Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food Scene
Restaurants and spots off the beaten path where locals dine. As a general rule everything down around the 3RD St Promenade is overpriced and mediocre, geared towards tourists.
Sweet Rose Creamery
225 26th StBEST ice cream on main st
Superba Food + Bread
1900 Lincoln Blvddelish
Cafe Gratitude
512 Rose Avevegan!
Fun trendy place on Abbot Kinney, great for a drink or a dinner
very good food
395 locals recommend
The Tasting Kitchen
1633 Abbot Kinney BlvdFun trendy place on Abbot Kinney, great for a drink or a dinner
very good food
same owners as sweet rose & huckleberry, great pizza and pasta very family friendly
130 locals recommend
Milo & Olive
2723 Wilshire Blvdsame owners as sweet rose & huckleberry, great pizza and pasta very family friendly
great sandwiches and gourmet/ italian market right up the street. Get the Godmother
141 locals recommend
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln Blvdgreat sandwiches and gourmet/ italian market right up the street. Get the Godmother
SUGARFISH
1345 2nd Stalways delish sushi
Malibu Farm Pier Cafe
23000 Pacific Coast HwyFantastic location with nice food
Thomas kellers bistro, a bit overpriced but lovely none the less. located in the brentwood country mart which has the added bonus of great shopping!
34 locals recommend
Farmshop
225 26th StThomas kellers bistro, a bit overpriced but lovely none the less. located in the brentwood country mart which has the added bonus of great shopping!
Fantastic Gjelina little sister. Great for breakfast lunch takeout or anyhting in between. Can be hard to find a table on weekends tho. Food is amazing and great people watching
447 locals recommend
Gjusta
320 Sunset AveFantastic Gjelina little sister. Great for breakfast lunch takeout or anyhting in between. Can be hard to find a table on weekends tho. Food is amazing and great people watching
Fantastic local gastropub right down the street. Good pizza , pasta , salads and wine in a lovely setting!
44 locals recommend
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar
1736 Ocean Park BlvdFantastic local gastropub right down the street. Good pizza , pasta , salads and wine in a lovely setting!
Wexler's Deli
616 Santa Monica BlvdFantastic modern jewish deli. best smoked fish and pastrami!
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
631 Wilshire BlvdThe BEST donuts!
Great casual mexican and barbecue right down the street on Lincoln. Great for take out too. Ribs , chicken etc
76 locals recommend
Clutch
427 Lincoln BlvdGreat casual mexican and barbecue right down the street on Lincoln. Great for take out too. Ribs , chicken etc
So much fun and a must if you are going downtown. Big open market with cafes and take out and old time markets.
Love Valerie confection, egg slut, the mole market, the oyster guy and great mexican groceries
968 locals recommend
Grand Central Market
317 S BroadwaySo much fun and a must if you are going downtown. Big open market with cafes and take out and old time markets.
Love Valerie confection, egg slut, the mole market, the oyster guy and great mexican groceries
Sweetfin
829 BroadwayYummy Poke bowls , super fresh and casual. Wait in line and grab a table
great casual inexpensive place to grab a bite on Abbott Kinney and on the promenade
516 locals recommend
Lemonade
1661 Abbot Kinney Blvdgreat casual inexpensive place to grab a bite on Abbott Kinney and on the promenade
Fantastic bread right in walking distance on Ocean Park. 8 am-3pm. We love the olive bread
8 locals recommend
Jyan Isaac Bread
1620 Ocean Park BlvdFantastic bread right in walking distance on Ocean Park. 8 am-3pm. We love the olive bread
Newish addition to the neighborhood. Right next to JYan Isaac bread. Casual family friendly Restaurant in walking distance. Patio in the back is lovely. Pizzas salads and pasta
Ghisallo
1622 Ocean Park BoulevardNewish addition to the neighborhood. Right next to JYan Isaac bread. Casual family friendly Restaurant in walking distance. Patio in the back is lovely. Pizzas salads and pasta
The Rose Venice
220 Rose AveBig bustling restaurant That serves all day long
Cafe Bolivar
1741 Ocean Park BlvdNice coffee shop within walking working distance
One of my favorite Santa Monica restaurants.
Singaporean/french/Indian….. I know it sounds weird but it’s fantastic. The whole fish grilled with fresh herbs is perfect
48 locals recommend
Cassia
1314 7th StOne of my favorite Santa Monica restaurants.
Singaporean/french/Indian….. I know it sounds weird but it’s fantastic. The whole fish grilled with fresh herbs is perfect
Layla Bagels
Breakfast in walking distance
Fantastic authentic Mexican Food. No ambiance , its in a 711 strip mall. Great for take out.
SaMo’s Oaxaca
Fantastic authentic Mexican Food. No ambiance , its in a 711 strip mall. Great for take out.
Love Coffee Bar
1732 Ocean Park BlvdEverything Else
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvdawesome
Bob's Market
1650 Ocean Park Blvdgroceries and a great butcher
Kid friendly, all day menu-sandwiches , cafe and great gourmet take out.
Pro tip, grab a premade soup or lasagna from the refrigerators in the back.
89 locals recommend
Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park BlvdKid friendly, all day menu-sandwiches , cafe and great gourmet take out.
Pro tip, grab a premade soup or lasagna from the refrigerators in the back.
Huckleberry Cafe
1014 Wilshire Blvdbreakfast!
Bike Path
fun
ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main StGreat surf store
Leo Carrillo State Park
35000 Pacific Coast HwySurfing!
Essentials
Santa Monica Seafood Co
1000 Wilshire Blvdbest fish but very expensive
Very expensive but fab butcher shop
They have great sandwiches
11 locals recommend
A Cut Above Butcher Shop
2453 Santa Monica BlvdVery expensive but fab butcher shop
They have great sandwiches
Gelson's Market
2627 Lincoln Blvdfantastic high end market right down the street
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson Ave
Costco Wholesale
13463 Washington BlvdFantastic cheese shop in walking distance. They have a great daily sandwich, but only for walk ins! Grab some cheese and a bottle of wine!
Lady & Larder
828 Pico BoulevardFantastic cheese shop in walking distance. They have a great daily sandwich, but only for walk ins! Grab some cheese and a bottle of wine!
Entertainment & Activities
Beach rentals and Beach Cafe...
surf Boards bikes etc
41 locals recommend
Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals
2400 Ocean Front WalkBeach rentals and Beach Cafe...
surf Boards bikes etc
Bicycle Ambulance
2212 Lincoln Blvdbest prices for rentals and an old school bike shop
Parks & Nature
One of my favorite santa monica beaches, not as crowded and very clean
127 locals recommend
Will Rogers State Beach
17580 CA-1One of my favorite santa monica beaches, not as crowded and very clean
Temescal Canyon Park
15900 Pacific Coast HwyGreat hikes with a view of the ocean
Fantastic hike with a view of the ocean and sometimes you can watch the polo games
204 locals recommend
Will Rogers State Historic Park
1501 Will Rogers State Park RdFantastic hike with a view of the ocean and sometimes you can watch the polo games
Shopping
Super upscale shopping center off the beaten path. Great places to eat and do so serious shopping . Calypso, Scoop , Intermix housewares etc.
No chain stores and often celebrity sitings
114 locals recommend
Brentwood Country Mart
225 26th StSuper upscale shopping center off the beaten path. Great places to eat and do so serious shopping . Calypso, Scoop , Intermix housewares etc.
No chain stores and often celebrity sitings
They have a clothing store and a housewares store. You will find things there that you won't find any place else. My favorite
One of my fave clothing stores. Very Cali cool,with the best kids section too.
17 locals recommend
Lost & Found
11700 National BlvdThey have a clothing store and a housewares store. You will find things there that you won't find any place else. My favorite
One of my fave clothing stores. Very Cali cool,with the best kids section too.
Getting Around
the breeze bike stations are one of the best ways to get around santa monica.
8 locals recommend
Bike Share Connect
the breeze bike stations are one of the best ways to get around santa monica.
Use the subway, its brand new , totally safe and a great way to get around, especially if you want to go downtown . The closest stop is 17th and Colorado, the SMC stop, you walk there or grab a Breeze bike on the corner of 11th and Pearl.
25 locals recommend
Expo Line
Expo LineUse the subway, its brand new , totally safe and a great way to get around, especially if you want to go downtown . The closest stop is 17th and Colorado, the SMC stop, you walk there or grab a Breeze bike on the corner of 11th and Pearl.