Guidebook for Santa Monica
Drinks & Nightlife
Good food, best patio on Main St. Great Happy Hour pizzas and snacks 4-7. Incredible cocktails, great bartenders and staff.
54 locals recommend
Areal Restaurant
2820 Main StreetGood food, best patio on Main St. Great Happy Hour pizzas and snacks 4-7. Incredible cocktails, great bartenders and staff.
Happy Hour starts at 11am! 11-7. Good Irish pub snacks and cheap beers! Nice people.
32 locals recommend
Finn McCool's
2702 Main StHappy Hour starts at 11am! 11-7. Good Irish pub snacks and cheap beers! Nice people.
A Steak House, but I like the other things more than the steaks, the Chicken Parmesan, their marinara sauce, the chicken sandwich, the fish and chips, the kosher dog, tacos, HH menu 1/2 price 5-7
55 locals recommend
The Galley
2442 Main StA Steak House, but I like the other things more than the steaks, the Chicken Parmesan, their marinara sauce, the chicken sandwich, the fish and chips, the kosher dog, tacos, HH menu 1/2 price 5-7
Great staff! Really good gastro pub food and pizzas. Place goes nuts on a Sunday afternoon. Great TVs for sports watching.
80 locals recommend
Brick + Mortar
2435 Main StGreat staff! Really good gastro pub food and pizzas. Place goes nuts on a Sunday afternoon. Great TVs for sports watching.
Stays open all the way, good wings, nice staff, basically an elegant dive bar. Karaoke on Sunday Night is a lot of fun.
32 locals recommend
Rick's Tavern On Main
2907 Main StStays open all the way, good wings, nice staff, basically an elegant dive bar. Karaoke on Sunday Night is a lot of fun.
Happy Hour starts at noon, great club sandwich for on the cheap special during the day. Turns into a zoo at night.
30 locals recommend
O'Brien's Irish Pub
2941 Main StreetHappy Hour starts at noon, great club sandwich for on the cheap special during the day. Turns into a zoo at night.
Great beer selection and really good innovative sandwiches, right on the beach so it gets packed.
321 locals recommend
The Commons Ale House
129 BroadwayGreat beer selection and really good innovative sandwiches, right on the beach so it gets packed.
Larry's
24 Windward AveReally good food and drinks at the end of Windward Circle. Great spot.
Beer and burgers under the Pier in front of the original Muscle Beach. Been there as long as the pier itself.
24 locals recommend
Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe
1615 Ocean Front WalkBeer and burgers under the Pier in front of the original Muscle Beach. Been there as long as the pier itself.
You throw the peanut shells on the floor, and it's a nice spot on the way if you're walking to or from downtown SM and Promenade.
46 locals recommend
Chez Jay
1657 Ocean AveYou throw the peanut shells on the floor, and it's a nice spot on the way if you're walking to or from downtown SM and Promenade.
A very, very British Pub. Doesn't get inundated by tourists like the King's Head. generally full of people yanks can barely understand even though we're supposedly speaking the same language.
18 locals recommend
Cock 'n Bull
2947 Lincoln BlvdA very, very British Pub. Doesn't get inundated by tourists like the King's Head. generally full of people yanks can barely understand even though we're supposedly speaking the same language.
Great British Pub food, darts, the place to go to watch a football game (International football that is, (the game game called Soccer in the USA.)) Good lunch specials too.
33 locals recommend
Ye Olde Kings Head
116 Santa Monica BlvdGreat British Pub food, darts, the place to go to watch a football game (International football that is, (the game game called Soccer in the USA.)) Good lunch specials too.
The most posh, pretentious, plastic and expensive bar in Santa Monica. It is a nice place, Like a backyard, but it seems like you're in Hollywood w/D-bags... Just putting it out there so you know.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdThe most posh, pretentious, plastic and expensive bar in Santa Monica. It is a nice place, Like a backyard, but it seems like you're in Hollywood w/D-bags... Just putting it out there so you know.
Amazing Happy Hour, 5-8 every day, whole menu 1/2 off, fried chicken is insane, burger is ruinous! Patio is family friendly when open. Otherwise the bar in the basement can be one raucous good time.
83 locals recommend
Basement Tavern
2640 Main StAmazing Happy Hour, 5-8 every day, whole menu 1/2 off, fried chicken is insane, burger is ruinous! Patio is family friendly when open. Otherwise the bar in the basement can be one raucous good time.
Food Scene
A taste of the Santa Monica lifestyle, bob as, pastries and health eats, be sure to wear you lululemon and carry a yoga mat so you fit in.
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StA taste of the Santa Monica lifestyle, bob as, pastries and health eats, be sure to wear you lululemon and carry a yoga mat so you fit in.
Really good. Even if you're not vegan, you won't miss the meat. Great flavor, amazing thai food. Inexpensive.
60 locals recommend
Thai Vegan
2400 Main StReally good. Even if you're not vegan, you won't miss the meat. Great flavor, amazing thai food. Inexpensive.
Somewhat overpriced, underwhelming Italian food. Better for Lunch because the don't jack you so hard on price. Always packed regardless of what I say.
71 locals recommend
La Vecchia Cucina
2654 Main StSomewhat overpriced, underwhelming Italian food. Better for Lunch because the don't jack you so hard on price. Always packed regardless of what I say.
Omusubi, a great healthy pizza slice alternative, stuff packed in a rice ball wrapped in seaweed. Delicious! I like the chicken curry and the tuna.
161 locals recommend
Sunny Spot
822 Washington BlvdOmusubi, a great healthy pizza slice alternative, stuff packed in a rice ball wrapped in seaweed. Delicious! I like the chicken curry and the tuna.
Good Atmosphere, always busy. California Griddle Burger, served at Happy Hour 4-7, is a a deliberate knock-off of the in-and-out burger, and you don't have to go all the way to Washington and Lincoln
85 locals recommend
M Street Kitchen
2000 Main StGood Atmosphere, always busy. California Griddle Burger, served at Happy Hour 4-7, is a a deliberate knock-off of the in-and-out burger, and you don't have to go all the way to Washington and Lincoln
No lie, some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Oaxacan Mexican. Amazing mole sauces. Nice Margaritas. Best mexican food on the Westside of LA.
10 locals recommend
El Texate
316 Pico BlvdNo lie, some of the best Mexican food I've ever had. Oaxacan Mexican. Amazing mole sauces. Nice Margaritas. Best mexican food on the Westside of LA.
Ashland Hill
2807 Main StGood pie! More Chicagoish than thin crust NY pizzaish.
Great atmosphere, more upscale than most places on the street. Good sushi bar, tasty stuff on the happy hour menu too, try the Mustard Chicken, it's always good. Great bartenders, can get very busy.
153 locals recommend
Chaya
110 Navy StGreat atmosphere, more upscale than most places on the street. Good sushi bar, tasty stuff on the happy hour menu too, try the Mustard Chicken, it's always good. Great bartenders, can get very busy.
Place is outstanding, great for take out or sunny patio dining. right off the beach.
83 locals recommend
Cha Cha Chicken
1906 Ocean AvePlace is outstanding, great for take out or sunny patio dining. right off the beach.
Restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel. Simply the best restaurant in Santa Monica. It is a culinary experience bar none, but it's not cheap. However, the whole restaurant goes 1/2 price between 5-6pm.
37 locals recommend
FIG
101 Wilshire BlvdRestaurant in the Fairmont Hotel. Simply the best restaurant in Santa Monica. It is a culinary experience bar none, but it's not cheap. However, the whole restaurant goes 1/2 price between 5-6pm.
Amazing Italian food, bring your platinum american express card, but enjoy if you can!
34 locals recommend
Hostaria Del Piccolo
512 Rose AvenueAmazing Italian food, bring your platinum american express card, but enjoy if you can!
If you're vegan, this is your homeland. Even if you're not, amazing food, amazing vegan creations, they literally grow almost all the food they serve. Chefs prep through the night, open B, L, & D
488 locals recommend
Cafe Gratitude
512 Rose AveIf you're vegan, this is your homeland. Even if you're not, amazing food, amazing vegan creations, they literally grow almost all the food they serve. Chefs prep through the night, open B, L, & D
Cerveteca
523 Rose AveGood food, very cool. Unique menu and style.
Essentials
Shop here! Whole foods is corporate and more expensive! Awesome natural, organic food store, deliberately undercuts Whole Foods on organic produce and bulk foods. Run by nice people.
42 locals recommend
One Life Natural Foods
3001 Main StreetShop here! Whole foods is corporate and more expensive! Awesome natural, organic food store, deliberately undercuts Whole Foods on organic produce and bulk foods. Run by nice people.
Everything Else
Drop-off laundry and do it yourself laundry mat right across the way.
15 locals recommend
Bubble Beach Laundry
2633 Main StDrop-off laundry and do it yourself laundry mat right across the way.
Shopping
Pretty much the only place you ever need to buy anything non-edible. They got clothes, shoes, flip-flops, surfboards, skateboards, sweatshirts, sunglasses and sunscreen... Everything you really need.
20 locals recommend
ZJ Boarding House
2619 Main StPretty much the only place you ever need to buy anything non-edible. They got clothes, shoes, flip-flops, surfboards, skateboards, sweatshirts, sunglasses and sunscreen... Everything you really need.