Essentials
Upscale grocery store (nearest to house)-one block away. Specialty foods and imports. Large selection of hot and prepared foods, salad bar, bakery...and a small cafe to sit down and eat inside.
48 locals recommend
Albertsons
Upscale grocery store (nearest to house)-one block away. Specialty foods and imports. Large selection of hot and prepared foods, salad bar, bakery...and a small cafe to sit down and eat inside.
Natural foods grocery store with HUGE selection of locally produced products and locally grown, organic produce. Recycle your batteries here. Huge vitamin section. Great salad bar and hot foods!
73 locals recommend
Co-opportunity
1525 BroadwayNatural foods grocery store with HUGE selection of locally produced products and locally grown, organic produce. Recycle your batteries here. Huge vitamin section. Great salad bar and hot foods!
TJ's rocks!! Massive selection of (mostly organic) prepared foods and small produce section. Huge wine selection. Specialty foods and cheeses. Open until 9:30pm. Parking is busy.
881 locals recommend
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveTJ's rocks!! Massive selection of (mostly organic) prepared foods and small produce section. Huge wine selection. Specialty foods and cheeses. Open until 9:30pm. Parking is busy.
Ralphs
12057 Wilshire BlvdNearest 24 Hour supermarket.
My favorite juice bar! Inexpensive 100% organic and a SM institution. Ride the bikes down there. Main St. and beach are fun!
42 locals recommend
One Life Natural Foods
3001 Main StreetMy favorite juice bar! Inexpensive 100% organic and a SM institution. Ride the bikes down there. Main St. and beach are fun!
Everything Else
Jerry's Liquor Store
2923 Wilshire BlvdFamily owned. Huge selection of champagnes.
Yoga classes with drop in donations. Formerly Santa Monica Power Yoga.
24 locals recommend
Santa Monica Power Yoga & Meditation
1540 2nd StYoga classes with drop in donations. Formerly Santa Monica Power Yoga.
Amazing public library. Hosts many exhibitions and events. There is a catalogue of sheet music that is out of this world!
The Library Inc.
453 S Spring StAmazing public library. Hosts many exhibitions and events. There is a catalogue of sheet music that is out of this world!
Forgot your computer? They have them here. New library with an excellent catalogue of books and free computer and internet services.
26 locals recommend
Santa Monica Public Library
601 Santa Monica BlvdForgot your computer? They have them here. New library with an excellent catalogue of books and free computer and internet services.
CVS
2505 Santa Monica BlvdClosest 24 hour pharmacy/drugstore.
Providence Neuro-Oncology Program - Santa Monica
2121 Santa Monica BlvdNearest Hostipal
Elder Care facility directly across the street from the cottage. There are doctors, nurses and staff members on duty twenty four hours.
Brentwood Health Care Center
1321 Franklin StElder Care facility directly across the street from the cottage. There are doctors, nurses and staff members on duty twenty four hours.
Very large liquor store chain, right next to the CVS Pharmacy a block away from the house , on Wilshire Blvd.
20 locals recommend
BevMo!
3212 Wilshire BlvdVery large liquor store chain, right next to the CVS Pharmacy a block away from the house , on Wilshire Blvd.
University is a 2.7 miles from the house and a very easy commute.
472 locals recommend
University of California, Los Angeles
University is a 2.7 miles from the house and a very easy commute.
Whole Paycheck...I mean Whole Foods! is an upscale chain of mostly organic fresh and processed foods. Great salad bar. Open until 10pm. There is a location on 23rd and Wilshire in Santa Monica.
1201 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
7871 Santa Monica BlvdWhole Paycheck...I mean Whole Foods! is an upscale chain of mostly organic fresh and processed foods. Great salad bar. Open until 10pm. There is a location on 23rd and Wilshire in Santa Monica.
United States Postal Service
1217 Wilshire BlvdPost Office
The UPS Store
13157 Maxella AveThe UPS Store, next to the post office
Psychic Readings by Dorothy
I don't know...but it's there.
Group circuit training fitness classes, half a block from the house.
6 locals recommend
CrossFit Los Angeles
1715 Santa Monica BlvdGroup circuit training fitness classes, half a block from the house.
Food Scene
Favorite Chinese Restaurant, three minutes from the house. Super inexpensive, always friendly for dine-in and fast take-out as well.
Soybean Chinese Restaurant
11966 Wilshire BoulevardFavorite Chinese Restaurant, three minutes from the house. Super inexpensive, always friendly for dine-in and fast take-out as well.
Starbucks
12100 Santa Monica BlvdNearby Starbucks chain coffee house.
Want one of those funky hipster cafe's where you can be left alone with your coffee and your laptop? Hang out at 212 and feel like a local!
8 locals recommend
Cafe 212 Pier
212 Pier AveWant one of those funky hipster cafe's where you can be left alone with your coffee and your laptop? Hang out at 212 and feel like a local!
Abbot's Pizza Company
1407 Abbot Kinney BoulevardThis is the best pizza in Los Angeles. Hands down.
Bread & Porridge
2315 Wilshire BlvdLove this place for breakfast!
Brand new, locally owned Vegan juice bar with very reasonable freshly pressed juices and eats. You bring back your glass juice jars for cheap refills-yay! In the same parking lot as Trader Joe's.
Rejuice
3238 Pico BlvdBrand new, locally owned Vegan juice bar with very reasonable freshly pressed juices and eats. You bring back your glass juice jars for cheap refills-yay! In the same parking lot as Trader Joe's.
Iconic Duke's. Take a relaxing drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and stop at Duke's for lunch!
161 locals recommend
Duke's Malibu
21150 Pacific Coast HwyIconic Duke's. Take a relaxing drive along the Pacific Coast Highway and stop at Duke's for lunch!
Literati Cafe
12081 Wilshire BlvdNearby great cafe and coffee shop.
Lady Chocolatt
12008 Wilshire BlvdFrench Chocolatier and cafe. Yummmm!!
This is the local diner. My mom loves the burgers here! It's seconds from the house.
8 locals recommend
Coogie's Cafe Santa Monica
2906 Santa Monica BlvdThis is the local diner. My mom loves the burgers here! It's seconds from the house.
Di Vita's Italian Restaurant
11916 Wilshire BlvdItalian restaurant and Pizzaria
Sushi Sasabune
11917 Wilshire Blvdsushi sasabune
Casa Del Mar is gorgeous place for lunch overlooking the ocean.
76 locals recommend
Hotel Casa del Mar
1910 Ocean WayCasa Del Mar is gorgeous place for lunch overlooking the ocean.
Wilshire Restaurant
2454 Wilshire BlvdVery nice restaurant and lounge. Ten blocks from house.
California Pita & Grill Brentwood
12001 Wilshire BlvdSometimes a night just isn't complete without a kebab.
Amandine Patisserie Cafe
12225 Wilshire BlvdFrench bakery and cafe
Hara Sushi
12222 Wilshire BlvdHara Sushi
Drinks & Nightlife
Nearest watering hole. Loud sports bar. Young and busy on weekends.
72 locals recommend
Busby's West Fans
3110 Santa Monica BlvdNearest watering hole. Loud sports bar. Young and busy on weekends.
Looking for that after hours place to have a bite and a drink? Here it is! Great secret brunch spot!
139 locals recommend
Hal's Bar and Grill
1025 Abbot Kinney BlvdLooking for that after hours place to have a bite and a drink? Here it is! Great secret brunch spot!
Want a dimly lit, chi chi lounge where you can see and be seen? Here's one! The pool cabanas are great for hosting parties!
35 locals recommend
Viceroy Santa Monica
1819 Ocean AveWant a dimly lit, chi chi lounge where you can see and be seen? Here's one! The pool cabanas are great for hosting parties!
Cabo Cantina
6669 Hollywood BlvdLively bar and mexican food restaurant.
Wine, beer and whiskey bar and restaurant. Not the vibe, but dollar hot dogs during happy hour!
17 locals recommend
BarFood
12217 Wilshire BlvdWine, beer and whiskey bar and restaurant. Not the vibe, but dollar hot dogs during happy hour!
Shopping
3rd Street is lined by all the big chain stores, Apple store, restaurants, movie theaters and usually lots of street performers. There is an upscale mall at the end on Broadway.
1594 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street Promenade3rd Street is lined by all the big chain stores, Apple store, restaurants, movie theaters and usually lots of street performers. There is an upscale mall at the end on Broadway.
Main Street is where you get the beachy, local feeling of Santa Monica. Lots of cafes, restaurants, clothing stores and shops. Transforms on weekend nights with lots of bars and nightclubs.
207 locals recommend
Main Street
Main StreetMain Street is where you get the beachy, local feeling of Santa Monica. Lots of cafes, restaurants, clothing stores and shops. Transforms on weekend nights with lots of bars and nightclubs.
Montana High Street is the upmarket shopping street, although there aren't that many stores. Another Whole Foods, many cafes and cute restaurants line the street.
141 locals recommend
Montana Avenue
Montana AvenueMontana High Street is the upmarket shopping street, although there aren't that many stores. Another Whole Foods, many cafes and cute restaurants line the street.
Fun and hip Venice boulevard with tons of restaurants and shops. The Venice street fair is held here.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney BoulevardFun and hip Venice boulevard with tons of restaurants and shops. The Venice street fair is held here.
Just a few blocks from the cottage, this bike shop has a huge selection with everything you need from basket to helmet to pump!
Electric Bicycle Santa Monica
Just a few blocks from the cottage, this bike shop has a huge selection with everything you need from basket to helmet to pump!
The famous Rodeo Drive...spend some money or just play spot the celebrity! (Well you could do that anywhere on the westside...;)
200 locals recommend
North Rodeo Drive
North Rodeo DriveThe famous Rodeo Drive...spend some money or just play spot the celebrity! (Well you could do that anywhere on the westside...;)
Entertainment & Activities
The Santa Monica Pier is the most densely populated tourist area of the city. Amusement park rides, carnival food, tourist trinkets, antique carousel. It's fun. Free concerts in the summer!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierThe Santa Monica Pier is the most densely populated tourist area of the city. Amusement park rides, carnival food, tourist trinkets, antique carousel. It's fun. Free concerts in the summer!
I love this little aquarium and think it's a fabulous place for kids, young and old. You can hold a starfish, pet a shark, do an arts and craft project...all in one tiny little space!
36 locals recommend
Heal the Bay Aquarium
1600 Ocean Front WalkI love this little aquarium and think it's a fabulous place for kids, young and old. You can hold a starfish, pet a shark, do an arts and craft project...all in one tiny little space!
If you have kids, then don't miss the Noah's Ark exhibit! All the animals are made from crazy things: like keys, teakettles and it's interactive: push a lever and a wolf howls fifty feet in the air!
78 locals recommend
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N Sepulveda BlvdIf you have kids, then don't miss the Noah's Ark exhibit! All the animals are made from crazy things: like keys, teakettles and it's interactive: push a lever and a wolf howls fifty feet in the air!
This is an indoor kids tumbling center that you can drop in for classes or try a "free play" hour. A block from the house.
My Gym
12422 Santa Monica BoulevardThis is an indoor kids tumbling center that you can drop in for classes or try a "free play" hour. A block from the house.
Sightseeing
Palisades Park
Ocean AvenueNice walking bluff overlooking the ocean.
Venice Beach! Although many of the hippies, palm readers and have now been replaced with sunglasses and t-shirt vendors...it's still artsy Venice and not to be missed! Always live street performers...
1387 locals recommend
Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front WalkVenice Beach! Although many of the hippies, palm readers and have now been replaced with sunglasses and t-shirt vendors...it's still artsy Venice and not to be missed! Always live street performers...
This bike and rollerblade path goes all the way to Marina Del Rey and is just a fantastic way to spend the day! See Venice beach, volleyball spots, Pier, muscle beach. Fun fun, relaxing, fun!
28 locals recommend
Bike Path
This bike and rollerblade path goes all the way to Marina Del Rey and is just a fantastic way to spend the day! See Venice beach, volleyball spots, Pier, muscle beach. Fun fun, relaxing, fun!
Here is the famous (and a bit seedy, sorry!) Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the stars. Make it a daytime thing if you're bringing the kids!
382 locals recommend
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
6255 Sunset BlvdHere is the famous (and a bit seedy, sorry!) Hollywood Walk of Fame with all the stars. Make it a daytime thing if you're bringing the kids!
The Famous Theater where the stars of yesteryear have their hand and shoe prints in the concrete tiles.
1422 locals recommend
TCL Chinese Theatres
6925 Hollywood BlvdThe Famous Theater where the stars of yesteryear have their hand and shoe prints in the concrete tiles.
Universal Studios amusement theme park is 12 miles from the house. See King King, Shrek, Jurassic Park and then take a walk down Universal City Walk for some extra fun.
3326 locals recommend
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaUniversal Studios amusement theme park is 12 miles from the house. See King King, Shrek, Jurassic Park and then take a walk down Universal City Walk for some extra fun.
Promenade with restaurants and shopping and sometimes live shows that is right next to Universal Studios.
516 locals recommend
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaPromenade with restaurants and shopping and sometimes live shows that is right next to Universal Studios.