Guidebook for Santa Monica
Drinks & Nightlife
Daily Pint
2310 Pico BlvdGreat whiskey dive bar, shuffle board, pool, and Karaoke!
1326 Pico Blvd
1326 Pico BoulevardSuper divey bar, karaoke, cheap drinks, easy walking distance
Irish bar that sometimes has live music - standard 'bar' type crowd but a decent place for a drink. And they have great fish and chips!
32 locals recommend
Finn McCool's
2702 Main StIrish bar that sometimes has live music - standard 'bar' type crowd but a decent place for a drink. And they have great fish and chips!
Great speakeasy type vibe, downstairs, can get loud esp. if there's a band, but fun drinks and you can sit upstairs outside too!
83 locals recommend
Basement Tavern
2640 Main StGreat speakeasy type vibe, downstairs, can get loud esp. if there's a band, but fun drinks and you can sit upstairs outside too!
Bar pico
2819 Pico BlvdNeighborhood bar that likes to feature local bands. Small and fun
Caribbean theme restaurant / bar...the cocktails will kick your butt (lots of rum!!) the food is great, spicy and small plate style, so good for sharing
161 locals recommend
Sunny Spot
822 Washington BlvdCaribbean theme restaurant / bar...the cocktails will kick your butt (lots of rum!!) the food is great, spicy and small plate style, so good for sharing
Another favorite dive bar ;) this one has burgers that are fantastic, but its CASH only, they have an ATM inside, but better to be prepared. Pool tables and live music
318 locals recommend
Hinano Cafe
15 Washington BlvdAnother favorite dive bar ;) this one has burgers that are fantastic, but its CASH only, they have an ATM inside, but better to be prepared. Pool tables and live music
Essentials
Bob's Market
1650 Ocean Park BlvdMy local grocery store...everything you need in walking distance!
Best market ever...cheap booze, great food, lots of premade meals if you dont want to cook, lowest prices on cheese meats and everything!
881 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveBest market ever...cheap booze, great food, lots of premade meals if you dont want to cook, lowest prices on cheese meats and everything!
You know the saying, "whole paychecks" well its still my favorite grocery store! But be prepared to pay!
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdYou know the saying, "whole paychecks" well its still my favorite grocery store! But be prepared to pay!
Food Scene
AWESOME burgers and fries, can get kinda crowded, be prepared to wait
128 locals recommend
The Counter
5779 Wilshire BlvdAWESOME burgers and fries, can get kinda crowded, be prepared to wait
The OP Cafe
3117 Ocean Park BlvdGreasy spoon for breakfast/brunch - old skool SM and a nice walk!
Adorable cafe, great food, very cute, a little pricy, but totally worth it!
89 locals recommend
Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park BlvdAdorable cafe, great food, very cute, a little pricy, but totally worth it!
Fantastic coffee shop, with south american style coffee, panini's, fresh juice hop skip and a jump from my apartment
1741 Ocean Park Blvd
Fantastic coffee shop, with south american style coffee, panini's, fresh juice hop skip and a jump from my apartment
Starbucks
12100 Santa Monica Blvdcoffee - I'm sure you've heard of it
Sweet little wine/beer bar / gastropub. Outdoor seating, great food and great ambiance!
South Main Street
South Main StreetSweet little wine/beer bar / gastropub. Outdoor seating, great food and great ambiance!
Stella Barra Pizzeria
2000 Main StAwesome pizza!!!!
All around great food, full bar, indoor /outdoor seating, brunch - dinner it's all good!
85 locals recommend
M Street Kitchen
2000 Main StAll around great food, full bar, indoor /outdoor seating, brunch - dinner it's all good!
512 Rose Ave
Raw, cooked, organic, veggie, vegan, all around awesomeness!
Great restaurant/bar - high community tables are fun for meeting new folks, food is awesome!
Tons of specials - tuesday is half price bottles of wine!!!
56 locals recommend
The Upper West
3321 Pico BlvdGreat restaurant/bar - high community tables are fun for meeting new folks, food is awesome!
Tons of specials - tuesday is half price bottles of wine!!!
Mexican food...great chips and salsa, the food is pretty standard, but still fun to go eat there! Plus they are open LATE NIGHT...serving food till 2 am I think. Save yourself a hangover!
119 locals recommend
La Cabaña
738 Rose AveMexican food...great chips and salsa, the food is pretty standard, but still fun to go eat there! Plus they are open LATE NIGHT...serving food till 2 am I think. Save yourself a hangover!
LOVE this restaurant! Great food, fun ambiance, cocktails are delicious! And I love the pickle platter...if you like pickles, get this!
98 locals recommend
A-Frame
12565 W Washington BlvdLOVE this restaurant! Great food, fun ambiance, cocktails are delicious! And I love the pickle platter...if you like pickles, get this!
Pot Pie...nuff said! But the whole menu is great, lots of house made meats and cheese, tasting menus and fun drinks
31 locals recommend
Waterloo & City
12517 W Washington BlvdPot Pie...nuff said! But the whole menu is great, lots of house made meats and cheese, tasting menus and fun drinks
Everything Else
Santa Monica Yoga
1640 Ocean Park BlvdMy local yoga studio - amazing teachers, walking distance!!!
I recommend going to the pool. It's $5 or $6 for the whole day, you can lay out on the upper deck, swim laps, or jump off the diving board!!
73 locals recommend
Santa Monica College
1900 Pico BlvdI recommend going to the pool. It's $5 or $6 for the whole day, you can lay out on the upper deck, swim laps, or jump off the diving board!!
head to Abbot Kinney for everything - bars, food, shopping, art, coffee...if you are here for the "First Friday" of every month, you must go down and walk around, its great fun!
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevardhead to Abbot Kinney for everything - bars, food, shopping, art, coffee...if you are here for the "First Friday" of every month, you must go down and walk around, its great fun!
Go to the pier for the arcade, the roller coasters, and the ferris wheel!
13 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier Rock Shop
321 Santa Monica PierGo to the pier for the arcade, the roller coasters, and the ferris wheel!
fantastic local venice yoga studio! Small classes, amazingly talented teachers
16 locals recommend
Studio Surya Yoga Venice
1501 Main Stfantastic local venice yoga studio! Small classes, amazingly talented teachers
Every sunday morning, the farmers market sells fresh produce, clothes, jewelry, and you can eat delicious food - omelets, waffles, tamales, sausages etc till about 2 pm
2640 Main St
2640 Main StreetEvery sunday morning, the farmers market sells fresh produce, clothes, jewelry, and you can eat delicious food - omelets, waffles, tamales, sausages etc till about 2 pm
Arts & Culture
Super cool arts community center very close by! Google them to see if there are any shows going while you are here!
2525 Michigan Ave
2525 Michigan AvenueSuper cool arts community center very close by! Google them to see if there are any shows going while you are here!
Shopping
Amazing surf/snow/skate shop! you can rent boards for all your water/snow adventures!
20 locals recommend
ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main StAmazing surf/snow/skate shop! you can rent boards for all your water/snow adventures!
Santa Monica's shopping mecca! All the big chain stores, outdoor dining, bars, just up from the SM Pier, and connected to the SM Place Mall.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeSanta Monica's shopping mecca! All the big chain stores, outdoor dining, bars, just up from the SM Pier, and connected to the SM Place Mall.