Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Boho eatery just 2 blocks away. Outdoor & indoor seating. Cool bar and open every day but Monday.
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose AveBoho eatery just 2 blocks away. Outdoor & indoor seating. Cool bar and open every day but Monday.
Artisanal bakery in a warehouse-like setting. Cool vibe, cool people. Does not serve alcohol.
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset AveArtisanal bakery in a warehouse-like setting. Cool vibe, cool people. Does not serve alcohol.
Latin food, global beers and wine, good scene, mostly outdoor/semi-outdoor seating. Busy in evenings.
181 locals recommend
Cerveteca
523 Rose AveLatin food, global beers and wine, good scene, mostly outdoor/semi-outdoor seating. Busy in evenings.
Next door to Cerveteca. Intimate setting featuring organic foods & wine bar. Good spot for dinner and brunch.
192 locals recommend
Venice Beach Wines
529 Rose AveNext door to Cerveteca. Intimate setting featuring organic foods & wine bar. Good spot for dinner and brunch.
Asian-fusion with upscale dining area and casual, busy bar. Good Happy Hour, 2 TV’s.
153 locals recommend
Chaya
110 Navy St Asian-fusion with upscale dining area and casual, busy bar. Good Happy Hour, 2 TV’s.
Upscale Italian with a cool vibe, great wine and good selection of traditional and creative dishes.
39 locals recommend
Via Veneto
3009 Main StUpscale Italian with a cool vibe, great wine and good selection of traditional and creative dishes.
Great, casual dining serving salads, organic faire and healthy juices. Sit outside, good scene. Angelenos love Urth for casual but cool breakfast and lunch.
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StGreat, casual dining serving salads, organic faire and healthy juices. Sit outside, good scene. Angelenos love Urth for casual but cool breakfast and lunch.
Casual dining, large outdoor patio space with couches. Indoor sports bar with lots of TV’s. Bottomless mimosas and good happy hour.
54 locals recommend
Areal Restaurant
2820 Main StreetCasual dining, large outdoor patio space with couches. Indoor sports bar with lots of TV’s. Bottomless mimosas and good happy hour.
The Anchor
235 Main StCasual seafood dining (oysters, lobster, etc.) with good happy hour.
Komodo
8809 W Pico BlvdFast & healthy Asian fusion. Organic tacos, salads and sides.
Relaxed indoor and outdoor seating, good wine list, craft beers and mature gastropub menu.
48 locals recommend
Ashland Hill
2807 Main StRelaxed indoor and outdoor seating, good wine list, craft beers and mature gastropub menu.
Brick + Mortar
2435 Main StGastropub/Sports bar, casual dining, American food, lots of TV’s.
Manchego
2518 Main StSpanish. Romantic setting. Dimly lit. Tapas and traditional dishes.
Sister to the Ivy on Robertson. California dining, good cocktails. Right across from the beach in SM.
38 locals recommend
Ivy at the Shore
1535 Ocean AveSister to the Ivy on Robertson. California dining, good cocktails. Right across from the beach in SM.
Gastropub. Good bar, good scene. Comfort food, health-conscious options and good cocktails.
199 locals recommend
The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
225 Santa Monica BlvdGastropub. Good bar, good scene. Comfort food, health-conscious options and good cocktails.
Blue Plate Taco
1515 Ocean AveOcean & sky views. Casual, beachy vibe. Mexican fare.
Upscale farmhouse chic dining. Great for Saturday and Sunday brunch, good wine, cheese selections.
14 locals recommend
Dudley Market
9 Dudley AveUpscale farmhouse chic dining. Great for Saturday and Sunday brunch, good wine, cheese selections.
Best rooftop view in Venice. Minimal food but good drinks. Reservations are highly recommended. Great for sunsets.
12 locals recommend
Osteria Venice West
5 Dudley AvenueBest rooftop view in Venice. Minimal food but good drinks. Reservations are highly recommended. Great for sunsets.
Upscale dining on the boardwalk – full dining or lite bites and drinks. Outdoor deck seating, Indoor seating.
99 locals recommend
Shutters on the Beach
1 Pico BlvdUpscale dining on the boardwalk – full dining or lite bites and drinks. Outdoor deck seating, Indoor seating.
Bright bleached wood décor with indoor & outdoor seating. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options as well as extensive list of juices. Good scene. Good brunch spot.
175 locals recommend
The Butcher's Daughter
1205 Abbot Kinney BoulevardBright bleached wood décor with indoor & outdoor seating. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options as well as extensive list of juices. Good scene. Good brunch spot.
High end + same owner as Gjusta. Great wine list and amazing food. Vibe and scene are top notch.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdHigh end + same owner as Gjusta. Great wine list and amazing food. Vibe and scene are top notch.
Chill dining of organic salads, sandwiches and produce. Full bar and good happy hour.
14 locals recommend
Greenleaf Kitchen & Cocktails
1239 Abbot Kinney BoulevardChill dining of organic salads, sandwiches and produce. Full bar and good happy hour.
Hip, upscale Mediterranean dining with great wine list and solid bar scene. Good drinks and open till 12am most nights.
395 locals recommend
The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney BlvdHip, upscale Mediterranean dining with great wine list and solid bar scene. Good drinks and open till 12am most nights.
Relaxed atmosphere serving organic juices and sandwiches.
113 locals recommend
Kreation Organic Kafe & Juicery
1202 Abbot Kinney BlvdRelaxed atmosphere serving organic juices and sandwiches.
Upscale Italian eatery with dark interior and good scene. Great wine list and chef. Extensive bar.
260 locals recommend
Scopa Italian Roots
2905 Washington BlvdUpscale Italian eatery with dark interior and good scene. Great wine list and chef. Extensive bar.
Upscale Californian cuisine, highly curated menu and good wine list. Nice bar. Indoor and outdoor seating.
23 locals recommend
Leona
123 Washington BoulevardUpscale Californian cuisine, highly curated menu and good wine list. Nice bar. Indoor and outdoor seating.
Super chill, divey burger joint. Beer and wine. Live music. Cash only.
318 locals recommend
Hinano Cafe
15 Washington BlvdSuper chill, divey burger joint. Beer and wine. Live music. Cash only.
Bulletproof Cafe Santa Monica
3110 Main StShopping
Outdoor mall just 3 blocks from the water. Santa Monica Place and Promenade run about 1/2 mile long. Lots of restaurants here in addition to tons of shopping. Movie theater as well!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierOutdoor mall just 3 blocks from the water. Santa Monica Place and Promenade run about 1/2 mile long. Lots of restaurants here in addition to tons of shopping. Movie theater as well!
Essentials
You can find everything here! Just walk straight up Rose about 3/4 of a mile, you cant miss it.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdYou can find everything here! Just walk straight up Rose about 3/4 of a mile, you cant miss it.
Drinks & Nightlife
Casual sports bar with lots of TV’s. Good nachos and misc. bar food.
32 locals recommend
Rick's Tavern On Main
2907 Main StCasual sports bar with lots of TV’s. Good nachos and misc. bar food.
Great spot for day drinking or nights out. Good scene, upscale but not stuffy. Attached to Fairmont Hotel.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdGreat spot for day drinking or nights out. Good scene, upscale but not stuffy. Attached to Fairmont Hotel.
Viceroy Santa Monica
1819 Ocean AveMinimal food options but good bar and nice outdoor pool.
The Commons Ale House
129 Broadway Gastropub on the boardwalk. Organic dishes and craft beer.
Best rooftop view in Venice. Minimal food but good drinks. Reservations
248 locals recommend
Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific AveBest rooftop view in Venice. Minimal food but good drinks. Reservations
Beer and wine bar. Dark inside, not super crowded, room to sit.
262 locals recommend
the otheroom Venice Beach
Beer and wine bar. Dark inside, not super crowded, room to sit.
Chill sports-bar with good food. Right on the boardwalk. TV’s and view of the ocean.
282 locals recommend
VENICE WHALER BAR & GRILL
10 Washington BoulevardChill sports-bar with good food. Right on the boardwalk. TV’s and view of the ocean.
Entertainment & Activities
The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a public beach and pool facility built on the location of a now-demolished 110-room mansion that was built for Marion Davies by William Randolph Hearst. Located right on the Santa Monica boardwalk.
152 locals recommend
Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast HwyThe Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach is a public beach and pool facility built on the location of a now-demolished 110-room mansion that was built for Marion Davies by William Randolph Hearst. Located right on the Santa Monica boardwalk.
Santa Monica Stairs
699 Adelaide Dr100+ stairs that every local uses to maintain that LA bod.
Getting Around
Our new above ground subway that will take you all the way from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. Stops on the way include USC, restaurants, bars and art galleries.
25 locals recommend
Expo Line
Expo LineOur new above ground subway that will take you all the way from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. Stops on the way include USC, restaurants, bars and art galleries.
Sightseeing
Super famous house of The Getty family. Oceanfront and tickets are free or very reasonable. One of the worlds most impressive collections of art and antiques.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwySuper famous house of The Getty family. Oceanfront and tickets are free or very reasonable. One of the worlds most impressive collections of art and antiques.