Guidebook for Santa Monica

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Guidebook for Santa Monica

Essentials

Upscale grocery store (nearest to house)-one block away. Specialty foods and imports. Large selection of hot and prepared foods, salad bar, bakery...and a small cafe to sit down and eat inside.
48 locals recommend
Albertsons
48 locals recommend
Upscale grocery store (nearest to house)-one block away. Specialty foods and imports. Large selection of hot and prepared foods, salad bar, bakery...and a small cafe to sit down and eat inside.
Natural foods grocery store with HUGE selection of locally produced products and locally grown, organic produce. Recycle your batteries here. Huge vitamin section. Great salad bar and hot foods!
73 locals recommend
Co-opportunity
1525 Broadway
73 locals recommend
Natural foods grocery store with HUGE selection of locally produced products and locally grown, organic produce. Recycle your batteries here. Huge vitamin section. Great salad bar and hot foods!
TJ's rocks!! Massive selection of (mostly organic) prepared foods and small produce section. Huge wine selection. Specialty foods and cheeses. Open until 9:30pm. Parking is busy.
881 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson Ave
881 locals recommend
TJ's rocks!! Massive selection of (mostly organic) prepared foods and small produce section. Huge wine selection. Specialty foods and cheeses. Open until 9:30pm. Parking is busy.
Nearest 24 Hour supermarket.
212 locals recommend
Ralphs
12057 Wilshire Blvd
212 locals recommend
Nearest 24 Hour supermarket.
My favorite juice bar! Inexpensive 100% organic and a SM institution. Ride the bikes down there. Main St. and beach are fun!
42 locals recommend
One Life Natural Foods
3001 Main Street
42 locals recommend
My favorite juice bar! Inexpensive 100% organic and a SM institution. Ride the bikes down there. Main St. and beach are fun!

Everything Else

Family owned. Huge selection of champagnes.
Jerry's Liquor Store
2923 Wilshire Blvd
Family owned. Huge selection of champagnes.
Yoga classes with drop in donations. Formerly Santa Monica Power Yoga.
24 locals recommend
Santa Monica Power Yoga & Meditation
1540 2nd St
24 locals recommend
Yoga classes with drop in donations. Formerly Santa Monica Power Yoga.
Amazing public library. Hosts many exhibitions and events. There is a catalogue of sheet music that is out of this world!
The Library Inc.
453 S Spring St
Amazing public library. Hosts many exhibitions and events. There is a catalogue of sheet music that is out of this world!
Forgot your computer? They have them here. New library with an excellent catalogue of books and free computer and internet services.
26 locals recommend
Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd
26 locals recommend
Forgot your computer? They have them here. New library with an excellent catalogue of books and free computer and internet services.
Closest 24 hour pharmacy/drugstore.
106 locals recommend
CVS
2505 Santa Monica Blvd
106 locals recommend
Closest 24 hour pharmacy/drugstore.
Nearest Hostipal
9 locals recommend
Providence Neuro-Oncology Program - Santa Monica
2121 Santa Monica Blvd
9 locals recommend
Nearest Hostipal
Elder Care facility directly across the street from the cottage. There are doctors, nurses and staff members on duty twenty four hours.
Brentwood Health Care Center
1321 Franklin St
Elder Care facility directly across the street from the cottage. There are doctors, nurses and staff members on duty twenty four hours.
Very large liquor store chain, right next to the CVS Pharmacy a block away from the house , on Wilshire Blvd.
20 locals recommend
BevMo!
3212 Wilshire Blvd
20 locals recommend
Very large liquor store chain, right next to the CVS Pharmacy a block away from the house , on Wilshire Blvd.
University is a 2.7 miles from the house and a very easy commute.
473 locals recommend
University of California, Los Angeles
473 locals recommend
University is a 2.7 miles from the house and a very easy commute.
Whole Paycheck...I mean Whole Foods! is an upscale chain of mostly organic fresh and processed foods. Great salad bar. Open until 10pm. There is a location on 23rd and Wilshire in Santa Monica.
1202 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica Blvd
1202 locals recommend
Whole Paycheck...I mean Whole Foods! is an upscale chain of mostly organic fresh and processed foods. Great salad bar. Open until 10pm. There is a location on 23rd and Wilshire in Santa Monica.
Post Office
9 locals recommend
United States Postal Service
1217 Wilshire Blvd
9 locals recommend
Post Office
The UPS Store, next to the post office
33 locals recommend
The UPS Store
13428 Maxella Ave
33 locals recommend
The UPS Store, next to the post office
I don't know...but it's there.
Psychic Readings by Dorothy
I don't know...but it's there.
Group circuit training fitness classes, half a block from the house.
6 locals recommend
CrossFit Los Angeles
1715 Santa Monica Blvd
6 locals recommend
Group circuit training fitness classes, half a block from the house.

Food Scene

Favorite Chinese Restaurant, three minutes from the house. Super inexpensive, always friendly for dine-in and fast take-out as well.
Soybean Chinese Restaurant
11966 Wilshire Boulevard
Favorite Chinese Restaurant, three minutes from the house. Super inexpensive, always friendly for dine-in and fast take-out as well.
Nearby Starbucks chain coffee house.
573 locals recommend
Starbucks
12100 Santa Monica Blvd
573 locals recommend
Nearby Starbucks chain coffee house.
Want one of those funky hipster cafe's where you can be left alone with your coffee and your laptop? Hang out at 212 and feel like a local!
8 locals recommend
Cafe 212 Pier
212 Pier Ave
8 locals recommend
Want one of those funky hipster cafe's where you can be left alone with your coffee and your laptop? Hang out at 212 and feel like a local!
This is the best pizza in Los Angeles. Hands down.
184 locals recommend
Abbot's Pizza Company
1407 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
184 locals recommend
This is the best pizza in Los Angeles. Hands down.
Love this place for breakfast!
15 locals recommend
Bread & Porridge
2315 Wilshire Blvd
15 locals recommend
Love this place for breakfast!
Brand new, locally owned Vegan juice bar with very reasonable freshly pressed juices and eats. You bring back your glass juice jars for cheap refills-yay! In the same parking lot as Trader Joe's.
Rejuice
3238 Pico Blvd
Brand new, locally owned Vegan juice bar with very reasonable freshly pressed juices and eats. You bring back your glass juice jars for cheap refills-yay! In the same parking lot as Trader Joe's.
Iconic Duke's. Take a relaxing drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and stop at Duke's for lunch!
161 locals recommend
Duke's Malibu
21150 Pacific Coast Hwy
161 locals recommend
Iconic Duke's. Take a relaxing drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and stop at Duke's for lunch!
Nearby great cafe and coffee shop.
67 locals recommend
Literati Cafe
12081 Wilshire Blvd
67 locals recommend
Nearby great cafe and coffee shop.
French Chocolatier and cafe. Yummmm!!
7 locals recommend
Lady Chocolatt
12008 Wilshire Blvd
7 locals recommend
French Chocolatier and cafe. Yummmm!!
This is the local diner. My mom loves the burgers here! It's seconds from the house.
8 locals recommend
Coogie's Cafe Santa Monica
2906 Santa Monica Blvd
8 locals recommend
This is the local diner. My mom loves the burgers here! It's seconds from the house.
Italian restaurant and Pizzaria
Di Vita's Italian Restaurant
11916 Wilshire Blvd
Italian restaurant and Pizzaria
sushi sasabune
30 locals recommend
Sushi Sasabune
11917 Wilshire Blvd
30 locals recommend
sushi sasabune
Casa Del Mar is gorgeous place for lunch overlooking the ocean.
76 locals recommend
Hotel Casa del Mar
1910 Ocean Way
76 locals recommend
Casa Del Mar is gorgeous place for lunch overlooking the ocean.
Very nice restaurant and lounge. Ten blocks from house.
22 locals recommend
Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire Blvd
22 locals recommend
Very nice restaurant and lounge. Ten blocks from house.
Sometimes a night just isn't complete without a kebab.
California Pita & Grill Brentwood
12001 Wilshire Blvd
Sometimes a night just isn't complete without a kebab.
French bakery and cafe
48 locals recommend
Amandine Patisserie Cafe
12225 Wilshire Blvd
48 locals recommend
French bakery and cafe
Hara Sushi
28 locals recommend
Hara Sushi
12222 Wilshire Blvd
28 locals recommend
Hara Sushi

Drinks & Nightlife

Nearest watering hole. Loud sports bar. Young and busy on weekends.
72 locals recommend
Busby's West Fans
3110 Santa Monica Blvd
72 locals recommend
Nearest watering hole. Loud sports bar. Young and busy on weekends.
Looking for that after hours place to have a bite and a drink? Here it is! Great secret brunch spot!
139 locals recommend
Hal's Bar and Grill
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd
139 locals recommend
Looking for that after hours place to have a bite and a drink? Here it is! Great secret brunch spot!
Want a dimly lit, chi chi lounge where you can see and be seen? Here's one! The pool cabanas are great for hosting parties!
35 locals recommend
Viceroy Santa Monica
1819 Ocean Ave
35 locals recommend
Want a dimly lit, chi chi lounge where you can see and be seen? Here's one! The pool cabanas are great for hosting parties!
Lively bar and mexican food restaurant.
172 locals recommend
Cabo Cantina
6669 Hollywood Blvd
172 locals recommend
Lively bar and mexican food restaurant.
Wine, beer and whiskey bar and restaurant. Not the vibe, but dollar hot dogs during happy hour!
17 locals recommend
BarFood
12217 Wilshire Blvd
17 locals recommend
Wine, beer and whiskey bar and restaurant. Not the vibe, but dollar hot dogs during happy hour!

Shopping

3rd Street is lined by all the big chain stores, Apple store, restaurants, movie theaters and usually lots of street performers. There is an upscale mall at the end on Broadway.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street Promenade
1595 locals recommend
3rd Street is lined by all the big chain stores, Apple store, restaurants, movie theaters and usually lots of street performers. There is an upscale mall at the end on Broadway.
Main Street is where you get the beachy, local feeling of Santa Monica. Lots of cafes, restaurants, clothing stores and shops. Transforms on weekend nights with lots of bars and nightclubs.
207 locals recommend
Main Street
Main Street
207 locals recommend
Main Street is where you get the beachy, local feeling of Santa Monica. Lots of cafes, restaurants, clothing stores and shops. Transforms on weekend nights with lots of bars and nightclubs.
Montana High Street is the upmarket shopping street, although there aren't that many stores. Another Whole Foods, many cafes and cute restaurants line the street.
141 locals recommend
Montana Avenue
Montana Avenue
141 locals recommend
Montana High Street is the upmarket shopping street, although there aren't that many stores. Another Whole Foods, many cafes and cute restaurants line the street.
Fun and hip Venice boulevard with tons of restaurants and shops. The Venice street fair is held here.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
1065 locals recommend
Fun and hip Venice boulevard with tons of restaurants and shops. The Venice street fair is held here.
Just a few blocks from the cottage, this bike shop has a huge selection with everything you need from basket to helmet to pump!
Electric Bicycle Santa Monica
Just a few blocks from the cottage, this bike shop has a huge selection with everything you need from basket to helmet to pump!
The famous Rodeo Drive...spend some money or just play spot the celebrity! (Well you could do that anywhere on the westside...;)
200 locals recommend
North Rodeo Drive
North Rodeo Drive
200 locals recommend
The famous Rodeo Drive...spend some money or just play spot the celebrity! (Well you could do that anywhere on the westside...;)

Entertainment & Activities

The Santa Monica Pier is the most densely populated tourist area of the city. Amusement park rides, carnival food, tourist trinkets, antique carousel. It's fun. Free concerts in the summer!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
2744 locals recommend
The Santa Monica Pier is the most densely populated tourist area of the city. Amusement park rides, carnival food, tourist trinkets, antique carousel. It's fun. Free concerts in the summer!
I love this little aquarium and think it's a fabulous place for kids, young and old. You can hold a starfish, pet a shark, do an arts and craft project...all in one tiny little space!
36 locals recommend
Heal the Bay Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front Walk
36 locals recommend
I love this little aquarium and think it's a fabulous place for kids, young and old. You can hold a starfish, pet a shark, do an arts and craft project...all in one tiny little space!
If you have kids, then don't miss the Noah's Ark exhibit! All the animals are made from crazy things: like keys, teakettles and it's interactive: push a lever and a wolf howls fifty feet in the air!
78 locals recommend
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N Sepulveda Blvd
78 locals recommend
If you have kids, then don't miss the Noah's Ark exhibit! All the animals are made from crazy things: like keys, teakettles and it's interactive: push a lever and a wolf howls fifty feet in the air!
This is an indoor kids tumbling center that you can drop in for classes or try a "free play" hour. A block from the house.
My Gym
This is an indoor kids tumbling center that you can drop in for classes or try a "free play" hour. A block from the house.

Sightseeing

Nice walking bluff overlooking the ocean.
130 locals recommend
Palisades Park
Ocean Avenue
130 locals recommend
Nice walking bluff overlooking the ocean.
Venice Beach! Although many of the hippies, palm readers and have now been replaced with sunglasses and t-shirt vendors...it's still artsy Venice and not to be missed! Always live street performers...
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front Walk
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach! Although many of the hippies, palm readers and have now been replaced with sunglasses and t-shirt vendors...it's still artsy Venice and not to be missed! Always live street performers...
This bike and rollerblade path goes all the way to Marina Del Rey and is just a fantastic way to spend the day! See Venice beach, volleyball spots, Pier, muscle beach. Fun fun, relaxing, fun!
28 locals recommend
Bike Path
28 locals recommend
This bike and rollerblade path goes all the way to Marina Del Rey and is just a fantastic way to spend the day! See Venice beach, volleyball spots, Pier, muscle beach. Fun fun, relaxing, fun!
Here is the famous (and a bit seedy, sorry!) Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the stars. Make it a daytime thing if you're bringing the kids!
382 locals recommend
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
6255 Sunset Blvd
382 locals recommend
Here is the famous (and a bit seedy, sorry!) Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the stars. Make it a daytime thing if you're bringing the kids!
The Famous Theater where the stars of yesteryear have their hand and shoe prints in the concrete tiles.
1423 locals recommend
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood Blvd
1423 locals recommend
The Famous Theater where the stars of yesteryear have their hand and shoe prints in the concrete tiles.
Universal Studios amusement theme park is 12 miles from the house. See King King, Shrek, Jurassic Park and then take a walk down Universal City Walk for some extra fun.
3326 locals recommend
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
3326 locals recommend
Universal Studios amusement theme park is 12 miles from the house. See King King, Shrek, Jurassic Park and then take a walk down Universal City Walk for some extra fun.
Promenade with restaurants and shopping and sometimes live shows that is right next to Universal Studios.
516 locals recommend
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza
516 locals recommend
Promenade with restaurants and shopping and sometimes live shows that is right next to Universal Studios.