Guidebook for Santa Monica
Sightseeing
Great live local musicians play their music along the street which is lined with shops and restaurants. It is worth a walk up and down at least once during your stay.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeGreat live local musicians play their music along the street which is lined with shops and restaurants. It is worth a walk up and down at least once during your stay.
Filled with performance artists, hand-made local items, and live music. Beautiful sight overlooking the ocean. You can see for miles up and down the coast from its point.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierFilled with performance artists, hand-made local items, and live music. Beautiful sight overlooking the ocean. You can see for miles up and down the coast from its point.
Everything Else
Great night-life here. Young, professionals throughout the week. People travel from all over on the weekends to grab a beer or sangria, play pool or ping-pong, and hang out overlooking the waterfront.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdGreat night-life here. Young, professionals throughout the week. People travel from all over on the weekends to grab a beer or sangria, play pool or ping-pong, and hang out overlooking the waterfront.
Great surf spot adjacent to the pier. Malibu Farms restaurant at the end of the pier is delicious after a day at the beach.
244 locals recommend
Malibu Pier
23000 CA-1Great surf spot adjacent to the pier. Malibu Farms restaurant at the end of the pier is delicious after a day at the beach.
Awesome hiking spot! Take the route all the way up to skull rock for the best views and a cool experience. You can get right inside the rock and look out over the whole coastline.
223 locals recommend
Temescal Canyon Park
15900 Pacific Coast HwyAwesome hiking spot! Take the route all the way up to skull rock for the best views and a cool experience. You can get right inside the rock and look out over the whole coastline.
Park here and walk directly down to the beach to view the surfers and hang out. Home of the original muscle beach, CA.
Bay Street
Bay StreetPark here and walk directly down to the beach to view the surfers and hang out. Home of the original muscle beach, CA.
Our local Napa Valley right up the road. You can spend an entire day up here tasting the wines from the vineyard and having a picnic. The staff is super friendly and fun to talk with!
85 locals recommend
Malibu Wines
31740 Mulholland HighwayOur local Napa Valley right up the road. You can spend an entire day up here tasting the wines from the vineyard and having a picnic. The staff is super friendly and fun to talk with!
Really good yoga for all levels. The staff is very supportive, but will also push you to do your best!
34 locals recommend
YogaWorks Montana Ave
1426 Montana AveReally good yoga for all levels. The staff is very supportive, but will also push you to do your best!
Great place to work out! On the weekends its home of a dozen meetup groups doing HIIT workouts.
57 locals recommend
Santa Monica Stairs
699 Adelaide DrGreat place to work out! On the weekends its home of a dozen meetup groups doing HIIT workouts.
The Victorian
2640 Main StFun thursday-sunday weekend hang out spot to grab a drink!
Have cheese and wine tasting every so often. Really fun. Call for details.
10 locals recommend
Andrew's Cheese Shop
728 Montana AveHave cheese and wine tasting every so often. Really fun. Call for details.
Vic the barber is the man. Consistently has given me quality haircuts for over a year.
Esquire Barber Shop
1020 Montana AveVic the barber is the man. Consistently has given me quality haircuts for over a year.
Beautiful rose garden. Walk over to the ocean and walk through the park on your way up!
130 locals recommend
Palisades Park
Ocean AvenueBeautiful rose garden. Walk over to the ocean and walk through the park on your way up!
Food Scene
Nice contemporary Italian-style dinner that won't break the budget like all the restaurants on Ocean Ave. Delicious seasonal menu and wines.
130 locals recommend
Milo & Olive
2723 Wilshire BlvdNice contemporary Italian-style dinner that won't break the budget like all the restaurants on Ocean Ave. Delicious seasonal menu and wines.
Brunch from the top of the Huntley hotel is fantastic!
63 locals recommend
The Huntley Hotel Santa Monica Beach
1111 2nd StBrunch from the top of the Huntley hotel is fantastic!
Delicious lunch and dinner. Get a spot out by the pool and overlook the ocean view at the same time. A bit pricey, but worth totally worth it.
37 locals recommend
FIG
101 Wilshire BlvdDelicious lunch and dinner. Get a spot out by the pool and overlook the ocean view at the same time. A bit pricey, but worth totally worth it.
Sonoma Wine Garden
395 Santa Monica PlAppetizers and wines are great!
Library Alehouse
2911 Main StDecent beer selection if you're down on Main Street. Good vibes.
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney BlvdAmazing seasonal menu. Book in advance.
Hollywood Pies
6116 1/2 W Pico BlvdBest Deep Dish Pizza in all of LA.
Best espresso and lattes. There breakfast sandwich is bomb when they have them, with prosciutto and cheese. All the croissants are fresh and delicious.
21 locals recommend
Demitasse
1149 3rd StBest espresso and lattes. There breakfast sandwich is bomb when they have them, with prosciutto and cheese. All the croissants are fresh and delicious.
A menu for everybody. I would truly call this an american style restaurant, with a strong culinary team.
152 locals recommend
R+D Kitchen
1323 Montana AveA menu for everybody. I would truly call this an american style restaurant, with a strong culinary team.
Hippy vibe, best smoothies and juices around. Food is healthy and tasty.
70 locals recommend
Kreation Organic Kafe
1023 Montana AveHippy vibe, best smoothies and juices around. Food is healthy and tasty.
Really great espresso and coffee. Teas are good as well. Good for a quick breakfast or if you want to hang out and read a book with your coffee or tea.
65 locals recommend
Caffe Luxxe
925 Montana AveReally great espresso and coffee. Teas are good as well. Good for a quick breakfast or if you want to hang out and read a book with your coffee or tea.
Greens up! Salads
912 Montana AveInexpensive, quick and delicious salad.
Primo Passo Coffee Co
702 Montana AveYes. Good coffee.
Spazio Caffe
1511 Montana AvenueAlso good coffee.
Bardonna
1601 Montana AveReally good breakfast burrito.
The Courtyard Kitchen
1211 Montana AveBreakfast or Smoothies here. Great stuff!
cafe de paris
715 Montana AvenueBreakfast. Delicious crepes, omelets, and inexpensive. Nice patio seating!
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar and restaurant. Great, up-scale nightlife. Good appetizers and mixed drinks. Little pricey, but worth it for the crowd alone on weekends.
22 locals recommend
Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire BlvdBar and restaurant. Great, up-scale nightlife. Good appetizers and mixed drinks. Little pricey, but worth it for the crowd alone on weekends.
Best place to go for craft beer in Santa Monica! Try the office burger and sweet potato fries, or grab a beer with your friends to catch the game. A bit of a hip vibe.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveBest place to go for craft beer in Santa Monica! Try the office burger and sweet potato fries, or grab a beer with your friends to catch the game. A bit of a hip vibe.
Cool night-life. A bit up-scale. Fun if you're trying to get dressed up and have cocktails or something.
18 locals recommend
ONYX Rooftop Bar
1301 Ocean AveCool night-life. A bit up-scale. Fun if you're trying to get dressed up and have cocktails or something.
West 4th & Jane
1432 4th StGood sports bar.
Zengo
395 Santa Monica PlSunday night happy hour is the best.
Q's Billiard Club & Restaurant
11835 Wilshire BlvdBest pool hall near and far.
The Room Santa Monica
1325 Santa Monica BlvdInexpensive drinks, live DJ, fun times!
Great beer selection, fun people, right next to the pier and beach!
24 locals recommend
Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe
1615 Ocean Front WalkGreat beer selection, fun people, right next to the pier and beach!
Essentials
Don't buy your fish anywhere else. This place has the best fresh market fish in the area. Take your fish back to the apartment to cook and bring it out to the patio for lunch.
53 locals recommend
Santa Monica Seafood Co
1000 Wilshire BlvdDon't buy your fish anywhere else. This place has the best fresh market fish in the area. Take your fish back to the apartment to cook and bring it out to the patio for lunch.
Best produce hands down in my opinion. Fresh red leaf lettuce always in stock, fruits and veggies, all at low prices. Meat and fish selection is terrible.
103 locals recommend
Vons
17380 Sunset BlvdBest produce hands down in my opinion. Fresh red leaf lettuce always in stock, fruits and veggies, all at low prices. Meat and fish selection is terrible.
Best meat, cheese, beer, wine, snacks, hard alcohol, and prepared foods selection around. A little bit of a drive but worth it for specific tastes, if you know what I mean.
53 locals recommend
Bristol Farms
3105 Wilshire BlvdBest meat, cheese, beer, wine, snacks, hard alcohol, and prepared foods selection around. A little bit of a drive but worth it for specific tastes, if you know what I mean.