Guidebook for Santa Monica

Paula
Guidebook for Santa Monica

Essentials

Great Coffee.
79 locals recommend
Peet's Coffee
1401 Montana Ave
79 locals recommend
Great Coffee.
My favorite natural foods market with an extended bulk section, organic produce and juice bar.
73 locals recommend
Co-opportunity
1525 Broadway
73 locals recommend
My favorite natural foods market with an extended bulk section, organic produce and juice bar.
One of the biggest whole foods and also one of the most popular. Great place to people watch in Venice. Rose and Lincoln.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd
1701 locals recommend
One of the biggest whole foods and also one of the most popular. Great place to people watch in Venice. Rose and Lincoln.
Walking distance from my apartment. A smaller market then the others. Juice bar.
1701 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd
1701 locals recommend
Walking distance from my apartment. A smaller market then the others. Juice bar.

Food Scene

Hip place, great food, full bar and you can walk to it.
152 locals recommend
R+D Kitchen
1323 Montana Ave
152 locals recommend
Hip place, great food, full bar and you can walk to it.
Nice place to have lunch or a late night latte. Open late with heaters and good outside sitting. Across from the bike rental place & the Thai place.
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main St
256 locals recommend
Nice place to have lunch or a late night latte. Open late with heaters and good outside sitting. Across from the bike rental place & the Thai place.
Good cheap vegan Thai food and a nice place to sit and eat lunch. Parking right in the little mall.
60 locals recommend
Thai Vegan
2400 Main St
60 locals recommend
Good cheap vegan Thai food and a nice place to sit and eat lunch. Parking right in the little mall.
One of the best raw food restaurants ever. If you are like me, a vegan, raw food lover, then this place is worth the drive to Huntington Beach.
6 locals recommend
Âu Lạc FV
16563 Brookhurst St
6 locals recommend
One of the best raw food restaurants ever. If you are like me, a vegan, raw food lover, then this place is worth the drive to Huntington Beach.
New York Gourmet raw restaurant up on the 3rd level in the Santa Monica Mall. Excellent food.
M.A.K.E.
396 Santa Monica Place
New York Gourmet raw restaurant up on the 3rd level in the Santa Monica Mall. Excellent food.
A classic restaurant for Sunday Brunch. Walk around Topanga ..my favorite 20 minute getaway known for its hippies and artists. Woodstock west.
220 locals recommend
Inn of the Seventh Ray
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd
220 locals recommend
A classic restaurant for Sunday Brunch. Walk around Topanga ..my favorite 20 minute getaway known for its hippies and artists. Woodstock west.
For breakfast or lunch. Legendary restaurant. You can walk down the 4th street stairs (around the corner from my apt..) down to Entrada Dr and walk towards the beach.
26 locals recommend
Patrick's Roadhouse
106 Entrada Dr
26 locals recommend
For breakfast or lunch. Legendary restaurant. You can walk down the 4th street stairs (around the corner from my apt..) down to Entrada Dr and walk towards the beach.
One of my favorite places. Make sure you get a reservation. $$$
63 locals recommend
Joe's Restaurant
1023 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
63 locals recommend
One of my favorite places. Make sure you get a reservation. $$$
I go here for cold press juices To Go but they have a cafe with a full menu. Very close to my place.
70 locals recommend
Kreation Organic Kafe
1023 Montana Ave
70 locals recommend
I go here for cold press juices To Go but they have a cafe with a full menu. Very close to my place.
Great for breakfast & Lunch.
31 locals recommend
Blue Plate
1415 Montana Ave
31 locals recommend
Great for breakfast & Lunch.
Trendy restaurant on Ocean Ave.
35 locals recommend
Blue Plate Taco
1515 Ocean Ave
35 locals recommend
Trendy restaurant on Ocean Ave.
Down the block at the corner for 7th and Montana ave.
Diedrich Coffee
Down the block at the corner for 7th and Montana ave.
Legendary cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
347 locals recommend
The Rose Venice
220 Rose Ave
347 locals recommend
Legendary cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Go for lunch at the local Venice Figtree's Café before scanning the shelves at Small World Books.
86 locals recommend
Fig Tree
431 Ocean Front Walk
86 locals recommend
Go for lunch at the local Venice Figtree's Café before scanning the shelves at Small World Books.

Arts & Culture

Santa Monica landmark that was built in 1940. Robert Redford jumped in to save it. Now it's the American Cinematheque, showcasing classic films. Walking distance! www.americancinematheque.com
57 locals recommend
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana Ave
57 locals recommend
Santa Monica landmark that was built in 1940. Robert Redford jumped in to save it. Now it's the American Cinematheque, showcasing classic films. Walking distance! www.americancinematheque.com
Great museum, architecture and its free. A 10 minute drive. Its a large museum so expect to spend at least a half day. Mandatory if you are visiting LA.
2309 locals recommend
The Getty
1200 Getty Center Dr
2309 locals recommend
Great museum, architecture and its free. A 10 minute drive. Its a large museum so expect to spend at least a half day. Mandatory if you are visiting LA.
Awesome historic Art Gallery Complex.
102 locals recommend
Bergamot Station
2525 Michigan Ave
102 locals recommend
Awesome historic Art Gallery Complex.
Visit legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop for live concerts and strum a vintage guitar. Opened in 1958, McCabe’s specializes in acoustic and folk instruments and offers thousands of books and recordings
18 locals recommend
McCabe's Guitar Shop
3101 Pico Blvd
18 locals recommend
Visit legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop for live concerts and strum a vintage guitar. Opened in 1958, McCabe’s specializes in acoustic and folk instruments and offers thousands of books and recordings
One of LAs finest museums.
3162 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire Blvd
3162 locals recommend
One of LAs finest museums.
Wonderful Museum
401 locals recommend
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA
152 N Central Ave
401 locals recommend
Wonderful Museum
A unique folk-art masterpiece, this 99-foot-tall group of steel towers is decorated with scrap metal, bed frames, bottles, ceramic tiles, and thousands of seashells. Need a car to get there.
55 locals recommend
Watts Towers Arts Center
1727 E 107th St
55 locals recommend
A unique folk-art masterpiece, this 99-foot-tall group of steel towers is decorated with scrap metal, bed frames, bottles, ceramic tiles, and thousands of seashells. Need a car to get there.

Sightseeing

Incredible green park on the bluffs of Santa Monica beach. A short 7 block walk from my place that runs to the SM pier. A great place for a picnic overlooking the ocean, or to watch the sunset.
130 locals recommend
Palisades Park
Ocean Avenue
130 locals recommend
Incredible green park on the bluffs of Santa Monica beach. A short 7 block walk from my place that runs to the SM pier. A great place for a picnic overlooking the ocean, or to watch the sunset.
Voted trendiest street in USA. Fashionistas, food trucks, hipster bars and a great night life.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
1065 locals recommend
Voted trendiest street in USA. Fashionistas, food trucks, hipster bars and a great night life.
A challenging hiking trail that takes you to a waterfall. A good work out!
62 locals recommend
Temescal Canyon Trail
Temescal Canyon Trail
62 locals recommend
A challenging hiking trail that takes you to a waterfall. A good work out!
Legendary body builders outdoor workout den right in the heart of Venice boardwalk.
234 locals recommend
Venice Muscle Beach
1800 Ocean Front Walk
234 locals recommend
Legendary body builders outdoor workout den right in the heart of Venice boardwalk.
Only 20 minutes from my apt. Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive.
580 locals recommend
Malibu
580 locals recommend
Only 20 minutes from my apt. Pacific Coast Highway is a beautiful drive.
Great weekend trip north to Santa Barbara. Stop in Ventura or ride up to Ojai.
182 locals recommend
Santa Barbara
182 locals recommend
Great weekend trip north to Santa Barbara. Stop in Ventura or ride up to Ojai.
Walking into the Venice Canals you are transformed to another land. You are removed from the craziness of LA and the wackiness of Venice Beach. LA's best kept secret.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
947 locals recommend
Walking into the Venice Canals you are transformed to another land. You are removed from the craziness of LA and the wackiness of Venice Beach. LA's best kept secret.
Just south of L.A. near Palm Springs. A great side trip and worth seeing the Joshua cactus trees and rocks. Great for camping and rock climbing.
1713 locals recommend
Joshua Tree National Park
1713 locals recommend
Just south of L.A. near Palm Springs. A great side trip and worth seeing the Joshua cactus trees and rocks. Great for camping and rock climbing.
Great get away.
94 locals recommend
Ojai
94 locals recommend
Great get away.
If you're a film buff, look out for the famous hand and footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Countless premieres and galas have passed through, adding to the renowned pagoda's star quality.
1423 locals recommend
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood Blvd
1423 locals recommend
If you're a film buff, look out for the famous hand and footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Countless premieres and galas have passed through, adding to the renowned pagoda's star quality.

Everything Else

Great desserts and outdoor seating , a 10 minute walk.
107 locals recommend
Sweet Lady Jane Bakery
1631 Montana Ave
107 locals recommend
Great desserts and outdoor seating , a 10 minute walk.
Great place to rent bikes and tool around Ocean Park boardwalk to Marina Del Rey.
8 locals recommend
Bike Attack Electric
2904 Main St
8 locals recommend
Great place to rent bikes and tool around Ocean Park boardwalk to Marina Del Rey.
Great yoga studio up the street.
34 locals recommend
YogaWorks Montana Ave
1426 Montana Ave
34 locals recommend
Great yoga studio up the street.
Lake Shrine Yogananda Spiritual Retreat Center minutes away in Pacific Palisades. Beautiful place to be quiet and meditate …very special. They keep the grounds impeccably manicured.
132 locals recommend
Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine Temple
17190 Sunset Blvd
132 locals recommend
Lake Shrine Yogananda Spiritual Retreat Center minutes away in Pacific Palisades. Beautiful place to be quiet and meditate …very special. They keep the grounds impeccably manicured.
Highly recommended hot yoga studio that also offers "yoga barre" classes. Downtown Santa Monica.
30 locals recommend
Hot 8 Yoga
1422 2nd St
30 locals recommend
Highly recommended hot yoga studio that also offers "yoga barre" classes. Downtown Santa Monica.
Popular power flow yoga classes all day. You pay by donation.
24 locals recommend
Santa Monica Power Yoga & Meditation
1540 2nd St
24 locals recommend
Popular power flow yoga classes all day. You pay by donation.
Good local fitness studio that offers spinning, pilates, core classes and more.
7 locals recommend
Revolution Fitness
1211 Montana Ave
7 locals recommend
Good local fitness studio that offers spinning, pilates, core classes and more.
Yoga studio specializing in Kirtan music.
8 locals recommend
Bhakti Yoga Shala
207 Arizona Ave
8 locals recommend
Yoga studio specializing in Kirtan music.
This plaza is so lovely. Has a Peet's coffee, hair salon, Santa Monica Museum and a lovely outdoor area with a water fall.
9 locals recommend
Ben & Jerry’s
2441 Main St
9 locals recommend
This plaza is so lovely. Has a Peet's coffee, hair salon, Santa Monica Museum and a lovely outdoor area with a water fall.
Kundalini yoga studio annex from the famous one in Hollywood.
Golden Bridge Yoga Santa Monica is Closed
719 Broadway
Kundalini yoga studio annex from the famous one in Hollywood.
Good hiking trail
Paseo Miramar
Good hiking trail
http://www.wispausa.com/ Great place to relax and enjoy a Korean experience.
111 locals recommend
Wi Spa
2700 Wilshire Blvd
111 locals recommend
http://www.wispausa.com/ Great place to relax and enjoy a Korean experience.
Great Hikes
16 locals recommend
Will Rogers State Park Road
Will Rogers State Park Road
16 locals recommend
Great Hikes

Drinks & Nightlife

They invented the Cantaloupe Martini. One of the oldest establishments on Abbott Kinney. Live jazz.
139 locals recommend
Hal's Bar and Grill
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd
139 locals recommend
They invented the Cantaloupe Martini. One of the oldest establishments on Abbott Kinney. Live jazz.
If you like beer, this place has excellent micro brewed beer on tap. They call it a "gastropub." Very popular and right up the street!
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana Ave
344 locals recommend
If you like beer, this place has excellent micro brewed beer on tap. They call it a "gastropub." Very popular and right up the street!

Shopping

Beautiful little boutique with granola chic clothing and jewelry.
Rita's Rags
1611 Montana Ave
Beautiful little boutique with granola chic clothing and jewelry.
World famous outdoor mall with shops, street performers, entertainment, chain stores, movie theaters and restaurants. A big tourist attraction. Also has a new upscale designer mall at the south end.
1595 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street Promenade
1595 locals recommend
World famous outdoor mall with shops, street performers, entertainment, chain stores, movie theaters and restaurants. A big tourist attraction. Also has a new upscale designer mall at the south end.
The Grove at Farmers Market in Hollywood is one of the best destination shopping areas.
2581 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove Dr
2581 locals recommend
The Grove at Farmers Market in Hollywood is one of the best destination shopping areas.
One of my favorite places to hike, shop and buy gifts.
41 locals recommend
Topanga Homegrown
120 S Topanga Canyon Blvd
41 locals recommend
One of my favorite places to hike, shop and buy gifts.