Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food Scene
Very popular eatery in Venice. Reservations highly recommended as it is an incredibly popular eatery with nearly 4000 reviews on Yelp!
Must try: Mushroom Toast, Moroccan Baked Eggs, & their Butterscotch Pot de Creme (for dessert).
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdVery popular eatery in Venice. Reservations highly recommended as it is an incredibly popular eatery with nearly 4000 reviews on Yelp!
Must try: Mushroom Toast, Moroccan Baked Eggs, & their Butterscotch Pot de Creme (for dessert).
Cafe Gratitude
512 Rose AveLocally-sourced, wholesome, organic, vegan food!
Excellent organic coffee & food! Perfect casual eatery, but do recommend avoiding their lunch crowd. Their bread pudding is a solid choice as well as their Caprese Panini sandwich!
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StExcellent organic coffee & food! Perfect casual eatery, but do recommend avoiding their lunch crowd. Their bread pudding is a solid choice as well as their Caprese Panini sandwich!
Socal's interpretation of a German beer hall! They serve exotic sausages (rabbit, duck, lamb, rattlesnake etc) as well as offering vegan and vegetarian options.
Highly recommend their fries, the Mexican Chipotle Veggie sausage, and a Fruli (strawberry beer)!
243 locals recommend
Wurstküche Restaurant Venice Beach
625 Lincoln BlvdSocal's interpretation of a German beer hall! They serve exotic sausages (rabbit, duck, lamb, rattlesnake etc) as well as offering vegan and vegetarian options.
Highly recommend their fries, the Mexican Chipotle Veggie sausage, and a Fruli (strawberry beer)!
On Sundays until 1pm - you can find some of the freshest produce straight from local California farms. You can also find artisanal foods as well as other food offerings (crepes, waffles, etc) - along with a variety of live entertainment.
162 locals recommend
Santa Monica Sunday Main Street Farmers Markets
2640 Main StOn Sundays until 1pm - you can find some of the freshest produce straight from local California farms. You can also find artisanal foods as well as other food offerings (crepes, waffles, etc) - along with a variety of live entertainment.
Philz Coffee
525 Santa Monica BlvdGreat coffee shop - do try their Mint Mojito coffee beverage!
Very popular donut shop, they'll let you sample anything! Fresh donuts made from scratch with clean ingredients!
40 locals recommend
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
631 Wilshire BlvdVery popular donut shop, they'll let you sample anything! Fresh donuts made from scratch with clean ingredients!
Hurry Curry of Tokyo
2901 Sawtelle BlvdGreat Japanese style curry - casual eatery
Casual sushi shop where you can order a la carte or pick up any items on their revolving/conveyor belt sushi bar!
44 locals recommend
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
2130 Sawtelle BlvdCasual sushi shop where you can order a la carte or pick up any items on their revolving/conveyor belt sushi bar!
Excellent popular place for burgers & beers! Their Father's Office Burger is a must try
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveExcellent popular place for burgers & beers! Their Father's Office Burger is a must try
Blue Plate Oysterette
1355 Ocean AveSeafood tacos! Known for their oysters & lobster rolls!
Authentic Italian Gelato! Grom is a short drive away, nestled in Malibu Canyon Village (shopping plaza).
19 locals recommend
Grom
3888 Cross Creek RdAuthentic Italian Gelato! Grom is a short drive away, nestled in Malibu Canyon Village (shopping plaza).
Drinks & Nightlife
The Bungalow at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel is a great place to spend your night - very trendy night spot with pool & ping pong tables, great lounge rooms and even a bonfire in the back.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdThe Bungalow at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel is a great place to spend your night - very trendy night spot with pool & ping pong tables, great lounge rooms and even a bonfire in the back.
Sightseeing
Clearly a MUST if you are visiting Santa Monica! There is a giant ferris wheel and excellent Pokemon to be caught (if you or your children play Pokemon Go). Also recommend renting cruiser bikes to ride along the bike path along the beach coast!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierClearly a MUST if you are visiting Santa Monica! There is a giant ferris wheel and excellent Pokemon to be caught (if you or your children play Pokemon Go). Also recommend renting cruiser bikes to ride along the bike path along the beach coast!
Shopping
So much shopping! The whole street is filled with a bevvy of shops from Urban Outfitters, Banana Republic, Zara, Forever21, Brookstone, Apple, etc. Whatever store you're looking for, they likely have it along the promenade. Great place for a post dinner stroll too~
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeSo much shopping! The whole street is filled with a bevvy of shops from Urban Outfitters, Banana Republic, Zara, Forever21, Brookstone, Apple, etc. Whatever store you're looking for, they likely have it along the promenade. Great place for a post dinner stroll too~
Right at the starting point of the 3rd St Promenade - this outdoor mall offers additional stores along with a food court. You can find Louis Vuitton, L'Occitane, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales here.
178 locals recommend
Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica PlaceRight at the starting point of the 3rd St Promenade - this outdoor mall offers additional stores along with a food court. You can find Louis Vuitton, L'Occitane, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales here.
If you've never been to Muji - it is a must! Think of it like a cross between Japanese minimal aesthetics mixed with The Container Store and a dash of IKEA. Essentially a home goods store but they kind of do have a bit of everything - containers, diffusers, little packaged Japanese snacks, cleaning tools, clothes, pens and stationery.
16 locals recommend
MUJI Hollywood
7021 Hollywood BlvdIf you've never been to Muji - it is a must! Think of it like a cross between Japanese minimal aesthetics mixed with The Container Store and a dash of IKEA. Essentially a home goods store but they kind of do have a bit of everything - containers, diffusers, little packaged Japanese snacks, cleaning tools, clothes, pens and stationery.
Arts & Culture
Great place to spend your day surrounded by Greek and Roman art & architecture as well as a beautiful garden.
Wednesday–Monday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays
Holiday closures: Thanksgiving, December 25 (Christmas Day), and January 1
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyGreat place to spend your day surrounded by Greek and Roman art & architecture as well as a beautiful garden.
Wednesday–Monday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Closed Tuesdays
Holiday closures: Thanksgiving, December 25 (Christmas Day), and January 1
Essentials
7:00am - 10:00pm Seven days a week
Healthy grocery right near our apartment. They have excellent prepped foods as well.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd7:00am - 10:00pm Seven days a week
Healthy grocery right near our apartment. They have excellent prepped foods as well.