A Hip Foodie Guide to Venice Beach & Santa Monica

One key element to a good holiday is delicious food! Since LA has an overwhelming amount of options, I’ve compiled my favourites from the neighbouring districts of Venice Beach & Santa Monica. For me, flavorful food, beautiful decor, and good service are the basis of a hip restaurant. In this post, I take you from breakfast to dinner and everything in between; I’ve even included some cheeky cocktail locations and wicked patios to keep the vacation vibes flowing. Bon appetit!

Brunch in Venice Beach & Santa Monica

The Butcher’s Daughter

One of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever seen, and the perfect place to grab brunch with your girlfriends. This vegetarian restaurant, cafe, and juice bar, only uses seasonal, local and organic produce, so you can expect the freshest flavours. We enjoyed the restaurant on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, however, there are multiple locations that all look hip and trendy.

Grateful Café

For my Vegan friends, this restaurant is for you! All menu items are affirmations, and when you order your food you are supposed to say: “I Am…Grateful (or whatever adjective your food is)”. Food, smoothies, and coffee were all delicious, and apparently, they have raw treats you can buy for take-away. Also, the waffles looked divine.

Food for thought (see what I did there): Since I am not vegan, and LOVE eggs, I probably shouldn’t have gone to a vegan place for brunch (ie. vegan’s don’t eat animal products, including eggs); however, the salads on their lunch and dinner menu looked incredible.

Rose Café

Another stunning restaurant, with a sunny patio out back, and computer-friendly café area in the front. The food was delicious, and service was on point!

Snacks

Intelligentsia Coffee

A hip cafe on Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Good coffee, yummy pastries, and a hip space inside or outside to enjoy your coffee.

Salt & Straw

Unbelievable ice cream, and unlimited samples. Make sure to opt for the waffle cone! See how we got 3 cones for free in the Instagram caption below.

Lunch or Dinner in Venice Beach & Santa Monica

In-N-Out Burger

A Iconic California fast-food favourite. If you go try the ‘animal fries’ (fries topped with their famous thousand island sauce), a milkshake, and burger of your liking! Make sure to snap a picture – this is definitely Instagram worthy!

Tocaya in Venice

Craving tacos? This place was so tasty, we went twice! Fresh, healthy, organic food, at really affordable prices. Plus their restaurants all have great decor, which you know I am a sucker for. We especially loved their happy hour specials and meal deals (2 tacos, 2 side dishes, and a drink all for around $9 – how crazy is that!).

Gjelina

A popular lunch or dinner spot on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, with a quaint patio out back. Known for their delicious pizzas and salads. I recommend you make a reservation in advance, as the restaurant is quite small and always busy. Also, note that all their bills include a 20% tip, so don’t tip extra!

Drinks in Venice Beach & Santa Monica

Looking for a classy bevy? Here are a few options I recommend.

The Bungalow at Santa Monica Fairmont

The coolest place to grab a drink day or night, and don’t worry, you don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to drop in! Expect ping pong & pool tables, cozy fireplaces, and a big open space to socialize and meet some new friends after a long day at the beach. The best way I can describe it is it feels like you’re at a friend’s beach house.

High Rooftop Lounge (in the Hotel Erwin)

A classier option if you want a nice view to go along with a refreshing cocktail. Their couches and outdoor heaters make this the perfect spot to watch the sunset. I personally recommend their Jalapeno Mango Margarita!

If you prefer a dive bar, here are some great ones to check out!

Venice Whaler

Located right beside Venice beach, this spot offers laid-back vibes with multiple patios. We only stopped by for a drink but their food and menu looked delicious. Think pizzas, fish tacos, and burgers.

Hinano Cafe

A Venice Beach institution, having started up as a burger shack in 1969. The name is deceiving as it is definitely not a café, but a fun dive bar, with cheap pitchers, live music and a guaranteed good time. Come grab a drink, play some pool and most likely you’ll make some new friends. (Across the street from Venice Whaler, if you want to try both in one night).

Things to do in Venice Beach & Santa Monica

• Go work off those In-N-Out burgers and walk or bike from Venice beach to the Santa Monica Pier. You’ll most likely see some unique characters, bodybuilders or surfers along the way!

• If you only do one thing from this blog post, it’s to check out Abbot Kinney Boulevard. If you haven’t noticed, many of the restaurants I suggest in this post, are on this boulevard. The street stretches a couple blocks where you can expect trendy stores, beautiful restaurants and artsy wall murals. Keep your eyes peeled, you might spot a celebrity or your favourite blogger around here.

• Hike the Hollywood Sign

• Santa Monica Pier: a carnival with games, rides, and a Ferris wheel.
• Stoll by the beautiful houses in the Venice canals

Extend Your Trip

Since you’re already in California, why not extend your vacation, and visit Palm Springs! Just rent a car and drive to the desert for some more sun, relaxation and great food. You won’t regret it.

For my full travel guide to Palm Springs check out A Long Weekend in Palm Springs, and my Hip Getaway Guide for Palm Springs. 

If you give any of these Venice Beach & Santa Monica spots a try, let me know what you think in the comments below! Better yet, share this post on Pinterest or send it to a friend travelling here soon.

Happy Travels, my friends.

Amber, from A Blissful Wanderer.

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