Guidebook for Santa Monica

Stephanie
Guidebook for Santa Monica

Food Scene

The food is amazing. Get a table on the back patio if you can. There's no signage so you'll need to know where you're going. Bring a bottle of wine.
1062 locals recommend
Gjelina Take Away
1427 Abbot Kinney Blvd
1062 locals recommend
The food is amazing. Get a table on the back patio if you can. There's no signage so you'll need to know where you're going. Bring a bottle of wine.
Great food in a super casual, hip setting. Go for brunch or Sunday night dinners.
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset Ave
447 locals recommend
Great food in a super casual, hip setting. Go for brunch or Sunday night dinners.
I always feel like I'm at a hip, upscale dinner party when walking to a table on the back patio.
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose Ave
347 locals recommend
I always feel like I'm at a hip, upscale dinner party when walking to a table on the back patio.
Super casual neighborhood place with great pizza
141 locals recommend
Stella Barra Pizzeria
2000 Main St
141 locals recommend
Super casual neighborhood place with great pizza
The food is amazing. Get a table near the "cheese bowls" and watch the chefs work.
31 locals recommend
Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar
1610 Montana Ave
31 locals recommend
The food is amazing. Get a table near the "cheese bowls" and watch the chefs work.
Interesting Asian-Fusion and a great patio. Despite the heat lamps, it's always cold there, so bring a sweater or jacket.
48 locals recommend
Cassia
1314 7th St
48 locals recommend
Interesting Asian-Fusion and a great patio. Despite the heat lamps, it's always cold there, so bring a sweater or jacket.
Family owned Indian restaurant with a lovely little patio. Dhaba has been on Main Street for 20+ years. The food is always good. Eat in or take out.
8 locals recommend
Dhaba Cuisine of India
2104 Main St
8 locals recommend
Family owned Indian restaurant with a lovely little patio. Dhaba has been on Main Street for 20+ years. The food is always good. Eat in or take out.
Go for brunch
10 locals recommend
Little Prince LA
2424 Main St
10 locals recommend
Go for brunch
Great for wine, lunch and dinner. Try the tartines and Le Bowl. The Venice location is close by and laid back.
251 locals recommend
Zinqué
1440 Lincoln Blvd
251 locals recommend
Great for wine, lunch and dinner. Try the tartines and Le Bowl. The Venice location is close by and laid back.
Great for any meal
320 locals recommend
Superba Food + Bread
1900 Lincoln Blvd
320 locals recommend
Great for any meal
One of the many neighborhood coffee places. This one is kind of hipster.
69 locals recommend
Dogtown Coffee
2003 Main St
69 locals recommend
One of the many neighborhood coffee places. This one is kind of hipster.
Go for breakfast, lunch, brunch and sit on the patio
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main St
256 locals recommend
Go for breakfast, lunch, brunch and sit on the patio
Cute little place to grab a coffee before going for a walk
300 locals recommend
Groundwork Coffee Co.
671 Rose Ave
300 locals recommend
Cute little place to grab a coffee before going for a walk
Amazing Italian food served by Italians in a small, stylish space. Casual chic. Dress for a Saturday night date.
39 locals recommend
Via Veneto
3009 Main St
39 locals recommend
Amazing Italian food served by Italians in a small, stylish space. Casual chic. Dress for a Saturday night date.

Arts & Culture

There is always a great exhibit. Go on a weekend and have brunch in Downtown LA.
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand Ave
1555 locals recommend
There is always a great exhibit. Go on a weekend and have brunch in Downtown LA.
Great for contemporary art
374 locals recommend
Hammer Museum
10899 Wilshire Blvd
374 locals recommend
Great for contemporary art
The exhibits are hit or miss, so check the schedule and reserve parking in advance. The garden is incredible.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center Dr
2309 locals recommend
The exhibits are hit or miss, so check the schedule and reserve parking in advance. The garden is incredible.

Essentials

Upscale grocery store with a good prepared foods section
108 locals recommend
Gelson's Market
2627 Lincoln Blvd
108 locals recommend
Upscale grocery store with a good prepared foods section
Go for cheese or wine; and maybe an emergency pizza to keep in the freezer
881 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson Ave
881 locals recommend
Go for cheese or wine; and maybe an emergency pizza to keep in the freezer
The biggest Whole Foods outside of Downtown Austin. Always crowded with people in the prepared foods section.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd
1701 locals recommend
The biggest Whole Foods outside of Downtown Austin. Always crowded with people in the prepared foods section.
This is the place to order from when you want groceries delivered fast.
18 locals recommend
Yummy.com
1308 Pico Blvd
18 locals recommend
This is the place to order from when you want groceries delivered fast.
Yogaworks is where most of the notable yogis got their start. Try Vytas' class.
73 locals recommend
YogaWorks Main St
2215 Main St
73 locals recommend
Yogaworks is where most of the notable yogis got their start. Try Vytas' class.
Circuit Training
Circuit Works
1837 Main St
Circuit Training
Cross training
CrossFit Santa Monica
2433 Main St
Cross training
When you need new jeans or a few other pieces and don't want to go to Century City or Beverly Hills. There is a Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, several boutiques and a multi-screen movie theatre
178 locals recommend
Santa Monica Place
Santa Monica Place
178 locals recommend
When you need new jeans or a few other pieces and don't want to go to Century City or Beverly Hills. There is a Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, several boutiques and a multi-screen movie theatre
Alternative to Santa Monica Place for movie theatre venues and shopping
133 locals recommend
3rd Street Promenade
3rd Street Promenade
133 locals recommend
Alternative to Santa Monica Place for movie theatre venues and shopping
Drug store
151 locals recommend
Walgreens
1911 Lincoln Blvd
151 locals recommend
Drug store
Small CVS drug Store
76 locals recommend
CVS
255 Main St
76 locals recommend
Small CVS drug Store
Small CVS drug store
28 locals recommend
CVS Pharmacy
255 Main St
28 locals recommend
Small CVS drug store
Small neighborhood market less than two blocks away. Haque’s has a great selection of wines, lots of good cheeses, and basics. Perfect for immediate ‘needs.’
Haque's Bodega
2225 4th St
Small neighborhood market less than two blocks away. Haque’s has a great selection of wines, lots of good cheeses, and basics. Perfect for immediate ‘needs.’
Fantastic, yet high-priced, organic foods. Kind of a scene and be seen place for Santa Monica and Venice locals.
317 locals recommend
Erewhon Market
585 Venice Blvd.
317 locals recommend
Fantastic, yet high-priced, organic foods. Kind of a scene and be seen place for Santa Monica and Venice locals.

Getting Around

I use Lyft and Uber, but the Big Blue Bus runs on both 4th Street and Main Street; and the metro is about a 10 minute walk
461 locals recommend
Los Angeles International Airport
1 World Way
461 locals recommend
I use Lyft and Uber, but the Big Blue Bus runs on both 4th Street and Main Street; and the metro is about a 10 minute walk

Everything Else

For indie movies
23 locals recommend
Laemmle Monica Film Center
1332 2nd St
23 locals recommend
For indie movies

Parks & Nature

Great to walk through the park during the day en route to Ocean Avenue or Santa Monica Place.
93 locals recommend
Tongva Park
1615 Ocean Ave
93 locals recommend
Great to walk through the park during the day en route to Ocean Avenue or Santa Monica Place.