Should you’re searching for a rooftop cocktail, a cool seashore bar with good vibe, or a complicated breakfast with a view, listed below are my high picks for the very best locations to eat in Santa Monica.
The Santa Monica nightlife scene provides all the things from pool patios overlooking the seashore to dive bars to dwell music venues and a great deal of pleased hours to make you, properly, pleased!
All of them have a relaxed vibe, are principally outside or have out of doors areas (as a result of you are able to do that within the nice climate right here!) and are locations you may undoubtedly take your mates on a Saturday night time, for a special day or simply for an after-work drink.
Spoiler – in no explicit order, listed below are my picks for the very best locations for consuming and ingesting in Santa Monica!
1. Elephanté
This restaurant is concerning the hottest property in Santa Monica proper now. It doesn’t have the very best views, set again from Ocean Drive, however you may see the ocean.
What’s does have although is a menu that pulls the fabulous to take a seat with a cocktail and a plate of their legendary whipped eggplant with puff bread.
I liked the eggplant (aubergine, we name it) a lot, I requested the waitress if chef would give me the recipe, and she or he advised me what was in it. I’ve now made it at residence, and nailed it – if I do say so myself.
Right here’s my copycat recipe of Elephantés whipped eggplant. It’s tremendous straightforward!
2. The Bungalow
The Bungalow on the Fairmont Miramar Lodge had been ready to burst onto the scene eternally and is now my high decide for a laid again beachy vibe with a twist of sophistication.
I keep in mind staying within the resort years in the past and the area that’s now the Bungalow, to the precise of the doorway, was simply assembly rooms!
At this time this cute out of doors cocktail lounge is sort of beachside (properly – it’s throughout the highway from the seashore) however lastly its location and attraction had been recognised and it was out with the fits and in with the cocktails!
Now at The Bungalow you’ll discover an eclectic mixture of mismatched furnishings below bushes festooned with lights and the out of doors furnishings dotted with fireplace pits. It’s a laid again vibe inside and outside.
Cosy up by the fireside indoors and sink into one of many leather-based suites, play a sport of pool or conceal away in just a little nook for a quiet te ta te, or sit exterior below the bushes and take in the night time with a few scrumptious cocktails.
3. Viceroy
It is a resort bar with a distinction. The Viceroy might be essentially the most unassuming Santa Monica resort (don’t blink, you’ll miss it).
It was an workplace block within the 60s that now hides a jaw-droppingly stylish foyer (with an indoor bar) and a good cooler pool space surrounded by cabanas and excessive wing-backed chairs.
The Viceroy (and the Tides in Miami which we’ve additionally stayed in) is designed by my girl-crush Kelly Wearstler. I simply love what she’s executed with a really plain workplace canvas, reworking this place into my decide for the chicest restaurant and bar in Santa Monica.
For a good time e-book one of many poolside cabanas in your group, however after I was final there they had been empty so we simply plonked ourselves in a single and selected the charcuterie platter with cocktails. The right spot.
It is a nice resort to return for dinner or to begin (or finish) your night right here within the nice atmosphere.
4. Regent Santa Monica Seaside
The Regent Santa Monica Seaside Lodge (previously Loews) underwent a $4 million renovation and has some beautiful eating areas for these of us not staying in home.
Nonetheless if you’re a resort visitor, you too can sit poolside and within the cabanas with entrance row, seashore views of Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Seaside.
I got here right here for breakfast with a view on my final go to. Salmon and lox on a bagel and a latte. It beat me, however was price it for the entire posh atmosphere! Then I walked to an elevator on the seashore finish and wandered right down to the Pier.
5. The Georgian Lodge
This iconic girl of Santa Monica’s major Ocean Drive has been overseeing the happenings on this metropolis since 1933.
I stayed at The Georgian for a few nights on our honeymoon again in 2010, so because it had been such a very long time between drinks, I popped again for a cocktail within the magic hour solar.
They’ve added some street-side seating on the pavement, then there’s the principle foyer restaurant and bar. However I fancied sitting within the final of the afternoon solar sipping my blue gin bitter.
6. Eden Rooftop
This styly artwork deco resort (previously Sonder and Shangri La), has now develop into Eden.
After I popped in lately they advised me their rooftop is present process an enormous refurbishment and received’t be open till after the summer season. However with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean it’ll be price placing in your checklist.
7. Penthouse at Huntley Lodge
Don’t you simply love a bar with a Mixologist on the payroll? Ask for a specialty drink on the Huntley Lodge (that’s why they’re there!) when you take pleasure in your 18-storey 360° views from to Malibu Seaside and over to Hollywood.
That is what you name an Extremely Lounge – a signature LA expertise. Nice for an event. It’s additionally the place you need to come to fulfill a wealthy go well with, so I’m advised…
8. Casa del Mar
Terrazza Lounge is the seashore entrance patio bar and al fresco restaurant at Casa del Mar, one of many best possible seashore entrance lodges in Santa Monica. That is your excellent sundown spot, dinner and even breakfast from 7am.
Additionally they have an indoor cabana lounge for a extra intimate setting. This could be excellent for a meet up with the women on this grand previous resort that opened in 1926 and was the premier playground for Hollywood A-listers. And now us!
9. The Lobster
Positioned in the beginning of Santa Monica Pier, The Lobster is a scrumptious seafood restaurant, established in 1923, is one among our favorite locations to dine in Santa Monica.
We deliver our pals right here for superb lobster, crab legs and all the things in between! Additionally they serve steaks, so that you meatatarians can be positive too 😀
It openly lauds itself as being an important location for movie shoots with its iconic view of the Pier.
Whereas it’s most well-known for the nice meals, they’ve a teeny little bar on an out of doors patio, which actually serves as a spot for ready for a desk, however the views are distinctive so it made this Finest Bars in Santa Monica checklist!
The Lobster is known for its truffle fries (I used to be reliably advised they’re finest on earth – even described as crack!) The patio overlooks the 100-year previous Santa Monica pier with its gigantic ferris wheel.
This place can be cool with native celebs dropping a couple of bucks on complete Maine lobsters.
10. Seaside on the Pier
Because the identify says, Seaside on the Pier restaurant is ON the well-known Santa Monica Pier which means there isn’t a higher ocean or sundown view than right here!
You may dine in (their delicate serve ice cream push pops are famend).
However Seaside on the Pier is known for the very best fish and chips in Santa Monica! The menu is informal and reasonably priced. Take a look at the lobster rolls, crab truffles, poboys and burgers too.
11. Pierside Lodge
I’d been on my ft all day, and as I used to be staying on the Pierside, situated reverse the doorway to Santa Monica Pier, I made a decision the lobster roll and a glass of wine at The Browsing Fox, on the bottom flooring.
It’s an excellent helpful location, simply behind the retailers at Santa Monica Place, for a pit cease.
12. MariaSol
Proper on the very finish of Santa Monica Pier, the place Route 66 formally ends, sits the very best spot for sundown views: MariaSol. It’s a easy Mexican restaurant with indoor and out of doors tables and epic horizon views.
On a windy day you actually received’t be having an important hair day, however for lunch or dinner, or a margarita in between, that is low-cost and cheerful choice and a pleasant reward for wandering down the pier.
13. Din Tai Fung
One of many latest eating choices in Santa Monica is Din Tai Fung. Should you’re within the temper for dumplings, or simply nice Chinese language meals, then head to the fourth flooring rooftop of Santa Monica Place, sure – on the store.
This hidden gem is unfold over a giant area, so get a desk in the direction of the afternoon solar and a peep of the ocean, order the Xiao Lengthy Bao – and don’t squirt the soup up your nostril!
14. Loulou Santa Monica
Loulou is a French/Californian restaurant can be on the rooftop of Santa Monica Place, reverse Din Tai Fung. It has a European menu with pasta, pizza, French dishes and a cool Californian vibe.
Nice for brunch with views to the ocean, or meet the women for a drink and chunk. Or go all out and get the 20oz prime rib flambe for $119!
15. Excessive at Lodge Erwin
Truly situated down at Venice Seaside, the rooftop of the Lodge Erwin, is aptly known as Excessive and makes this checklist for superb uninterupted sundown views. It’s situated proper the place medical marijuana is bought from the “docs clinics” beneath – and you’ll scent the medicine.
The resort is about 200m from the sand and two miles from Santa Monica. It has been voted within the High 20 rooftop bars in America. We’ve stayed on the Erwin and actually loved its informal stylish vibe with an important location.
Sit in entrance of the flaming gasoline heater and watch the solar set. Elegant.
What else shall I learn?
Should you’re planning to remain in Santa Monica, listed below are 7 actually nice Santa Monica lodges that I can completely suggest (some are within the checklist above – and a few aren’t!)
You may additionally like my submit on 12 marvelous day journeys from LA! It covers seashores, the desert, small cities and sure – a sure theme park 😉
Or additional inland, I really like these cool rooftop bars in West Hollywood for a sundown drink and these enjoyable rooftop bars in downtown LA.
I used to be requested to write down about one among my favorite LA seashores, so the place did I select? In fact, Santa Monica! Right here’s that story on why I prefer it a lot and different bloggers picks for 4 extra. Learn it right here >>
Should you’re searching for some cool East Coast vibes, you’ll love this submit: One of the best dreamy rooftop eating places in NYC. This checklist options out of doors open-air terrace bars, flooring to ceiling window views over Manhattan, neighborhood beer gardens in Brooklyn and even a rooftop vineyard!
