Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food Scene
Excellent coffee shop within close walking distance. Good people. The arepas (cornmeal sandwiches from Venezuela) are delicious!
45 locals recommend
Cafe Bolivar
1741 Ocean Park BlvdExcellent coffee shop within close walking distance. Good people. The arepas (cornmeal sandwiches from Venezuela) are delicious!
Casual - nice atmosphere - good for sandwiches and salads and excellent in-house desserts.
89 locals recommend
Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park BlvdCasual - nice atmosphere - good for sandwiches and salads and excellent in-house desserts.
All food is good here - but the Power Lunches are a phenomenal buy - about $7/8 and you need to pay cash. Check out the website for details and menu: http://www.ilfornocaffe.com
24 locals recommend
Il Forno
2901 Ocean Park BlvdAll food is good here - but the Power Lunches are a phenomenal buy - about $7/8 and you need to pay cash. Check out the website for details and menu: http://www.ilfornocaffe.com
Our local greasy spoon. Good food, great prices. Breakfast and Lunch only. Cash only.
19 locals recommend
Rae's Restaurant
2901 Pico BlvdOur local greasy spoon. Good food, great prices. Breakfast and Lunch only. Cash only.
This plant-based/vegan food is crazy good - seriously - gotta try it. Not cheap, but not outrageously priced either. About a mile away. Get the beet noodles!
38 locals recommend
Satdha
2218 Lincoln BlvdThis plant-based/vegan food is crazy good - seriously - gotta try it. Not cheap, but not outrageously priced either. About a mile away. Get the beet noodles!
Go here for excellent pizza/everything. Not cheap. They can get crowded - but if you're so inclined, you will not be disappointed.
130 locals recommend
Milo & Olive
2723 Wilshire BlvdGo here for excellent pizza/everything. Not cheap. They can get crowded - but if you're so inclined, you will not be disappointed.
The pizza is insane - and the kale salad! Their sausage is homemade. Excellent ingredients and parking is under the building on Bicknell.
141 locals recommend
Stella Barra Pizzeria
2000 Main StThe pizza is insane - and the kale salad! Their sausage is homemade. Excellent ingredients and parking is under the building on Bicknell.
Terrific bakery - the cherry pie is a fav. Also great for a nice sandwich and coffee. Great open, classy atmosphere.
107 locals recommend
Sweet Lady Jane Bakery
1631 Montana AveTerrific bakery - the cherry pie is a fav. Also great for a nice sandwich and coffee. Great open, classy atmosphere.
Best burger and beer in town. They are purists and are offended by the idea of ketchup. Really. They refuse to serve it, so you need to bring your own! Small place, they get very crowded.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveBest burger and beer in town. They are purists and are offended by the idea of ketchup. Really. They refuse to serve it, so you need to bring your own! Small place, they get very crowded.
Okay, this is my fav burger joint - they have not changed anything since the 40's - the guys who work there are ancient. THIS is where I like to go on my bday - the place makes me very happy.
82 locals recommend
The Apple Pan
10801 W Pico BlvdOkay, this is my fav burger joint - they have not changed anything since the 40's - the guys who work there are ancient. THIS is where I like to go on my bday - the place makes me very happy.
Classic old school italian. And the waiters wear tuxedos - bizarre and great - Excellent food - and ask to borrow my neighborhood membership card for 20% off your bill! Also fun to sit at the bar.
18 locals recommend
Vito Restaurant
2807 Ocean Park BlvdClassic old school italian. And the waiters wear tuxedos - bizarre and great - Excellent food - and ask to borrow my neighborhood membership card for 20% off your bill! Also fun to sit at the bar.
Library Alehouse
2911 Main StSolid pub - very popular...
Great seafood - you'll love it - casual, but not cheap - right off of gorgeous Palisades Park, which overlooks the ocean.
63 locals recommend
Blue Plate Oysterette
1355 Ocean AveGreat seafood - you'll love it - casual, but not cheap - right off of gorgeous Palisades Park, which overlooks the ocean.
All natural, soft serve frozen fruit - no added sugar - Don't be cranky, go here, you won't regret it!
Frozen Fruit Co
729 Montana AveAll natural, soft serve frozen fruit - no added sugar - Don't be cranky, go here, you won't regret it!
Terrific food - check out the menu - if it interests you, don't hesitate! We had a guest who said this place was great for casual business meetings.
44 locals recommend
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
1736 Ocean Park BlvdTerrific food - check out the menu - if it interests you, don't hesitate! We had a guest who said this place was great for casual business meetings.
Shopping
Just go to this ice cream place. Go! Seriously. And you can try a million samples.
8 locals recommend
Rori's Artisanal Creamery
910 Montana AveJust go to this ice cream place. Go! Seriously. And you can try a million samples.
Rite Aid
888 Lincoln BlvdOur nearest drugstore/pharmacy.
Everything Else
Low key yoga studio in walking distance. Excellent teachers, nice people.
21 locals recommend
Santa Monica Yoga
1640 Ocean Park BlvdLow key yoga studio in walking distance. Excellent teachers, nice people.
Very unfancy nail salon, less than half a mile away - clean and solid. Heather's nail polish (also listed) lasts longer, but this is a good second place.
Laura's Nail Salon
3026 Pico BlvdVery unfancy nail salon, less than half a mile away - clean and solid. Heather's nail polish (also listed) lasts longer, but this is a good second place.
Object Salon
3017 Ocean Park BlvdHair salon in walking distance - prices high but fair. Good quality stylists.
This is George's traditional barber - just one block away. Cheap and good. He swears by them.
Tel's Barber Shop
2210 Pico BlvdThis is George's traditional barber - just one block away. Cheap and good. He swears by them.
Authentic Italian food supply place - a little odd - please go - right on 10th street off Olympic Blvd.
Guidi Marcello Co Ltd
1649 10th StAuthentic Italian food supply place - a little odd - please go - right on 10th street off Olympic Blvd.
Our most famous sandwich shop - yeah, go, but expect lines. You can also order online for pickup if you want to grab your sandwiches and head off to the beach. Crowded.
141 locals recommend
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln BlvdOur most famous sandwich shop - yeah, go, but expect lines. You can also order online for pickup if you want to grab your sandwiches and head off to the beach. Crowded.
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveClose by/great deals
Drinks & Nightlife
Excellent food, happy hour, lively but grown up scene - always had excellent food here.
56 locals recommend
The Upper West
3321 Pico BlvdExcellent food, happy hour, lively but grown up scene - always had excellent food here.
Definition of dive bar, bad lighting, very popular and only 2 blocks away.
43 locals recommend
Daily Pint
2310 Pico BlvdDefinition of dive bar, bad lighting, very popular and only 2 blocks away.
R+D Kitchen
1323 Montana AveExcellent salads, burgers and cocktails - I love this place.
Definitely go here and sit in the lounge for a cocktail - right off the beach. Check listing - they offer free live jazz one night a week.
99 locals recommend
Shutters on the Beach
1 Pico BlvdDefinitely go here and sit in the lounge for a cocktail - right off the beach. Check listing - they offer free live jazz one night a week.
Walking distance - cash only - neighborhood favorite. Fish taco special Monday nights. Not fine food but fun food and atmosphere. Inexpensive.
28 locals recommend
Gilbert's El Indio Restaurant
2526 Pico BlvdWalking distance - cash only - neighborhood favorite. Fish taco special Monday nights. Not fine food but fun food and atmosphere. Inexpensive.
Arts & Culture
An LA legend - walking distance - great guitar shows/concerts- you need tickets!
18 locals recommend
McCabe's Guitar Shop
3101 Pico BlvdAn LA legend - walking distance - great guitar shows/concerts- you need tickets!
Sightseeing
Go here and walk around - right by the beach - shops and restaurants. They have the best farmer's market here both Wednesday and Saturday!
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeGo here and walk around - right by the beach - shops and restaurants. They have the best farmer's market here both Wednesday and Saturday!
You just have to - the grounds are beautiful and it's a one of a kind. Free admission, but parking can be pricey.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center DrYou just have to - the grounds are beautiful and it's a one of a kind. Free admission, but parking can be pricey.
J. Paul Getty's old digs in Malibu - now a museum. Free admission but you must email for tickets because space is limited. Go!
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyJ. Paul Getty's old digs in Malibu - now a museum. Free admission but you must email for tickets because space is limited. Go!
Gotta go to the pier - it's famous and on the beach - what could be bad?
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierGotta go to the pier - it's famous and on the beach - what could be bad?
My favorite park, overlooking the ocean and right near the 3rd Street Promenade.
130 locals recommend
Palisades Park
Ocean AvenueMy favorite park, overlooking the ocean and right near the 3rd Street Promenade.
Old railway station. Now galleries and a neat little cafe - 5 minute drive!
102 locals recommend
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan AveOld railway station. Now galleries and a neat little cafe - 5 minute drive!
Getting Around
Metro Expo Line Yard
1955 S Centinela Ave