Guidebook for Santa Monica
Food Scene
great salads, pastas, deli, wine selection, outdoor cafe, local folks!
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Thyme Cafe and Market
1630 Ocean Park Blvdgreat 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.
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Geoffreys
27400 Pacific Coast HwyVERY 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!
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Urth Caffe Santa Monica
2327 Main StWalking 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..)
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The OP Cafe
3117 Ocean Park BlvdThis 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
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Santa Monica Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market
155-199 Arizona AveThe 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...
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Inn of the Seventh Ray
128 Old Topanga Canyon RdThe 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
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Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery
1517 Lincoln BlvdBay 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...)
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Perch
448 S Hill StGood food and wonderful view over DTLA... old charming building that takes you back to the old LA days....(Raymond Chandler...)
Entertainment & Activities
Little Tokyo
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)
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Venice Beach
1900 Ocean Front WalkVenice 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 ...
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Apple Third Street Promenade
1415 3rd Street Promenademovie 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.
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Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyIf 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...
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The Getty
1200 Getty Center Drthe 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!
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Museet for Nutidskunst
250 S Grand AveGreat 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!
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Will Rogers State Historic Park
1501 Will Rogers State Park RdWR 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
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Griffith Observatoriet
2800 E Observatory RdAwesome 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
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Santa Catalina Island
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
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Topanga State Park
20828 Entrada RdWONDERFUL 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
Zuma Beach
it's a beautiful beach
Essentials
Bob's is our local store --- excellent food and great service for deli and outside cafe
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Bob's Market
1650 Ocean Park BlvdBob'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!
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Walgreens
1911 Lincoln Blvdabout 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!
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Gelson's Market
2627 Lincoln BlvdGelson'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!
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Metro Los Angeles Expo Line Extention
Highly recommend using the Metro if you want to get downtown - or anywhere east of Santa Monica!