Guidebook for Los Angeles
Essentials
Friday mornings, 7 - 11 AM. Coffee cart, fruit, vegetable and flower vendors. Congenial atmosphere and a very nice walk from our place through the canals.
101 locals recommend
Venice Farmers' Market
500 Venice Blvd.Friday mornings, 7 - 11 AM. Coffee cart, fruit, vegetable and flower vendors. Congenial atmosphere and a very nice walk from our place through the canals.
A well-stocked, friendly small market with most everything you need. Supplement fruits and vegetables at farmer's market or Windward Farms.
50 locals recommend
Alan's Market
339 Washington BlvdA well-stocked, friendly small market with most everything you need. Supplement fruits and vegetables at farmer's market or Windward Farms.
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdThe mother of all Whole Foods. Biking distance.
Food Scene
Siamese Garden
301 Washington BlvdGood fish curry! Romantic booths.
Variety of dishes large and small. Vegetarian dishes are superb, as is the pizza. Hard to get a reservation. Try it for weekday lunch if you can't get in for dinner.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdVariety of dishes large and small. Vegetarian dishes are superb, as is the pizza. Hard to get a reservation. Try it for weekday lunch if you can't get in for dinner.
Bakery and eatery run by the purveyors of the delicious Gjelina. Different menu and offers a bakery as well.
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset AveBakery and eatery run by the purveyors of the delicious Gjelina. Different menu and offers a bakery as well.
Again run by the food-wise folk at Gjelina. You can walk in for THE BEST pizza nearby, and order to go online, swing by and pick it up. Not cheap but so good.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdAgain run by the food-wise folk at Gjelina. You can walk in for THE BEST pizza nearby, and order to go online, swing by and pick it up. Not cheap but so good.
The best coffee in Venice. They sometimes have a coffee truck at the Friday Farmer's Market too.
131 locals recommend
Menotti's Coffee Stop
56 Windward AveThe best coffee in Venice. They sometimes have a coffee truck at the Friday Farmer's Market too.
Fig Tree
431 Ocean Front WalkGood breakfasts on Ocean Front Walk.
Good burgers, Impossible burgers, fries and shakes. Affordable and right by Muscle Beach.
10 locals recommend
The Window
1827 Ocean Front WalkGood burgers, Impossible burgers, fries and shakes. Affordable and right by Muscle Beach.
Decent coffee, coffee drinks, smoothies, freshly made sandwiches & atmosphere. Local, casual hang out.
220 locals recommend
The Cow's End Cafe
34 Washington BlvdDecent coffee, coffee drinks, smoothies, freshly made sandwiches & atmosphere. Local, casual hang out.
Everything Else
Laundromat on Main Street, SM. Biking distance. Free WiFi and shopping/restaurants right outside the door.
15 locals recommend
Bubble Beach Laundry
2633 Main StLaundromat on Main Street, SM. Biking distance. Free WiFi and shopping/restaurants right outside the door.
Aqua Surf School
2701 Barnard WaySeveral of my guests have signed up for lessons here and all have had a good time.
United States Postal Service
313 Grand BlvdUS Post Office within walking distance.
Venice Bike & Skates
Just around the corner!
Very protected beach in the Marina with no waves or boats, in easy walking distance from the Venice Pier. Great for children or those not interested in 'vigorous' water.
107 locals recommend
Marina Beach
4101 Admiralty WayVery protected beach in the Marina with no waves or boats, in easy walking distance from the Venice Pier. Great for children or those not interested in 'vigorous' water.
Fantastic bookstore with a dedicated staff. Local atmosphere, a good inventory including some travel guides (local and beyond), & a cat like all good bookstores. They will order any title for you.
23 locals recommend
Small World Books
1407 Ocean Front WalkFantastic bookstore with a dedicated staff. Local atmosphere, a good inventory including some travel guides (local and beyond), & a cat like all good bookstores. They will order any title for you.
Shopping
The best boutique shopping about anywhere. Intelligentsia Coffee Shop, Gjelina Restaurant, Scotch and Soda Clothing and Mystic Journey Bookstore, to name a few local businesses.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney BoulevardThe best boutique shopping about anywhere. Intelligentsia Coffee Shop, Gjelina Restaurant, Scotch and Soda Clothing and Mystic Journey Bookstore, to name a few local businesses.
Remarkably well-stocked with wines in all price ranges and things that travelers might forget.
33 locals recommend
Nick's Liquor Store
11 Washington BlvdRemarkably well-stocked with wines in all price ranges and things that travelers might forget.
Three blocks long, with an outdoor mall at the end, shopping, eating, performances and an all around good vibe. The Curious Palate is there as is Pinche's Tacos. It's an easy walk to the SM Pier from there.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeThree blocks long, with an outdoor mall at the end, shopping, eating, performances and an all around good vibe. The Curious Palate is there as is Pinche's Tacos. It's an easy walk to the SM Pier from there.
Sightseeing
No rides, no restaurants; just a fishing pier, with fisherman, walkers and people enjoying the sunset.
186 locals recommend
Venice Fishing Pier
Venice Fishing PierNo rides, no restaurants; just a fishing pier, with fisherman, walkers and people enjoying the sunset.
A traffic-free place to walk around and see quirky old and new houses. Through the canals is my preferred route to Abbot Kinney Blvd for shopping and food, also to the Friday Farmer's Market.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
A traffic-free place to walk around and see quirky old and new houses. Through the canals is my preferred route to Abbot Kinney Blvd for shopping and food, also to the Friday Farmer's Market.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great, local bar with great burgers and pool tables. Just around the corner.
318 locals recommend
Hinano Cafe
15 Washington BlvdGreat, local bar with great burgers and pool tables. Just around the corner.
Townhouse Venice
52 Windward AveOld-time speakeasy & classic bar; hidden in plain sight.
Entertainment & Activities
Amusement Park on the pier, an Oceanarium underneath it, free concerts in the summer. Easy bike ride from Venice.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierAmusement Park on the pier, an Oceanarium underneath it, free concerts in the summer. Easy bike ride from Venice.
Reserve tickets in advance. Great seats and Westside Tavern on the lower level has really good food. Stadium seating and plenty of below ground parking. Many theaters in one place.
96 locals recommend
The Wine Bar at The Landmark
10850 W Pico BlvdReserve tickets in advance. Great seats and Westside Tavern on the lower level has really good food. Stadium seating and plenty of below ground parking. Many theaters in one place.
Selfie spot mid-city, at LACMA on Wilshire Blvd.. LACMA often had/has free events on the grounds so you can enjoy those as well. Check online for events to see when they resume Friday NIght Jazz (outdoors), for example.
51 locals recommend
Public Art "Urban Light"
5905 Wilshire BlvdSelfie spot mid-city, at LACMA on Wilshire Blvd.. LACMA often had/has free events on the grounds so you can enjoy those as well. Check online for events to see when they resume Friday NIght Jazz (outdoors), for example.