In Spanish, it means “view of the sea,” although “faint whiff of the sea” is more like it: you won’t see the surf, but you’ll dig the fresh breezes and cool temperatures. Lodged between blow-dried, pricey Marina Del Rey and Culver City, Mar Vista is still relatively undiscovered—it’s easy to get groceries, a bite, and a sip at a reasonable price, without wrangling too much traffic. The Westside, but on a budget.

Landmarks

• Mar Vista Tract • Beethoven St & Moore St
Indulge your retro-modernist fetish.

Nightlife

• Good Hurt • 12249 Venice Blvd
310-390-1076
Medical-themed beer and wine remedies.

Restaurants

• A-Frame • 12565 Washington Blvd
310-398-7700 • $$
The Kogi trucks go brick-and-mortar.

• Asaya Restaurant • 12740 Culver Blvd
310-823-8944 • $$
Local Japanese.

• Centinela Café • 4800 S Centinela Ave
310-391-2585 • $
Basic Mex/American, cheap.

• City Tavern • 9739 Culver Blvd
310-838-9739 •
Solid eats and crazy good cocktails. Drink the Flyover.

• The Corner Door • 12477 W Washington Blvd
310-313-5810 •
Because you need to dip a cookie in bourbon milk.

• Empanada’s Place • 3811 Sawtelle Blvd
310-391-0888 • $
The name says it all.

• Maxwell’s Café • 13329 W Washington Blvd
310-306-7829 • $
Hearty breakfasts and lunch.

• Outdoor Grill • 12630 Washington Pl
310-636-4747 • $
Quite literally. Big outdoor flesh grill!

• Paco’s Tacos • 4141 S Centinela Ave
310-391-9616 • $
Cheap Tex-Mex.

• Pepy’s Galley • 12125 Venice Blvd
310-390-0577 • $
Unpretentious bowling alley diner.

• Ronnie’s Diner • 12740 Culver Blvd
310-578-9399 • $
Mom-and-Pop in Marina Del Rey.

• Sakura Japanese Restaurant • 4345 S Centinela Ave
310-822-7790 • $$
Local sushi. Open for lunch.

• Santouka • 3760 S Centinela Ave
310-391-1101 • $
Best ramen in LA.

• Taqueria Sanchez • 4541 S Centinela Ave
310-822-8880 • $
Cheap n’ plenty Mexican.

• Waterloo & City • 12517 W Washington Blvd
310-391-4222 • $$$
Continental classics with California produce (and New World cocktails).

Shopping

• Los Angeles Wine Co. • 4935 McConnell Ave
310-306-9463
Stemware, gift bags, and wine accessories, too.

• Mitsuwa Marketplace • 3760 S Centinela Ave
310-398-2113
Everything Japanese. Fast food court.

• Vanity Room • 13217 W Washington Blvd
310-821-3088
Anthropologie-like boutique, but affordable.