Althea’s guidebook
Abbot Kinney Blvd restaurants
This is not an exhaustive list, just what comes to mind. Google and check Yelp for others and to see how these figure into your taste/needs
The Infatuation says: "A restaurant that, when it opened in 2008, felt as close to perfect as restaurants get in this city. It had a beautiful space on a still-cool street in Venice, a crowd you wanted to be seen with, and pizza that made your East Coast friends stop bitching for two seconds."
1064 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdThe Infatuation says: "A restaurant that, when it opened in 2008, felt as close to perfect as restaurants get in this city. It had a beautiful space on a still-cool street in Venice, a crowd you wanted to be seen with, and pizza that made your East Coast friends stop bitching for two seconds."
It’s essentially a temple of pasta, complete with a climate-controlled pasta-making space in the middle of the dining room, and a pesto pasta that shouldn’t be missed.
93 locals recommend
Felix
1023 Abbot Kinney BlvdIt’s essentially a temple of pasta, complete with a climate-controlled pasta-making space in the middle of the dining room, and a pesto pasta that shouldn’t be missed.
LA Magazine says: The Tasting Kitchen is a bit of a fantasy, the type of impossibly trendy yet welcoming place that might appear in an expensively made romantic comedy, the type where a gaggle of good-looking offspring return to Diane Keaton’s breezy Venice house, wear a lot of cashmere and fall in love with various hunks who stare into their eyes over candlelight at a beautiful restaurant, just like this one.
396 locals recommend
The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney BlvdLA Magazine says: The Tasting Kitchen is a bit of a fantasy, the type of impossibly trendy yet welcoming place that might appear in an expensively made romantic comedy, the type where a gaggle of good-looking offspring return to Diane Keaton’s breezy Venice house, wear a lot of cashmere and fall in love with various hunks who stare into their eyes over candlelight at a beautiful restaurant, just like this one.
The line stretches out the door, but also moves quickly, even though the staff will let you sample a frankly obnoxious number of flavors. And you’ll want to sample - they have an insane flavor rundown, with everything from almond brittle with salted ganache to goat cheese with black olive brittle.
189 locals recommend
Salt & Straw
1357 Abbot Kinney BlvdThe line stretches out the door, but also moves quickly, even though the staff will let you sample a frankly obnoxious number of flavors. And you’ll want to sample - they have an insane flavor rundown, with everything from almond brittle with salted ganache to goat cheese with black olive brittle.
Cafeteria style- so its casual, but great food, seriously good vegetable dishes along with tons of meats, can please everybody.
516 locals recommend
Lemonade
1661 Abbot Kinney BlvdCafeteria style- so its casual, but great food, seriously good vegetable dishes along with tons of meats, can please everybody.
The Neapolitan-style pizzas at South End are too good to keep to ourselves. And they’re only made better by the fact that you are guaranteed to be poured a glass of wine while you wait!
45 locals recommend
South End
2805 Abbot Kinney BlvdThe Neapolitan-style pizzas at South End are too good to keep to ourselves. And they’re only made better by the fact that you are guaranteed to be poured a glass of wine while you wait!
More restaurants!
Venice standard and regular hangout, great place for brunch or any meal really. walking distance!
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose AveVenice standard and regular hangout, great place for brunch or any meal really. walking distance!
La Cabaña is one of a handful of remaining Venice classics, and also your only real weeknight late-night eating option in the area. This 50-year-old Mexican spot on Rose is open until 3am every single day, but is just as good for a casual dinner with work people you actually like or dinner with your quesadilla and tequila-loving grandmother. The back patio is the place to be any time of day, and the El Verde burrito is a monstrosity you want to tackle. Oh, and margarita pitchers are $30. Stay safe.
119 locals recommend
La Cabaña
738 Rose AveLa Cabaña is one of a handful of remaining Venice classics, and also your only real weeknight late-night eating option in the area. This 50-year-old Mexican spot on Rose is open until 3am every single day, but is just as good for a casual dinner with work people you actually like or dinner with your quesadilla and tequila-loving grandmother. The back patio is the place to be any time of day, and the El Verde burrito is a monstrosity you want to tackle. Oh, and margarita pitchers are $30. Stay safe.
High-end Italian spot plating housemade pastas, fish & game in a candlelit old house with a deck.
68 locals recommend
Barrique
796 Main StHigh-end Italian spot plating housemade pastas, fish & game in a candlelit old house with a deck.
The Infatutation says: "There’s a lot to choose from, but we usually start with a couple of appetizers and focus heavily on the pasta section. It’s the strongest part of the menu. Scopa is one of those restaurants that was packed the day it opened in 2013, and hasn’t slowed down since. When you walk into the crowded room, you’ll probably question your job as a lawyer/accountant/on-set animal wrangler - clearly you could have made all the money in the world by opening a restaurant in Venice. This is a big, loud, industrial room that’s more like something you’d find in the Arts District than any of the little romantic Italian spots nearby. With a rowdy bar area, packed booths, and even a secret speakeasy in the back, you could happily spend the same amount of time here as you would at Dodger Stadium.
260 locals recommend
Scopa Italian Roots
2905 Washington BlvdThe Infatutation says: "There’s a lot to choose from, but we usually start with a couple of appetizers and focus heavily on the pasta section. It’s the strongest part of the menu. Scopa is one of those restaurants that was packed the day it opened in 2013, and hasn’t slowed down since. When you walk into the crowded room, you’ll probably question your job as a lawyer/accountant/on-set animal wrangler - clearly you could have made all the money in the world by opening a restaurant in Venice. This is a big, loud, industrial room that’s more like something you’d find in the Arts District than any of the little romantic Italian spots nearby. With a rowdy bar area, packed booths, and even a secret speakeasy in the back, you could happily spend the same amount of time here as you would at Dodger Stadium.
Famous Fish Tacos from the movie "I Love You, Man; generous cocktails like a spicy prickly pear margarita from the patio bar (with a palm tree growing out of it); weekend brunch on the tropical patio; a popular "5 to 7" happy hour and one of the best weekend bar scenes on the Westside.
258 locals recommend
James' Beach
60 N Venice BlvdFamous Fish Tacos from the movie "I Love You, Man; generous cocktails like a spicy prickly pear margarita from the patio bar (with a palm tree growing out of it); weekend brunch on the tropical patio; a popular "5 to 7" happy hour and one of the best weekend bar scenes on the Westside.
Bars and hangouts
If you have a last-minute date to plan, meet up for drinks at Venice Beach Wines. This tiny wine bar is mostly a covered patio on that quiet part of Rose Ave. off of Main Street. You can share some solid small plates, actually hear each other talk, and try some different wines - the servers love giving recommendations, so you don’t have to pretend you have an opinion on Zinfandels.
192 locals recommend
Venice Beach Wines
529 Rose AveIf you have a last-minute date to plan, meet up for drinks at Venice Beach Wines. This tiny wine bar is mostly a covered patio on that quiet part of Rose Ave. off of Main Street. You can share some solid small plates, actually hear each other talk, and try some different wines - the servers love giving recommendations, so you don’t have to pretend you have an opinion on Zinfandels.
Rooftop bars are far and few between in Venice -- as in, there are barely any -- which is why High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin literally stands above the rest. A 10min walk from Abbot Kinney, the Pacific Ave spot offers unbeatable views of the beach and downtown, especially at sunset. The cocktail-focused menu includes bottle service for the high-rollers, and there are a few small bites to complement the drinks.
248 locals recommend
Hotel Erwin
1697 Pacific AveRooftop bars are far and few between in Venice -- as in, there are barely any -- which is why High Rooftop Lounge at Hotel Erwin literally stands above the rest. A 10min walk from Abbot Kinney, the Pacific Ave spot offers unbeatable views of the beach and downtown, especially at sunset. The cocktail-focused menu includes bottle service for the high-rollers, and there are a few small bites to complement the drinks.
Famous Fish Tacos from the movie "I Love You, Man; generous cocktails like a spicy prickly pear margarita from the patio bar (with a palm tree growing out of it); weekend brunch on the tropical patio; a popular "5 to 7" happy hour and one of the best weekend bar scenes on the Westside.
258 locals recommend
James' Beach
60 N Venice BlvdFamous Fish Tacos from the movie "I Love You, Man; generous cocktails like a spicy prickly pear margarita from the patio bar (with a palm tree growing out of it); weekend brunch on the tropical patio; a popular "5 to 7" happy hour and one of the best weekend bar scenes on the Westside.
Close by on Abbot Kinney, great scene, but only beer and wine. Buzzy modern hangout provides draft brews & wine in an open, airy interior with a minimalist vibe.
262 locals recommend
the otheroom Venice Beach
Close by on Abbot Kinney, great scene, but only beer and wine. Buzzy modern hangout provides draft brews & wine in an open, airy interior with a minimalist vibe.
The quintessential Venice bar, The Brig has been a cornerstone of the iconic Abbot Kinney Boulevard for over 60 years. This bustling nightspot with a mid-century modern vibe features live music, billiards & food trucks.
220 locals recommend
The Brig
1515 Abbot Kinney BlvdThe quintessential Venice bar, The Brig has been a cornerstone of the iconic Abbot Kinney Boulevard for over 60 years. This bustling nightspot with a mid-century modern vibe features live music, billiards & food trucks.
Live music nearby
The Venice Beach Bar & Kitchen prides itself as one of the last standing Live Music Venues in the heart of the famed Venice Beach Boardwalk. Not to mention some of the greatest people watching and sunsets in all of Los Angeles.
19 locals recommend
The Venice Beach Bar & Kitchen
323 Ocean Front WalkThe Venice Beach Bar & Kitchen prides itself as one of the last standing Live Music Venues in the heart of the famed Venice Beach Boardwalk. Not to mention some of the greatest people watching and sunsets in all of Los Angeles.
DIVE BAR! Funky breakfast, burger & sandwich shack at the beach since 1969 with beer, games & live music.
318 locals recommend
Hinano Cafe
15 Washington BlvdDIVE BAR! Funky breakfast, burger & sandwich shack at the beach since 1969 with beer, games & live music.
Vintage bar & former speakeasy, dating from 1915, with craft cocktails & live music in the basement.
212 locals recommend
Townhouse Venice
52 Windward AveVintage bar & former speakeasy, dating from 1915, with craft cocktails & live music in the basement.
This bustling nightspot with a mid-century modern vibe features live music, billiards & food trucks.
220 locals recommend
The Brig
1515 Abbot Kinney BlvdThis bustling nightspot with a mid-century modern vibe features live music, billiards & food trucks.