Los Angeles

Santa Monica’s beachy creative community gave way long ago to families, young professionals, tourists, and condos. Residents typically avoid 3rd Street Promenade (the fun is offset by draconian parking regulations, quick-draw meter maids, throngs of confused tourists, and pushy hustlers), preferring to window shop along the boutique- and café-lined Main Street. Montana Avenue hosts a wealth of pricey cafés, pricier boutiques and severely pricey jewelry stores. The ocean bike path, the picturesque bluffs, and the famous Santa Monica stairs encourage shutting down the laptop and playing outdoors.

Landmarks

• 3rd Street Promenade • Broadway & 3rd St
Day or night, there’s always something going on.

• Heritage Square • Ocean Park Blvd & Main St
310-392-8537
A taste of 19th-century life amidst Starbucks and bagel shops.

• Santa Monica Civic Auditorium • 1855 Main St
310-458-8551
Bizarre mix of cool rock concerts and antique sales.

• Santa Monica Pier • Colorado Ave & Ocean Ave
310-458-8900
Tiptoe through the tourists for a ride on the historic carousel.

Nightlife

• Barcopa • 2810 Main St
310-452-2445
Low-lit, packed hip-hop beachside haven.

• Basement Tavern • 2640 Main St
310-396-2469
This concealed treasure is, by neighborhood standards, practically a dive.

• Big Dean’s Café • 1615 Ocean Front Walk
310-393-2666
Straight off the beach, fried locals.

• Broadway Ale House • 129 Broadway
310-395-6351
Snob beer without the beer snobs.

• Cameo Bar • 1819 Ocean Ave
310-260-7500
Chic hotel bar surrounding two swimming pools.

• Copa d’Oro • 217 Broadway
310-576-3030
Pick your fresh fruit and herbs; they’ll create a cocktail.

• Father’s Office • 1018 Montana Ave
310-736-2224
Bet your dad didn’t have 30 beers on tap.

• Harvelle’s • 1432 4th St
310-395-1676
You like your clubs dark and sexy.

• Rick’s Tavern on Main • 2907 Main St
310-392-2772
Nothing fancy just dive in and drink up.

• The Room SM • 1325 Santa Monica Blvd
310-458-0707
Westside station of Hollywood spot.

• Rusty’s Surf Ranch • 256 Santa Monica Pier
310-393-7437
Surfboards, margs at sunset.

• Shutters on the Beach • 1 Pico Blvd
310-458-0030
One of the “beachiest” Santa Monica hotel bars.

• Viceroy Hotel • 1819 Ocean Ave
310-260-7500
Poolside and lounge about as swanky as it gets on the Westside.

• Zanzibar • 1301 5th St
310-451-2221
Grooves spun by KCRW’s Garth Trinidad and Jason Bentley.

Restaurants

• Abode • 1541 Ocean Ave
310-394-3463 • $$$$$
You may have to take out a second mortgage but the gorgeous setting is worth it.

• Angelato Café • 301 Arizona Ave
310-656-9999 • $
Gelato in every flavor possible

• Babalu • 1002 Montana Ave
310-395-2500 • $$$
Caribbean—don’t skip dessert.

• Bay Cities • 1517 Lincoln Blvd
310-395-8279 • $
Amazing Italian sandwich counter, Italian grocery, and long lines.

• Border Grill • 1445 4th St
310-451-1655 • $$$
Mexican restaurant run by popular TV chefs.

• The Buffalo Club • 1520 Olympic Blvd
310-450-8600 • $$$$$
Exclusive clubby dining.

• Café Montana • 1534 Montana Ave
310-829-3990 • $$$
A neighborhood staple.

• Chaya Venice • 110 Navy St
310-396-1179 • $$$$
Slightly upscale place to meet.

• Chinois • 2709 Main St
310-392-9025 • $$$$
Wolfgang Puck does Chinese brilliantly.

• Earth, Wind & Flour • 2222 Wilshire Blvd
310-829-7829 • $$
Boston-style pizzas and pastas, whatever that means.

• Enterprise Fish Company • 174 Kinney St
310-392-8366 • $$
Where $1.00 oysters make for a very happy hour.

• Falafel King • 1315 3rd St Promenade
310-587-2551 • $
One of the cheapest, best meals on the Promenade.

• Father’s Office • 1018 Montana Ave
310-736-2224 • $$
Burgers so good you’ll forget the wait, price, and pretentiousness. Maybe.

• Finn McCool’s • 2702 Main St
310-452-1734 • $$
Neighborhood comfort food.

• Fritto Misto • 601 Colorado Ave
310-458-2829 • $$
Inexpensive California Italian.

• Fromin’s Delicatessen • 1832 Wilshire Blvd
310-829-5443 • $
Old-school deli and diner.

• The Galley • 2442 Main St
310-452-1934 • $$$$
Steak and seafood in marine theme.

• Hillstone • 202 Wilshire Blvd
310-576-7558 • $$$
Chain grill that caters to locals.

• Huckleberry • 1014 Wilshire Blvd
310-451-2311 • $$
Big menu—but oh, the baked goods.

• Izzy’s Deli • 1433 Wilshire Blvd
310-394-1131 • $$
Locals, Jews, and obnoxious drunks all enjoy the so-so food at all hours.

• Jack ‘n Jill’s • 510 Santa Monica Blvd
310-656-1501 • $$
Giant omelettes and long wait.

• Kreation Kafe • 1023 Montana Ave
310-458-4880 • $$
New owner infuses Mediterranean favorites with organic ingredients.

• Library Alehouse • 2911 Main St
310-314-4855 • $$
Beer and classy pub fare.

• The Lobster • 1602 Ocean Ave
310-458-9294 • $$$$
Definitely order the lobster.

• Lula • 2720 Main St
310-392-5711 • $$
Non-traditional Mexican cuisine with strong margaritas.

• Ma’Kai • 101 Broadway
310-434-1511 • $$$
Polynesian by the beach with luaus on the last Sunday of every month.

• Melisse • 1104 Wilshire Blvd
310-395-0881 • $$$$
Quiet, upscale, French, many awards.

• The Misfit • 225 Santa Monica Blvd
310-656-9800 •
Salted chocolate chip cookies at the end of EVERY. MEAL.

• NY&C Pizza • 1120 Wilshire Blvd
310-393-9099 • $$
Come for the pizza, stay for the resentment.

• The Ocean Park Omelette Parlor • 2732 Main St
310-399-7892 • $
Home of well-stuffed, three-egg omelettes.

• On the Waterfront Café • 205 Ocean Front Walk
310-392-0322 • $$
Sit outside, drink obscure German beer, and watch LA watch you as it strolls on by.

• One Pico • 1 Pico Blvd
310-587-1717 • $$$
Fireside dining and a coastal view.

• Rustic Canyon Wine Bar • 1119 Wilshire Blvd
310-393-7050 • $$$
Hidden cave of wine.

A weekend in Santa Monica should begin at the Farmers Market (on Arizona on Saturdays, Main Street on Sundays). Then take a walk along the bluffs or bike ride on the beach path followed by lunch and shopping on Main Street. Next, try the Library Alehouse for its personal brews and neighboring Rick’s Tavern for its burgers. Finally, you can’t not check out the Pier, unless you’re some kind of communist. The Ferris Wheel gives you a view of dolphins on one side and the Valley fires, mudslides, or general frustration on the other, and a perfect make-out spot. And it’s your name on a grain of rice, people.

• Stella Rossa Pizza Bar • 2000 Main St
310-396-9250 • $$
Fancy pizzas and strong cocktails.

• Sugarfish • 1325 2nd St
310-393-3338 • $$$
You deserve to eat sushi this good.

• Tar & Roses • 602 Santa Monica Blvd
310-587-0700 • $$$
Tiny plates of European-influenced food with big bottles of wine.

• Trastevere • 1360 3rd St Promenade
310-319-1985 • $$$
Their gnocchi and olive dip rate a trip.

• Ye Olde King’s Head • 116 Santa Monica Blvd
310-451-1402 • $$
Traditional English fare and beer.

Shopping

• The Acorn Store • 1220 5th St
310-451-5845
Unique toy store, handmade dolls and puppets.

• Anthropologie • 1402 3rd Street Promenade
310-393-4763
Unique, super-feminine clothes and accessories. Goldmine clearance.

• Continental Shop • 1619 Wilshire Blvd
310-453-8655
One stop shopping for everything from AbFab tapes to tea cozies.

• Diane’s Santa Monica • 620 Wilshire Blvd
310-395-3545
Huge selection of bikinis and beachwear.

• Fred Segal • 500 Broadway
310-394-9814
LA institution and celebrity-spotter’s paradise.

• Helen’s Cycles • 2501 Broadway
310-829-1836
Bikes sold by people who know what they’re talking about.

• Jill Roberts • 920 Montana Ave
310-260-1966
Stereotypical Angelenas, both shoppers and staff.

• Kiehl’s • 1516 Montana Ave
310-255-0055
No more mail-order. NY-fave beauty products.

• Kitson Santa Monica • 395 Santa Monica Pl
310-260-9170
A retail Cliffs Notes for what stylish Angelenos are buying this minute.

• London Sole • 1331 Montana Ave
310-255-0937
Chic but comfortable flat-soled shoes.

• Michael Stars • 1233 Montana Ave
310-260-5558
A variety of one size fit all seasonless tanks and tops.

• Number One Beauty Supply • 1426 Montana Ave
310-656-2455
A high-end Montana Ave selection at un-Montana Ave prices.

• One Life Natural Foods • 3001 Main St
310-392-4501
Produce, groceries, herbs, everything organic.

• Palmetto • 1034 Montana Ave
310-395-6687
Bath supplies, soap, natural beauty products.

• Paris 1900 • 2703 Main St
310-396-0405
Vintage clothing and Bridal shop w/ gorgeous Art Deco facade.

• The Pump Station & Nurtury • 2415 Wilshire Blvd
310-998-1981
Where new moms turn for helpful advice with breastfeeding & baby care.

• Puzzle Zoo • 1411 3rd St Promenade
310-393-9201
Toy store caters to the sci-fi geek and child within us all.

• REI • 402 Santa Monica Blvd
310-458-4370
Everything you’ll need for your camping trips.

• Santa Monica Farmers Market • 1299 3rd St
310-458-8712
Overpriced oranges AND an obese man with a monkey asking for your change.

• Santa Monica Farms • 2015 Main St
310-396-4069
Organic produce, groceries, juices, sandwiches to go.

• Starbucks • 1356 3rd St Promenade
310-458-0266
Knowledgable staff that lets you listen before you buy.

• Step Shoes • 1004 Montana Ave
310-899-4409
Luxury and comfort in footware.

• ZJ Boarding House • 2619 Main St
310-392-5646
If it’s flat and you can ride it, they’ve got it.