great movie experience and they have a cool touristy gallery
Parks & Nature
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdHiking is beautiful here, great ocean & mountain views! Definitely look up your trails before, I get lost here sometimes.
223 locals recommend
Temescal Canyon Park
15900 Pacific Coast HwyHiking is beautiful here, great ocean & mountain views! Definitely look up your trails before, I get lost here sometimes.
Great Beach here that is further from the city but more scenic and peaceful.
580 locals recommend
Malibu
Great Beach here that is further from the city but more scenic and peaceful.
Great bike path that is for more advanced bikers, can be as long as you like but goes through the marina across the bridge to the most peaceful California beaches! 15-20 mile ride
277 locals recommend
Marina del Rey
Great bike path that is for more advanced bikers, can be as long as you like but goes through the marina across the bridge to the most peaceful California beaches! 15-20 mile ride
Arts & Culture
More local and young, but gallery openings are on saturday or friday nights? Usually free wine and cool kids !
163 locals recommend
Culver City
More local and young, but gallery openings are on saturday or friday nights? Usually free wine and cool kids !
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvdgreat museum!
free museum, their shows are ticketed though. But great new museum in DTLA
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand Avefree museum, their shows are ticketed though. But great new museum in DTLA
Getting Around
To go downtown or to culver city you can take the metro easily, the stop is about a 10 minute drive from us.
168 locals recommend
Downtown Santa Monica Station
402 Colorado AveTo go downtown or to culver city you can take the metro easily, the stop is about a 10 minute drive from us.
Essentials
it is a one minute walk from you and the owner is the sweetest! Will have a great selection of wines and beer as well as basic groceries and needs
Marine Market
672 Marine Stit is a one minute walk from you and the owner is the sweetest! Will have a great selection of wines and beer as well as basic groceries and needs
Rose Collective
411 Rose AveWeed is LEGAL! enjoy some medicine at rose collective ;)