Guidebook for Santa Monica

Deborah
Guidebook for Santa Monica

Essentials

Independent grocery, great deli and prepared foods. Weekends, they host an outdoor barbeque in the parking lot, very popular!
76 locals recommend
Bob's Market
1650 Ocean Park Blvd
76 locals recommend
Independent grocery, great deli and prepared foods. Weekends, they host an outdoor barbeque in the parking lot, very popular!
I'm personally not a fan of this chain, they are grossly overpriced, but the prepared foods section of this store is spectacular and a good bet if you have food allergies or other food issues.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd
1701 locals recommend
I'm personally not a fan of this chain, they are grossly overpriced, but the prepared foods section of this store is spectacular and a good bet if you have food allergies or other food issues.
A "normal" grocery store, it has everything one would want, including a good sized organic produce section.
583 locals recommend
Ralphs
910 Lincoln Blvd
583 locals recommend
A "normal" grocery store, it has everything one would want, including a good sized organic produce section.
Essential grocery items and deli. Easy, convenient, and they deliver, too!
18 locals recommend
Yummy.com
1308 Pico Blvd
18 locals recommend
Essential grocery items and deli. Easy, convenient, and they deliver, too!

Everything Else

Gorgeous public pool within walking distance of our home. http://www01.smgov.net/aquatics/
73 locals recommend
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd
73 locals recommend
Gorgeous public pool within walking distance of our home. http://www01.smgov.net/aquatics/
Exact location for the farmers market is at Pico and 22nd St. Held each Saturday from 8-noon. Some prepared foods, brewed coffee, but mostly fruit and vegetables. Walking or biking distance.
Virginia Avenue
Virginia Avenue
Exact location for the farmers market is at Pico and 22nd St. Held each Saturday from 8-noon. Some prepared foods, brewed coffee, but mostly fruit and vegetables. Walking or biking distance.
Sunday mornings, this very popular farmers market has prepared foods and fruits/vegetables. Main St. is a great strolling street and only 2 blocks from the beach, too. Sundays here can be good fun!
162 locals recommend
Santa Monica Sunday Main Street Farmers Markets
2640 Main St
162 locals recommend
Sunday mornings, this very popular farmers market has prepared foods and fruits/vegetables. Main St. is a great strolling street and only 2 blocks from the beach, too. Sundays here can be good fun!

Arts & Culture

Nice community college, have a walk through it if you like. Locals enjoy running or walking the track and stadium stairs.
73 locals recommend
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico Blvd
73 locals recommend
Nice community college, have a walk through it if you like. Locals enjoy running or walking the track and stadium stairs.
They usually have very local exhibits. On Sunday, visit it after the fun farmers market at the same location.
15 locals recommend
California Heritage Museum
2612 Main St
15 locals recommend
They usually have very local exhibits. On Sunday, visit it after the fun farmers market at the same location.
Several galleries, nice little restaurant, and a transit hub. http://bergamotstation.com/
102 locals recommend
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave
102 locals recommend
Several galleries, nice little restaurant, and a transit hub. http://bergamotstation.com/

Food Scene

Tasty frozen yogurt walking distance from here.
20 locals recommend
Treats Frozen Yogurt & Ice Bar
1700 Ocean Park Blvd
20 locals recommend
Tasty frozen yogurt walking distance from here.
Excellent Italian restaurant that has been popular for nearly 30 years. Neighborhood gem.
24 locals recommend
Il Forno
2901 Ocean Park Blvd
24 locals recommend
Excellent Italian restaurant that has been popular for nearly 30 years. Neighborhood gem.
Excellent Mexican fare. When you enter, go directly upstairs and be seated by the upstairs hostess. I love their carnitas!
35 locals recommend
Lares
2909 Pico Blvd
35 locals recommend
Excellent Mexican fare. When you enter, go directly upstairs and be seated by the upstairs hostess. I love their carnitas!
Solid Mexican fare, very family friendly, loads of Tequilas and hand made tortillas. The burritos can feed 3, so can their tasty nacho plate!
119 locals recommend
La Cabaña
738 Rose Ave
119 locals recommend
Solid Mexican fare, very family friendly, loads of Tequilas and hand made tortillas. The burritos can feed 3, so can their tasty nacho plate!
Breakfast!
28 locals recommend
The OP Cafe
3117 Ocean Park Blvd
28 locals recommend
Breakfast!
A great spot for unusual salads, soups, sandwiches, and prepared items, too. Breakfast also served.
89 locals recommend
Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park Blvd
89 locals recommend
A great spot for unusual salads, soups, sandwiches, and prepared items, too. Breakfast also served.
Great Thai and Sushi fusion restaurant. You can walk here from our home. Happy hour every night, 4:30 - 7:30. Great happy hour deals: COCKTAILS $4 THAI MICHELADA SEXY SANTA MONICA PASSION MOJITO BEER BOTTLES $2 SINGHA BUDDHA SAPPORO BEER ON TAP 16OZ $3 64OZ $11 WINE HOUSE RED $4/GLASS HOUSE WHITE $4/GLASS THAI RIZE SHITAKE EGG ROLLS $3 OYSTER JELLY SHOT $5 GOLDEN SOFT SHELL CRABS $4 PORK SPARERIBS MISO $5 HOT WING $4 BAKE TOM YUM MUSSELS $5 SUSHI ALL SUSHI $3.5 ALL ROLL 6 PCS $4 TRUFFLE ALBACORE SUSHI 2 PCS $5 GOMA SALMON SUSHI 2PCS $4 LEOM HAMACHI SUSHI 2 PCS $4 ONO VALCANO SUSHI 2 PCS $4 CAJUN TUNA SUSHI 2 PCS $4
10 locals recommend
RIZE
2906 Lincoln Blvd
10 locals recommend
Great Thai and Sushi fusion restaurant. You can walk here from our home. Happy hour every night, 4:30 - 7:30. Great happy hour deals: COCKTAILS $4 THAI MICHELADA SEXY SANTA MONICA PASSION MOJITO BEER BOTTLES $2 SINGHA BUDDHA SAPPORO BEER ON TAP 16OZ $3 64OZ $11 WINE HOUSE RED $4/GLASS HOUSE WHITE $4/GLASS THAI RIZE SHITAKE EGG ROLLS $3 OYSTER JELLY SHOT $5 GOLDEN SOFT SHELL CRABS $4 PORK SPARERIBS MISO $5 HOT WING $4 BAKE TOM YUM MUSSELS $5 SUSHI ALL SUSHI $3.5 ALL ROLL 6 PCS $4 TRUFFLE ALBACORE SUSHI 2 PCS $5 GOMA SALMON SUSHI 2PCS $4 LEOM HAMACHI SUSHI 2 PCS $4 ONO VALCANO SUSHI 2 PCS $4 CAJUN TUNA SUSHI 2 PCS $4
breakfast now served all day
McDonald's
2809 Lincoln Blvd
breakfast now served all day
walking distance from home
45 locals recommend
Cafe Bolivar
1741 Ocean Park Blvd
45 locals recommend
walking distance from home
Walking distance from home
20 locals recommend
Love Coffee Bar
1732 Ocean Park Blvd
20 locals recommend
Walking distance from home
Fast food. What can I say, Jack rocks! Breakfast, burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos.
48 locals recommend
Jack in the Box
12403 Washington Pl
48 locals recommend
Fast food. What can I say, Jack rocks! Breakfast, burgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos.
Fast food nearby
78 locals recommend
Taco Bell
6254 Lexington Ave
78 locals recommend
Fast food nearby
Tiny, cute, great breakfast.
26 locals recommend
Lazy Daisy Cafe
2300 Pico Blvd
26 locals recommend
Tiny, cute, great breakfast.
Fast food sandwich shop, made to order sandwiches.
18 locals recommend
Subway
1801 Pico Blvd
18 locals recommend
Fast food sandwich shop, made to order sandwiches.
First rate barbeque, always a wait. Eat there or order out.
154 locals recommend
Baby Blues BBQ - Venice
444 Lincoln Blvd
154 locals recommend
First rate barbeque, always a wait. Eat there or order out.
Sausage and beer. Enough said.
243 locals recommend
Wurstküche Restaurant Venice Beach
625 Lincoln Blvd
243 locals recommend
Sausage and beer. Enough said.
Mexican style fast food, chicken
20 locals recommend
El Pollo Loco
1906 Lincoln Blvd
20 locals recommend
Mexican style fast food, chicken
Really friendly, high energy, excellent food and drink. Happy Hour Everyday from 5-7 PM, All Night Monday! Drink Specials $6 Specialty cocktails. $4 glasses of red or white wine. Appetizer Specials. 50% OFF all Bottles of Wine on Tuesday.
56 locals recommend
The Upper West
3321 Pico Blvd
56 locals recommend
Really friendly, high energy, excellent food and drink. Happy Hour Everyday from 5-7 PM, All Night Monday! Drink Specials $6 Specialty cocktails. $4 glasses of red or white wine. Appetizer Specials. 50% OFF all Bottles of Wine on Tuesday.
Excellent sit-down, modern Italian fare. Pretty space, but it is pricey! Fun happy hour from 3-6 pm.
44 locals recommend
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
1736 Ocean Park Blvd
44 locals recommend
Excellent sit-down, modern Italian fare. Pretty space, but it is pricey! Fun happy hour from 3-6 pm.
Wonderful, locally crafted ice cream. I believe the Pico Blvd. shop is also where they make the products for their other shops, too.
71 locals recommend
Sweet Rose Creamery
225 26th St
71 locals recommend
Wonderful, locally crafted ice cream. I believe the Pico Blvd. shop is also where they make the products for their other shops, too.
Burgers! Build you own. It's a great concept that's done well here. This is the flagship store of this mostly-California chain.
128 locals recommend
The Counter
5779 Wilshire Blvd
128 locals recommend
Burgers! Build you own. It's a great concept that's done well here. This is the flagship store of this mostly-California chain.
Old school, funky and friendly. This restaurant has been here since 1934, a neighborhood favorite watering hole.
55 locals recommend
The Galley
2442 Main St
55 locals recommend
Old school, funky and friendly. This restaurant has been here since 1934, a neighborhood favorite watering hole.

Shopping

Venice's oldest, legal collective available to California residents with their prescription
CAC Venice
122 Lincoln Blvd
Venice's oldest, legal collective available to California residents with their prescription
Coffee
573 locals recommend
Starbucks
12100 Santa Monica Blvd
573 locals recommend
Coffee
Upscale grocer. Really good prepared foods: carving station, deli, salad bar, and best of all, really good Hawaiian poke!
108 locals recommend
Gelson's Market
2627 Lincoln Blvd
108 locals recommend
Upscale grocer. Really good prepared foods: carving station, deli, salad bar, and best of all, really good Hawaiian poke!

Drinks & Nightlife

One after another, there are fun bars and lounges along Main St. Walk there, Lyft or Uber back. Here are some choices: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Main+Street+Bars&find_loc=Santa+Monica%2C+CA
105 locals recommend
Main Street Santa Monica
Main Street
105 locals recommend
One after another, there are fun bars and lounges along Main St. Walk there, Lyft or Uber back. Here are some choices: http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Main+Street+Bars&find_loc=Santa+Monica%2C+CA
Abbot Kinney is the "see and be seen" street these days. Here's a list of restaurants/bars on or near it.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney is the "see and be seen" street these days. Here's a list of restaurants/bars on or near it.
Local craft beers, and a good selection. Tasty burgers, and lots of TV sets to watch your favorite sports.
Burgers N Brews
3021 Lincoln Blvd
Local craft beers, and a good selection. Tasty burgers, and lots of TV sets to watch your favorite sports.

Entertainment & Activities

It has great views for sunset. The Twilight Dance concert series takes place here every Thursday night in summer. The rides are fun, so is the arcade. Check out the small aquarium, run by UCLA, beneath the pier, the historic merry-go-round, and the first Hot Dog On A Stick (just off the pier)
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
2744 locals recommend
It has great views for sunset. The Twilight Dance concert series takes place here every Thursday night in summer. The rides are fun, so is the arcade. Check out the small aquarium, run by UCLA, beneath the pier, the historic merry-go-round, and the first Hot Dog On A Stick (just off the pier)