Guidebook for Santa Monica
Sightseeing
Lots of shopping, restaurants, bars, street performers, good feel for downtown Santa Monica
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeLots of shopping, restaurants, bars, street performers, good feel for downtown Santa Monica
Beautiful views up and down the west coast, street performers, restaurants, and a great amusement park.
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierBeautiful views up and down the west coast, street performers, restaurants, and a great amusement park.
Incredible cliffs, beaches, wineries, hiking - all just a short drive up the PCH.
580 locals recommend
Malibu
Incredible cliffs, beaches, wineries, hiking - all just a short drive up the PCH.
Very popular area of Santa Monica, great views of the coast and lots of things to do.
17 locals recommend
Ocean Avenue
Ocean AvenueVery popular area of Santa Monica, great views of the coast and lots of things to do.
El Matador Beach
32350 Pacific Coast HwyMost epic Malibu beach, very picturesque
Shopping
Main Street
Main StreetGreat place for shopping, restaurants, and bars
Everything Else
Eclectic scene, great vibe, easy walk, good restaurants and bars, cool street art
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front WalkEclectic scene, great vibe, easy walk, good restaurants and bars, cool street art
Great vibe, very upbeat, always packed. You'll usually find a younger, more boisterous crowd here. Great scene at night, but also has good day drinking going on during the weekends.
525 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BlvdGreat vibe, very upbeat, always packed. You'll usually find a younger, more boisterous crowd here. Great scene at night, but also has good day drinking going on during the weekends.
Essentials
Vons
17380 Sunset BlvdClosest grocery store to the apartment
Rite Aid
888 Lincoln BlvdClosest pharmacy and drug store to the apartment.
Closest grocery store to the apartment with any health foods you might prefer
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln BlvdClosest grocery store to the apartment with any health foods you might prefer
Food Scene
Great Italian restaurant right on the promenade, has a great bar as well.
6 locals recommend
Locanda Del Lago
Great Italian restaurant right on the promenade, has a great bar as well.
Great American food and nightlife scene - open late. Fantastic bar, beautiful inside. Outside seating as well.
199 locals recommend
The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
225 Santa Monica BlvdGreat American food and nightlife scene - open late. Fantastic bar, beautiful inside. Outside seating as well.
Fantastic burgers. Great beer selection as well. Very low-key
9 locals recommend
Stout Burgers and Beers
111 Santa Monica BlvdFantastic burgers. Great beer selection as well. Very low-key
Blue Plate Oysterette
1355 Ocean AveGood seafood restaurant, right on the ocean.
Blue Plate Taco
1515 Ocean AveGreat, affordable Mexican food overlooking the ocean.
Tender Greens
6290 Sunset BlvdGreat, low-key salad restaurant. Perfect for lunch.
Great place for lunch - wonderful make-your-own salads and wraps. Reasonably priced. One of my favorites.
22 locals recommend
Simply Salad
645 W 9th StGreat place for lunch - wonderful make-your-own salads and wraps. Reasonably priced. One of my favorites.
the main Upscale Sushi restaurant in town - very high end, first come first serve.
115 locals recommend
SUGARFISH
1345 2nd Stthe main Upscale Sushi restaurant in town - very high end, first come first serve.
Less expensive sushi option in town. Right in the middle of downtown, great location, good vibe.
34 locals recommend
Sushi Roku Santa Monica
1401 Ocean AveLess expensive sushi option in town. Right in the middle of downtown, great location, good vibe.
Another great burger place. Upscale bistro option. Great atmosphere, very calm.
37 locals recommend
FIG
101 Wilshire BlvdAnother great burger place. Upscale bistro option. Great atmosphere, very calm.
Great location, right on the Santa Monica pier. Good food, busier restaurant. Good views all around.
83 locals recommend
The Lobster
1602 Ocean AveGreat location, right on the Santa Monica pier. Good food, busier restaurant. Good views all around.
Upscale seafood restaurant right on the ocean, great service and fresh seafood. Slightly crowded and noisy because it's very popular.
104 locals recommend
Water Grill
544 S Grand AveUpscale seafood restaurant right on the ocean, great service and fresh seafood. Slightly crowded and noisy because it's very popular.
Great Italian restaurant right on Main Street. Slightly more upscale.
71 locals recommend
La Vecchia Cucina
2654 Main StGreat Italian restaurant right on Main Street. Slightly more upscale.
Great seafood, close to the water and Main Street. Extensive bar in addition to good food, happy hour deals are recommended.
76 locals recommend
Enterprise Fish Co.
174 Kinney StGreat seafood, close to the water and Main Street. Extensive bar in addition to good food, happy hour deals are recommended.
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StGreat sandwich/tea/coffee option. Very popular
Ideal place to rent bikes, surfboards, paddle boards, and more. They also have cafes. There are quite a few Perrys up and down the SM bike path - I can help you locate the best one for you to use.
41 locals recommend
Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals
2400 Ocean Front WalkIdeal place to rent bikes, surfboards, paddle boards, and more. They also have cafes. There are quite a few Perrys up and down the SM bike path - I can help you locate the best one for you to use.
Sunny Spot
822 Washington BlvdGood brunch, good happy hour
A-Frame
12565 W Washington BlvdGood hawaiian themed food, well decorated
Best Himalayan food I've ever had in my life. Relatively mellow service, doesn't move quickly, but this is one of my favorite restaurants in all of LA
31 locals recommend
Tara's Himalayan Cuisine
10855 Venice Blvd.Best Himalayan food I've ever had in my life. Relatively mellow service, doesn't move quickly, but this is one of my favorite restaurants in all of LA
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
301 Santa Monica PierRight on the pier
Drinks & Nightlife
Great atmosphere. Arguably the best burgers in Los Angeles. Great beer selection. Low-key environment, casual.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveGreat atmosphere. Arguably the best burgers in Los Angeles. Great beer selection. Low-key environment, casual.
Really fun bar, great vibe, one of my favorites, walking distance from the apartment easily. Live music on certain nights. Great drinks, right in downtown so it's easy to barhop.
15 locals recommend
The Craftsman Bar and Kitchen
119 BroadwayReally fun bar, great vibe, one of my favorites, walking distance from the apartment easily. Live music on certain nights. Great drinks, right in downtown so it's easy to barhop.
Fancy rooftop bar on top of a really tall building. Great views of the coast, including Malibu and the pier. Slightly more expensive, but worth it. Lounge seating inside and outside.
99 locals recommend
Hotel Shangri-La
1301 Ocean AveFancy rooftop bar on top of a really tall building. Great views of the coast, including Malibu and the pier. Slightly more expensive, but worth it. Lounge seating inside and outside.
Popular tourist bar in downtown Santa Monica. Great location for barhopping. Right on the ocean. Larger bar with lots of dancing.
12 locals recommend
Ma'kai Restaurant & Lounge
101 BroadwayPopular tourist bar in downtown Santa Monica. Great location for barhopping. Right on the ocean. Larger bar with lots of dancing.
Fancier place for drinks and tapas. Walking distance to apartment. Great wine and beer selection. Happy hour menu includes lots of good bites.
Brilliantshine
Fancier place for drinks and tapas. Walking distance to apartment. Great wine and beer selection. Happy hour menu includes lots of good bites.
Laid back bar, great service, mellow crowd and never too crowded. Good food and great beer selection. Good for bar hopping. Close to apartment.
6 locals recommend
West 4th & Jane
1432 4th StLaid back bar, great service, mellow crowd and never too crowded. Good food and great beer selection. Good for bar hopping. Close to apartment.
Cool, darker jazz bar. Known for it's scene on Sunday nights. Live bands. Burlesque dancers. Always fun. There is a cover but it's worth it.
99 locals recommend
Harvelle's Blues Club
1432 4th StCool, darker jazz bar. Known for it's scene on Sunday nights. Live bands. Burlesque dancers. Always fun. There is a cover but it's worth it.
Louder, more rowdy Mexican bar on the promenade. Excellent happy hour deals.
172 locals recommend
Cabo Cantina
6669 Hollywood BlvdLouder, more rowdy Mexican bar on the promenade. Excellent happy hour deals.
Slightly more sophisticated wine bar close to the apartment. Great happy hour, good food, good service.
81 locals recommend
Bodega Wine Bar Pasadena
300 E Colorado BlvdSlightly more sophisticated wine bar close to the apartment. Great happy hour, good food, good service.
Great restaurant and wine bar. Large selection of wines that you can sample. Slightly upscale.
80 locals recommend
Brick + Mortar
2435 Main StGreat restaurant and wine bar. Large selection of wines that you can sample. Slightly upscale.
M Street Kitchen
2000 Main StHealthy food options, great for dinner, brunch, or lunch.
Stella Barra Pizzeria
2000 Main StGreat pizza, low-key environment.
One of the most popular bars on the westside - in a Victorian house off of Main. Cool vibe, well decorated, great drink selection. On the fancier side
83 locals recommend
Basement Tavern
2640 Main StOne of the most popular bars on the westside - in a Victorian house off of Main. Cool vibe, well decorated, great drink selection. On the fancier side
Low key, popular place right on Main. Good beer selection, Open during the day as well.
96 locals recommend
Library Alehouse
2911 Main StLow key, popular place right on Main. Good beer selection, Open during the day as well.
Main on Main
2941 Main StUpbeat bar, usually crowded, dancing and club music.
Fun Irish pub with great beer and service. Live music here frequently. Occasionally has long lines.
32 locals recommend
Finn McCool's
2702 Main StFun Irish pub with great beer and service. Live music here frequently. Occasionally has long lines.
Great Mexican bar and restaurant, right on Main. Slightly louder crowd. Good happy hour deals. Casual environment.
28 locals recommend
Lula Cocina Mexicana
2720 Main StGreat Mexican bar and restaurant, right on Main. Slightly louder crowd. Good happy hour deals. Casual environment.
Really fun irish pub on Main. They have live music there sometimes. Great crowd, sometimes rowdy. Hardworking bartenders.
30 locals recommend
O'Brien's Irish Pub
2941 Main StreetReally fun irish pub on Main. They have live music there sometimes. Great crowd, sometimes rowdy. Hardworking bartenders.
great place to park your bike and grab a beer, right on the beach. great vibe
282 locals recommend
VENICE WHALER BAR & GRILL
10 Washington Boulevardgreat place to park your bike and grab a beer, right on the beach. great vibe
Alibi Room
12236 Washington BlvdBest known and most popular for their kobe beef
Oldfield's Liquor Room
10899 Venice Blvd.Classy bar
Goofy, fun place with a cabin/lodge theme to it. Live music frequently. Good service and beer
70 locals recommend
Bigfoot West
10939 Venice Blvd.Goofy, fun place with a cabin/lodge theme to it. Live music frequently. Good service and beer
Q's Billiard Club & Restaurant
11835 Wilshire BlvdPopular Bar in Brentwood
Great British pub, lots of space, near the water. Great place to watch early morning soccer games.
33 locals recommend
Ye Olde Kings Head
116 Santa Monica BlvdGreat British pub, lots of space, near the water. Great place to watch early morning soccer games.
Rusty's Surf Ranch
256 Santa Monica PierGreat place to grab a beer, right on the SM pier.