Guidebook for Manhattan Beach
Food Scene
Local favorite within a few blocks from the house. Great place to meet for drinks. Decent seafood.
87 locals recommend
FISHBAR
3801 Highland AveLocal favorite within a few blocks from the house. Great place to meet for drinks. Decent seafood.
Best breakfast spot in North Manhattan Beach. Super yummy coffee and espresso drinks. We love their Dos Burritos, French Toast and Tiger Chai Lattes. They also have a great lunch menu of sandwiches and salads.
53 locals recommend
North End Caffe
3421 Highland AveBest breakfast spot in North Manhattan Beach. Super yummy coffee and espresso drinks. We love their Dos Burritos, French Toast and Tiger Chai Lattes. They also have a great lunch menu of sandwiches and salads.
Fantastic pancakes. Iconic breakfast spot located in downtown Manhattan Beach. Sit outside and enjoy the ocean view. Go early or expect a wait for 20+ minutes. If you have a small party of 2, grab a spot at the bar for a quick breakfast.
47 locals recommend
Uncle Bill's Pancake House
1305 Highland AveFantastic pancakes. Iconic breakfast spot located in downtown Manhattan Beach. Sit outside and enjoy the ocean view. Go early or expect a wait for 20+ minutes. If you have a small party of 2, grab a spot at the bar for a quick breakfast.
Upscale restaurant in downtown Manhattan Beach. Large bar on the first floor and posh dine in restaurant on the second floor with stellar views of the Manhattan Beach Pier and sunsets over the ocean. Awesome appetizers and delicious seafood & steak entrees. Reservations recommended for dinner.
133 locals recommend
The Strand House
117 Manhattan Beach BlvdUpscale restaurant in downtown Manhattan Beach. Large bar on the first floor and posh dine in restaurant on the second floor with stellar views of the Manhattan Beach Pier and sunsets over the ocean. Awesome appetizers and delicious seafood & steak entrees. Reservations recommended for dinner.
Delicious gourmet seafood in downtown Manhattan Beach. Make a reservation. A leisurely 20 minute walk south along the Strand.
80 locals recommend
Fishing With Dynamite
1148 Manhattan AveDelicious gourmet seafood in downtown Manhattan Beach. Make a reservation. A leisurely 20 minute walk south along the Strand.
We have yet to eat here but a few guests highly recommend their Italian food.
11 locals recommend
Jame Enoteca
241 Main StWe have yet to eat here but a few guests highly recommend their Italian food.
Super casual restaurant few blocks south along the Strand. Decent breakfast and lunch items while you play at the beach. They also have a variety of rentals to choose from.
10 locals recommend
Surf Food Stand and beach rentals
4119 The StrandSuper casual restaurant few blocks south along the Strand. Decent breakfast and lunch items while you play at the beach. They also have a variety of rentals to choose from.
Best sushi around!! Fabulous owner and staff. We recommend the Spanish mackerel, Amberjack, Snapper & Tuna Toro sushi. The Refreshing roll and Hot rolls are also great together. No need to make a reservation. Happy hour between 4-6pm offers good deals.
FanSea sushi
Best sushi around!! Fabulous owner and staff. We recommend the Spanish mackerel, Amberjack, Snapper & Tuna Toro sushi. The Refreshing roll and Hot rolls are also great together. No need to make a reservation. Happy hour between 4-6pm offers good deals.
Casual seafood fish market and restaurant. We go for the delicious steamed Dungeness crab. Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock.
18 locals recommend
Captain Kidd's Fish Market & Restaurant
209 N Harbor DrCasual seafood fish market and restaurant. We go for the delicious steamed Dungeness crab. Call ahead to make sure they have them in stock.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
225 Lincoln Blvd
Trader Joe's
1761 S Elena AveFantastic local butcher with the best cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, etc. Attached to a convenience store that sells everything from delicious well-priced wine to fresh produce.
9 locals recommend
Manhattan Meats
1111 Manhattan AveFantastic local butcher with the best cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, etc. Attached to a convenience store that sells everything from delicious well-priced wine to fresh produce.
Bristol Farms Manhattan Beach
1570 Rosecrans AveQuality grocery store 2 miles from our property
Gelson's Manhattan Beach
Another quality grocery store a few miles from the house.
Getting Around
If you like to be active and plan to enjoy most days in the South Bay (Manhattan Beach & Hermosa), you won't need a car. There are a bunch of great restaurants, bars, and shops within a 10-20 minute walk, or 5-10 minute Uber from the house.
On the other hand, if you plan to check out other touristy spots in Los Angeles, I would recommend renting a car. There are a variety of car rental businesses with free shuttle service from LAX. Check out Hotwire or Priceline websites for rental cars. When I visit the area, I usually take an Uber or taxi from the airport and rent a car from the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car since they have the best long terms deals (for stays up to 1 month).
12 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
640 CA-1If you like to be active and plan to enjoy most days in the South Bay (Manhattan Beach & Hermosa), you won't need a car. There are a bunch of great restaurants, bars, and shops within a 10-20 minute walk, or 5-10 minute Uber from the house.
On the other hand, if you plan to check out other touristy spots in Los Angeles, I would recommend renting a car. There are a variety of car rental businesses with free shuttle service from LAX. Check out Hotwire or Priceline websites for rental cars. When I visit the area, I usually take an Uber or taxi from the airport and rent a car from the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car since they have the best long terms deals (for stays up to 1 month).
Sightseeing
Take a 20 minute stroll south along The Strand and marvel at all the architecturally stunning houses until you reach the iconic Manhattan Beach Pier. As you walk out on the pier, you will experience beautiful views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. On a clear day, you can see Catalina Island. At the end of the pier there is a beach cafe with a variety of tasty and reasonably priced snacks, coffee and water. On some evenings during seasonal times of the year, the pier is aligned with strands of soft white lights from its beginning to end and it really makes the pier a beautiful and magical place.
334 locals recommend
Manhattan Beach Pier
2 Manhattan Beach BlvdTake a 20 minute stroll south along The Strand and marvel at all the architecturally stunning houses until you reach the iconic Manhattan Beach Pier. As you walk out on the pier, you will experience beautiful views from Palos Verdes to Malibu. On a clear day, you can see Catalina Island. At the end of the pier there is a beach cafe with a variety of tasty and reasonably priced snacks, coffee and water. On some evenings during seasonal times of the year, the pier is aligned with strands of soft white lights from its beginning to end and it really makes the pier a beautiful and magical place.
Grab your bike, scooter or rollerblades and cruise south on the Strand for 2 miles until you reach the second pier. This is Hermosa Beach. Another super charming beach town with a variety of restaurants, shops and its own farmer's market.
197 locals recommend
Hermosa Beach
Grab your bike, scooter or rollerblades and cruise south on the Strand for 2 miles until you reach the second pier. This is Hermosa Beach. Another super charming beach town with a variety of restaurants, shops and its own farmer's market.
Check out the amazing iconic architecture in Venice Beach. Drive 15 minutes north or spend a half day biking along the Strand North until you reach this infamous location.
Venice Beach
Check out the amazing iconic architecture in Venice Beach. Drive 15 minutes north or spend a half day biking along the Strand North until you reach this infamous location.
The Getty
1200 Getty Center Dr
Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdFantastic venue for music!
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierFun carnival on the beach for the kid in all of us!
We love rollercoasters and this is the perfect place to get our fix! There's so many to choose from it easily takes 2 days to ride them all. A short 1 hour drive from Manhattan Beach.
716 locals recommend
Six Flags Magic Mountain
26101 Magic Mountain PkwyWe love rollercoasters and this is the perfect place to get our fix! There's so many to choose from it easily takes 2 days to ride them all. A short 1 hour drive from Manhattan Beach.
Super fun amusement park that is great for younger kids. A short 40 minutes from Manhattan Beach.
1145 locals recommend
Knott's Berry Farm
8039 Beach BlvdSuper fun amusement park that is great for younger kids. A short 40 minutes from Manhattan Beach.
Disneyland Park
1313 Disneyland DrShopping
My favorite place to get groceries. Every Tuesday from 11am-4pm. The locally grown organic produce is delicious. And there's a stand with 5 star food for everyone - homemade soups, sushi grade fish, local chicken, eggs, lamb, bacon, honey, nuts, olive oils, etc. There's also a variety of food trucks and entertainment for the kids in the Metlox plaza next door.
Manhattan Beach Farmers Market
326 13th StMy favorite place to get groceries. Every Tuesday from 11am-4pm. The locally grown organic produce is delicious. And there's a stand with 5 star food for everyone - homemade soups, sushi grade fish, local chicken, eggs, lamb, bacon, honey, nuts, olive oils, etc. There's also a variety of food trucks and entertainment for the kids in the Metlox plaza next door.
The Point
850 CA-1Shops, restaurants, live music.
If you like to camp, hike or any other outdoor activity, we recommend stopping by the REI Co-op right next door to the REI regular store. They sell slightly used merchandise at significant discounts. And they only have a few of these Co-op stores nationwide.
REI
1800 Rosecrans AveIf you like to camp, hike or any other outdoor activity, we recommend stopping by the REI Co-op right next door to the REI regular store. They sell slightly used merchandise at significant discounts. And they only have a few of these Co-op stores nationwide.
Parks & Nature
Sand Dune Park is an area of public sand dunes partly on a steep slope that is used for exercise in Manhattan Beach. The area has been used by amateur and professional athletes and has been featured in fitness magazines and newspaper accounts as a great workout spot. Next to the dune is a set of 208 steps up a steep hill. There's also a playground at the bottom of the dune great for children 8 and under.
23 locals recommend
Sand Dune Park
3299 Bell AveSand Dune Park is an area of public sand dunes partly on a steep slope that is used for exercise in Manhattan Beach. The area has been used by amateur and professional athletes and has been featured in fitness magazines and newspaper accounts as a great workout spot. Next to the dune is a set of 208 steps up a steep hill. There's also a playground at the bottom of the dune great for children 8 and under.