Guidebook for Santa Monica

Kathleen
Guidebook for Santa Monica

Food Scene

great salads, pastas, deli, wine selection, outdoor cafe, local folks!
89 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park Blvd
89 (рекомендации местных жителей)
great salads, pastas, deli, wine selection, outdoor cafe, local folks!
VERY special place up the coast in Malibu... well worth the 25 minute drive from Casita up PCH... gorgeous drive - past Pepperdine along Malibu coast. DO order the baked brie puffed pastry and DO go down the steps adjacent to restaurant to stroll the Malibu beach along private amazing homes on Pacific coast.
181 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Geoffreys
27400 Pacific Coast Hwy
181 (рекомендации местных жителей)
VERY special place up the coast in Malibu... well worth the 25 minute drive from Casita up PCH... gorgeous drive - past Pepperdine along Malibu coast. DO order the baked brie puffed pastry and DO go down the steps adjacent to restaurant to stroll the Malibu beach along private amazing homes on Pacific coast.
Walking straight down to beach from Casita, you'll pass Urth Caffe at Main Street. Nice pastries, buzzing at all hours, lively place --- even though it's part of a chain, it's a nice place!
256 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main St
256 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Walking straight down to beach from Casita, you'll pass Urth Caffe at Main Street. Nice pastries, buzzing at all hours, lively place --- even though it's part of a chain, it's a nice place!
This is an old-time restaurant (by California standards - brand new in history of world) - very substantial breakfasts, great coffee, good service, local hang-out. Nice for an early morning walk - about 1 mile east (opposite beach -- past Cloverfield Park... fun place to work out..)
28 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The OP Cafe
3117 Ocean Park Blvd
28 (рекомендации местных жителей)
This is an old-time restaurant (by California standards - brand new in history of world) - very substantial breakfasts, great coffee, good service, local hang-out. Nice for an early morning walk - about 1 mile east (opposite beach -- past Cloverfield Park... fun place to work out..)
The Wed farmer's market at Main Street is great AND the Sunday Farmer's Market at Ocean Park and Main Street/Neilson Way - a 17 min walk from here - is wonderful. GREAT food vendors, wonderful bakers (delicious bread and pastries) and entertainment on Sunday (plus stuff for kids) and great food and gifts, produce, etc. at both Wed and Sun markets... a local institution too
34 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Santa Monica Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market
155-199 Arizona Ave
34 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Wed farmer's market at Main Street is great AND the Sunday Farmer's Market at Ocean Park and Main Street/Neilson Way - a 17 min walk from here - is wonderful. GREAT food vendors, wonderful bakers (delicious bread and pastries) and entertainment on Sunday (plus stuff for kids) and great food and gifts, produce, etc. at both Wed and Sun markets... a local institution too
The Inn of the Seventh Ray transports you back to the 70's big-time!.. Has a wonderful quirky bookshop with crystals, great fountains, etc. AND Delicious food for breakfast, lunch, dinner. .. Really great place -- charming, lovely servers, and romantic setting in amazing canyon ... drive up from PCH is stunning...
220 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Inn of the Seventh Ray
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd
220 (рекомендации местных жителей)
The Inn of the Seventh Ray transports you back to the 70's big-time!.. Has a wonderful quirky bookshop with crystals, great fountains, etc. AND Delicious food for breakfast, lunch, dinner. .. Really great place -- charming, lovely servers, and romantic setting in amazing canyon ... drive up from PCH is stunning...
Bay Cities has THE best sub sandwich on the planet... The Godmother.. DO get it! I'm sure you will not be disappointed...(unless you're vegan ... forget it) It's a great deli and general Italian food shop
141 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln Blvd
141 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bay Cities has THE best sub sandwich on the planet... The Godmother.. DO get it! I'm sure you will not be disappointed...(unless you're vegan ... forget it) It's a great deli and general Italian food shop
Good food and wonderful view over DTLA... old charming building that takes you back to the old LA days....(Raymond Chandler...)
786 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Perch
448 S Hill St
786 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Good food and wonderful view over DTLA... old charming building that takes you back to the old LA days....(Raymond Chandler...)

Entertainment & Activities

Great food and some amazing music
435 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Little Tokyo
435 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great food and some amazing music
Venice Beach is an essential part of the "scene" in SoCAL! ... however, if you've seen it once, it's probably enough (my pov)
1387 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Пляж Венис-Бич
1900 Ocean Front Walk
1387 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Venice Beach is an essential part of the "scene" in SoCAL! ... however, if you've seen it once, it's probably enough (my pov)

Drinks & Nightlife

movie theatres, restaurants, street entertainers, the palisades, shops, the "scene" of Santa Monica ...
1595 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street Promenade
1595 (рекомендации местных жителей)
movie theatres, restaurants, street entertainers, the palisades, shops, the "scene" of Santa Monica ...

Arts & Culture

If you can't go to Pompei and Herculaneum, you can see most of it here ~ always wonderful exhibits in gorgeous setting (VERY much like the Italian Amalfi Coast). Great bookstore/gift shops, nice restaurants, lots of education! Plus it's free! you have to reserve parking (which has a fee) OR you do a ride-share (uber/lyft) and walk up/in without any fee. Go online to Getty Villa to reserve a parking time.
166 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy
166 (рекомендации местных жителей)
If you can't go to Pompei and Herculaneum, you can see most of it here ~ always wonderful exhibits in gorgeous setting (VERY much like the Italian Amalfi Coast). Great bookstore/gift shops, nice restaurants, lots of education! Plus it's free! you have to reserve parking (which has a fee) OR you do a ride-share (uber/lyft) and walk up/in without any fee. Go online to Getty Villa to reserve a parking time.
the museum's exhibits are incredible...truly. But even if you hate museums and art, you should go. The Gardens, the view, the restaurants, the free lectures, the cafes are all very worth it.. it's amazing...
2309 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Гетти
1200 Getty Center Dr
2309 (рекомендации местных жителей)
the museum's exhibits are incredible...truly. But even if you hate museums and art, you should go. The Gardens, the view, the restaurants, the free lectures, the cafes are all very worth it.. it's amazing...
Great museum... and head over to the Angels Flight little finicular while you're there!
695 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Музей современного искусства
250 S Grand Ave
695 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Great museum... and head over to the Angels Flight little finicular while you're there!

Parks & Nature

WR State park has a VERY walkable trail up to "Inspiration Point" which has a 360 view over all of LA ....on a clear day (often actually) you can see out to Catalina Island, downtown, and to the south and north of LA County - overlooking the chaparral of the Santa Monica Mountains -- it's what this area looked like before we got here (if you block out the houses). There are also polo fields, lots of ultimate frisbee, soccer, etc. - not to mention Will Rogers historic home - he and his family lived there for a long time and deeded the land and house to the State of California. What a great gift!
204 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Государственный исторический парк Уилла Роджерса
1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd
204 (рекомендации местных жителей)
WR State park has a VERY walkable trail up to "Inspiration Point" which has a 360 view over all of LA ....on a clear day (often actually) you can see out to Catalina Island, downtown, and to the south and north of LA County - overlooking the chaparral of the Santa Monica Mountains -- it's what this area looked like before we got here (if you block out the houses). There are also polo fields, lots of ultimate frisbee, soccer, etc. - not to mention Will Rogers historic home - he and his family lived there for a long time and deeded the land and house to the State of California. What a great gift!
Awesome view from Griffith Observatory (iconic scene from LaLa Land film) -- truly amazing planetarium - AND Griffith Park is a huge natural preserve with incredible views over the entire Los Angeles basin
4367 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Обсерватория Гриффита
2800 E Observatory Rd
4367 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Awesome view from Griffith Observatory (iconic scene from LaLa Land film) -- truly amazing planetarium - AND Griffith Park is a huge natural preserve with incredible views over the entire Los Angeles basin
take a 1-hour ferry across the channel from San Pedro or Long Beach and go back in time.. Avalon is the main town on Catalina Island but it's got LOTS of natural wildlife, camping, paddleboarding, snorkeling, marine biology, etc. ... great place to spend a day or several days
188 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Санта-Каталина
188 (рекомендации местных жителей)
take a 1-hour ferry across the channel from San Pedro or Long Beach and go back in time.. Avalon is the main town on Catalina Island but it's got LOTS of natural wildlife, camping, paddleboarding, snorkeling, marine biology, etc. ... great place to spend a day or several days
WONDERFUL hikes -- beautiful nature, and hardly anyone is there... ! MASH was filmed there and it's got a lot of great rocks and landmarks within the park... if you like hiking, this is a great place with GREAT views over LA and the Pacific Ocean
277 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Парк Topanga State
20828 Entrada Rd
277 (рекомендации местных жителей)
WONDERFUL hikes -- beautiful nature, and hardly anyone is there... ! MASH was filmed there and it's got a lot of great rocks and landmarks within the park... if you like hiking, this is a great place with GREAT views over LA and the Pacific Ocean
it's a beautiful beach
299 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Пляж Зума
299 (рекомендации местных жителей)
it's a beautiful beach

Essentials

Bob's is our local store --- excellent food and great service for deli and outside cafe
76 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bob's Market
1650 Ocean Park Blvd
76 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Bob's is our local store --- excellent food and great service for deli and outside cafe
about a 10 minute walk -- on the corner of Lincoln and Pico -- the closest pharmacy and drug store for your basic needs!
151 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Walgreens
1911 Lincoln Blvd
151 (рекомендации местных жителей)
about a 10 minute walk -- on the corner of Lincoln and Pico -- the closest pharmacy and drug store for your basic needs!
Gelson's has a great little restaurant in-store! It's an 8 minute walk and has everything you could want. It's more expensive than other groceries (Ralphs or Vons) but has great stuff!
108 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Gelson's Market
2627 Lincoln Blvd
108 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Gelson's has a great little restaurant in-store! It's an 8 minute walk and has everything you could want. It's more expensive than other groceries (Ralphs or Vons) but has great stuff!

Getting Around

Highly recommend using the Metro if you want to get downtown - or anywhere east of Santa Monica!
64 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Metro Los Angeles Expo Line Extention
64 (рекомендации местных жителей)
Highly recommend using the Metro if you want to get downtown - or anywhere east of Santa Monica!