Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
Fine dining and classic cocktails, good selection of beers on tap. 3 different rooms including secluded patio. Happy hour. Popular night spot.
18 locals recommend
The Arsenal
12012 W Pico BlvdFine dining and classic cocktails, good selection of beers on tap. 3 different rooms including secluded patio. Happy hour. Popular night spot.
Great build your own burger place. Beer and wine. Sports TV above the bar.
128 locals recommend
The Counter
5779 Wilshire BlvdGreat build your own burger place. Beer and wine. Sports TV above the bar.
Iconic diner serving breakfast and lunch, opens 6:30 a.m. Red leather booths, counter. Location shot in various movies.
19 locals recommend
Rae's Restaurant
2901 Pico BlvdIconic diner serving breakfast and lunch, opens 6:30 a.m. Red leather booths, counter. Location shot in various movies.
Charming breakfast & lunch spot with outdoor seating on Ocean Park Blvd., and Groundworks coffee. Surfer vibe.
28 locals recommend
The OP Cafe
3117 Ocean Park BlvdCharming breakfast & lunch spot with outdoor seating on Ocean Park Blvd., and Groundworks coffee. Surfer vibe.
Drinks & Nightlife
No-frills, old-school bar with a collegial vibe plus a pool table, Ping-Pong, sports on TV & tunes. Dancing, karoke.
55 locals recommend
Mom's
12238 Santa Monica BlvdNo-frills, old-school bar with a collegial vibe plus a pool table, Ping-Pong, sports on TV & tunes. Dancing, karoke.
Santa Monica is an easy place to find a good drink, with its myriad pubs, beloved dives, upscale lounges and casual wine-centric hangs. But speak-easy-style bourbon bars in basements of grand 19th century homes? Not so much. This is it. DJ and live music. Enter through the alley.
96 locals recommend
The Victorian
2640 Main StSanta Monica is an easy place to find a good drink, with its myriad pubs, beloved dives, upscale lounges and casual wine-centric hangs. But speak-easy-style bourbon bars in basements of grand 19th century homes? Not so much. This is it. DJ and live music. Enter through the alley.
Sophisticated, book-lined bar featuring classic cocktails, old world ambiance & a lively atmosphere.
45 locals recommend
The Wellesbourne
10929 W Pico BlvdSophisticated, book-lined bar featuring classic cocktails, old world ambiance & a lively atmosphere.
Collegial bar known for single malts galore plus 30+ craft beers on tap & shuffleboard & pool.
43 locals recommend
Daily Pint
2310 Pico BlvdCollegial bar known for single malts galore plus 30+ craft beers on tap & shuffleboard & pool.
Sightseeing
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California. With an iconic entrance, the pier is popular with residents and visitors as a landmark that is over 100 years old. Twilight music concerts on Thursday evenings all summer long
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierThe Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica, California. With an iconic entrance, the pier is popular with residents and visitors as a landmark that is over 100 years old. Twilight music concerts on Thursday evenings all summer long
This 2.5 kilometer boardwalk has a bike path, rollerskaters and skateboard ramps, restaurants, sunglasses, and plenty of tourists. Venice beach is famous for muscle beach, where body builders work out. California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger worked out on Muscle Beach and made Gold’s Gym famous in the 1980s.
On the west side of the “walk” are hundreds of street vendors and performers. You can see everything from break-dancing to broken glass walking. Mimes to musicians, jugglers to jesters and everything in between make up the human landscape. You can have your fortune read, get a temporary tattoo or have your name written on a grain of rice. Great people watching.
815 locals recommend
Venice Beach Boardwalk
517 Ocean Front WalkThis 2.5 kilometer boardwalk has a bike path, rollerskaters and skateboard ramps, restaurants, sunglasses, and plenty of tourists. Venice beach is famous for muscle beach, where body builders work out. California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger worked out on Muscle Beach and made Gold’s Gym famous in the 1980s.
On the west side of the “walk” are hundreds of street vendors and performers. You can see everything from break-dancing to broken glass walking. Mimes to musicians, jugglers to jesters and everything in between make up the human landscape. You can have your fortune read, get a temporary tattoo or have your name written on a grain of rice. Great people watching.
Parks & Nature
Intermediate loop hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. Beautiful views of the ocean and over a bridge with a waterfall now that the drought has ended. An approximate 1 & 1/2 hour hike.
38 locals recommend
Temescal Gateway Park, Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority
15601 Sunset BlvdIntermediate loop hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. Beautiful views of the ocean and over a bridge with a waterfall now that the drought has ended. An approximate 1 & 1/2 hour hike.
Arts & Culture
World famous, sizable free museum highlighting American & European art, architecture & manicured gardens. Fantastic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean to Downtown LA. Outdoor summer music concerts with cash bar " Saturdays Off The 405". Parking $15, $10 after 3 p.m.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrWorld famous, sizable free museum highlighting American & European art, architecture & manicured gardens. Fantastic views overlooking the Pacific Ocean to Downtown LA. Outdoor summer music concerts with cash bar " Saturdays Off The 405". Parking $15, $10 after 3 p.m.
Shopping
Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is more than a shopping experience. You'll stroll down the middle of a street that was closed to vehicular traffic years ago. Now pedestrians rule the road, at least within this three block stretch located within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Bordered by the Santa Monica Place shopping mall to the south, and busy Wilshire Boulevard to the north, Third Street is lined with a variety of shops ranging from traditional to unusual. Clothing outlets and stores prevail, sprinkled amongst specialty shops, book stores, gift shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Amazing street performers!
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeThird Street Promenade in Santa Monica is more than a shopping experience. You'll stroll down the middle of a street that was closed to vehicular traffic years ago. Now pedestrians rule the road, at least within this three block stretch located within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Bordered by the Santa Monica Place shopping mall to the south, and busy Wilshire Boulevard to the north, Third Street is lined with a variety of shops ranging from traditional to unusual. Clothing outlets and stores prevail, sprinkled amongst specialty shops, book stores, gift shops, restaurants and coffee shops. Amazing street performers!
Essentials
Trader Joe's is a neighborhood grocery store with amazing food and drink from around the globe and around the corner. Great quality at great prices
881 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveTrader Joe's is a neighborhood grocery store with amazing food and drink from around the globe and around the corner. Great quality at great prices