Food Scene
Delicious coffee, beautiful art, and very friendly service. Many Santa Monica-based celebrities have been sighted here.
45 locals recommend
Cafe Bolivar
1741 Ocean Park BlvdDelicious coffee, beautiful art, and very friendly service. Many Santa Monica-based celebrities have been sighted here.
Officially recognized as Little Japantown of Los Angeles, virtually every restaurant here is great.
25 locals recommend
Sawtelle
Officially recognized as Little Japantown of Los Angeles, virtually every restaurant here is great.
Deliciously fancy hamburgers and American-style food that'll go perfectly to your evening.
200 locals recommend
Plan Check
1800 Sawtelle BlvdDeliciously fancy hamburgers and American-style food that'll go perfectly to your evening.
Excellent, wonderful pizza. Both deep-dish Chicago style, and thin-crust New York style. I could eat pizza and drink beers here all day.
9 locals recommend
NY & C Pizzeria & Bar
1120 Wilshire BlvdExcellent, wonderful pizza. Both deep-dish Chicago style, and thin-crust New York style. I could eat pizza and drink beers here all day.
Absolutely delicious breakfasts and bagels, and very good, very low-priced lunches. One of our favorite spots.
13 locals recommend
Bagel Nosh Deli
1629 Wilshire BlvdAbsolutely delicious breakfasts and bagels, and very good, very low-priced lunches. One of our favorite spots.
Excellent Mexican-style coffees and pastries. We have had many a business meeting here.
12 locals recommend
La Monarca Bakery
1300 Wilshire BlvdExcellent Mexican-style coffees and pastries. We have had many a business meeting here.
Tacos Por Favor
1408 Olympic BlvdBest Mexican food in Los Angeles, and wonderfully low priced.
Literati Cafe
12081 Wilshire BlvdExcellent coffee and lunch spot.
Excellent and very low-priced Mexican food. One of our favorite spots in the area.
7 locals recommend
Taco Plus
1525 S Bundy DrExcellent and very low-priced Mexican food. One of our favorite spots in the area.
They have a Certified Cicerone on staff (a Cicerone is for beer what a Sommelier is for wine). Every beer is incredible, and their food is top-notch. They also have a great patio area in the back.
96 locals recommend
Library Alehouse
2911 Main StThey have a Certified Cicerone on staff (a Cicerone is for beer what a Sommelier is for wine). Every beer is incredible, and their food is top-notch. They also have a great patio area in the back.
The best coffee spot in Santa Monica. Celebrities often sighted.
256 locals recommend
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StThe best coffee spot in Santa Monica. Celebrities often sighted.
The LA-based coffee roasters of choice. If you're in Santa Monica or Venice, you'll want to try some Groundworks coffee. If you're passing through town, grab some to go.
38 locals recommend
Bardonna
1601 Montana AveThe LA-based coffee roasters of choice. If you're in Santa Monica or Venice, you'll want to try some Groundworks coffee. If you're passing through town, grab some to go.
The very famous, and very 24-hour delicatessen of Los Angeles. The musician Slash was given the name by the owner of Canter's. If you're hungry, get the pastrami reuben. It'll feed you for a week.
183 locals recommend
Canter's Restaurant, Bakery, Deli and Bar
419 N Fairfax AveThe very famous, and very 24-hour delicatessen of Los Angeles. The musician Slash was given the name by the owner of Canter's. If you're hungry, get the pastrami reuben. It'll feed you for a week.
Established by the famous LA chef Roy Choi, Chego is the premium example of Korean-Mexican fusion, with the best rice bowls you will ever have. Especially if you enjoy spicy foods.
26 locals recommend
Chego
727 N BroadwayEstablished by the famous LA chef Roy Choi, Chego is the premium example of Korean-Mexican fusion, with the best rice bowls you will ever have. Especially if you enjoy spicy foods.
24-hour diner that's a landmark of Los Angeles. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" often takes place here.
12 locals recommend
Izzy's Deli Restaurant
1433 Wilshire Blvd24-hour diner that's a landmark of Los Angeles. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" often takes place here.
Drinks & Nightlife
Mom's
12238 Santa Monica BlvdThe closest and bestest dive bar in the area.
Great beer bar, great vibe (though very tight on Fri/Sat), and inarguably the greatest hamburgers you will ever have.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveGreat beer bar, great vibe (though very tight on Fri/Sat), and inarguably the greatest hamburgers you will ever have.
German-style gastropub with a fantastic assortment of sausages and beers. If you're unfamiliar with good beers, or gastropubs, this is a good place to start.
243 locals recommend
Wurstküche Restaurant Venice Beach
625 Lincoln BlvdGerman-style gastropub with a fantastic assortment of sausages and beers. If you're unfamiliar with good beers, or gastropubs, this is a good place to start.
A small whiskey bar with a great assortment of beers, and a whole lot of whiskeys to choose from, so if you're in the mood for some good drinks after a long day, this is the place to go.
43 locals recommend
Daily Pint
2310 Pico BlvdA small whiskey bar with a great assortment of beers, and a whole lot of whiskeys to choose from, so if you're in the mood for some good drinks after a long day, this is the place to go.
One of the best and largest sports bars in Santa Monica. If there's a big game, you'll want to be here. Granted, you will be surrounded by UCLA students.
72 locals recommend
Busby's West Fans
3110 Santa Monica BlvdOne of the best and largest sports bars in Santa Monica. If there's a big game, you'll want to be here. Granted, you will be surrounded by UCLA students.
A great restaurant in Culver City for beer and food. We go here all the time. All. The. Time.
38 locals recommend
City Tavern Culver City
9739 Culver BlvdA great restaurant in Culver City for beer and food. We go here all the time. All. The. Time.
Just like the Santa Monica establishment, only larger, but just as crowded. Again, the Office Burger is the best burger you will have in your life.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveJust like the Santa Monica establishment, only larger, but just as crowded. Again, the Office Burger is the best burger you will have in your life.
Barcopa
2810 Main StreetSanta Monica's best kept secret dance spot.
Entertainment & Activities
Fantastically, natural, delicious, and unique ice cream. Their TV's display a video I helped create.
10 locals recommend
Beach City Creamery
1209 Wilshire BlvdFantastically, natural, delicious, and unique ice cream. Their TV's display a video I helped create.
Shopping
If you're not into "family" shopping (ie what you'll find on 3rd Street Promenade), go here. A lot of very great fashion outlets, salons, yoga studios, coffee shops, and cafes for brunch.
141 locals recommend
Montana Avenue
Montana AvenueIf you're not into "family" shopping (ie what you'll find on 3rd Street Promenade), go here. A lot of very great fashion outlets, salons, yoga studios, coffee shops, and cafes for brunch.
The shopping center of Santa Monica. Several movie theatres, good restaurants, and a lot of clothing outlets. You gotta see it while you're in LA.
1594 locals recommend
Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street PromenadeThe shopping center of Santa Monica. Several movie theatres, good restaurants, and a lot of clothing outlets. You gotta see it while you're in LA.
Everything Else
Laughing Frog Yoga
12217 Santa Monica BlvdWell-reviewed, $15 classes, 10a-9p (check website for schedule).
Open 5am-10pm. Day passes are available. Just a quick walk from our place.
69 locals recommend
LA Fitness
1914 S Bundy DrOpen 5am-10pm. Day passes are available. Just a quick walk from our place.
Native Los Angelenos go here for summertime leisurely shopping. Many great bars that host bar hops around the holidays, this is a great place to go and hang out for many hours.
207 locals recommend
Main Street
Main StreetNative Los Angelenos go here for summertime leisurely shopping. Many great bars that host bar hops around the holidays, this is a great place to go and hang out for many hours.
Tesla
395 Santa Monica PlOne of the few direct-to-consumer stores where you can sit in and see the Tesla's yourself.
Essentials
Smart & Final
1041 N Fuller AveFor all your large-stock, not-so-organic-but-good-deal groceries.
Trader Joe's
6150 Slauson AveFor all your low-priced, organic groceries.
Arts & Culture
Classic movie theater, check out what they're showing http://americancinemathequecalendar.com/calendar_aero
57 locals recommend
Aero Theatre
1328 Montana AveClassic movie theater, check out what they're showing http://americancinemathequecalendar.com/calendar_aero