Christen's Guidebook
Food scene
Wait times can be long. So head down to the area early and put your name down. There is limited outdoor seating but it’s good for people watching. Be wary of their upstairs seating as some of the two tops are crammed into a corner.
199 locals recommend
The Misfit Restaurant + Bar
225 Santa Monica BlvdWait times can be long. So head down to the area early and put your name down. There is limited outdoor seating but it’s good for people watching. Be wary of their upstairs seating as some of the two tops are crammed into a corner.
Great, quick hand rolls from the folks as Sugar Fish. The rice is warm fyi but a must try.
Go for the combos and sub out what you don’t like. It’s the most cost effective route.
Car seating so not the most social of settings.
24 locals recommend
KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar
120 BroadwayGreat, quick hand rolls from the folks as Sugar Fish. The rice is warm fyi but a must try.
Go for the combos and sub out what you don’t like. It’s the most cost effective route.
Car seating so not the most social of settings.
While it’s arguably not traditional Italian food, it’s still could be considered bomb.com. Ya. I said it. But seriously. This is a must visit both in presentation, food quality, service and ambiance. They’ve got a large tequila selection amongst other spirits and the vibe is uplifting. It can be loud and the vibe is hip and younger. I once ate next to that guy from Pineapple Express. Just saying.
260 locals recommend
Scopa Italian Roots
2905 Washington BlvdWhile it’s arguably not traditional Italian food, it’s still could be considered bomb.com. Ya. I said it. But seriously. This is a must visit both in presentation, food quality, service and ambiance. They’ve got a large tequila selection amongst other spirits and the vibe is uplifting. It can be loud and the vibe is hip and younger. I once ate next to that guy from Pineapple Express. Just saying.
Book a reservation. Can’t say it enough. But damn, these are some tasty meats. You’ll be grilling them as they’re delivered in the raw. Just note it can get a bit pricey to get full.
11 locals recommend
Manpuku Tokyo BBQ Dining
2125 Sawtelle BlvdBook a reservation. Can’t say it enough. But damn, these are some tasty meats. You’ll be grilling them as they’re delivered in the raw. Just note it can get a bit pricey to get full.
This is perhaps best described as elevated Mexican food. It can get a bit pricey especially with alcohol added...for Mexican food.
193 locals recommend
Mercado
7910 W 3rd StThis is perhaps best described as elevated Mexican food. It can get a bit pricey especially with alcohol added...for Mexican food.
Robata Bar Santa Monica
1401 Ocean AveSkewers or grilled meat and sushi. What more can you ask for?
Great sushi and not overly expensive. This too is a 5-minute walk. Get the Seabass Miso Yako.
22 locals recommend
Sushi King
1330 Wilshire BlvdGreat sushi and not overly expensive. This too is a 5-minute walk. Get the Seabass Miso Yako.
This is owned by Misfit - also on my list and suggest that before this. However, this is very close to our place - about a 7 minute walk. Full bar and a decent selection of food items.
19 locals recommend
Ingo's Tasty Diner
1213 Wilshire BlvdThis is owned by Misfit - also on my list and suggest that before this. However, this is very close to our place - about a 7 minute walk. Full bar and a decent selection of food items.
Coffee
Java and java
They serve good coffee until 5pm then it converts into a wine bar. So you decide the vibe. No hard booze; beer and wine and soju. During the day it’s a work scene but a good vibe.
81 locals recommend
Bodega Wine Bar Pasadena
300 E Colorado BlvdThey serve good coffee until 5pm then it converts into a wine bar. So you decide the vibe. No hard booze; beer and wine and soju. During the day it’s a work scene but a good vibe.
It’s a bit pricey for a cup but what place isn’t on the LA area. Minimalist scene with outdoor seating on a quaint street. Quaintish.
37 locals recommend
Primo Passo Coffee Co
702 Montana AveIt’s a bit pricey for a cup but what place isn’t on the LA area. Minimalist scene with outdoor seating on a quaint street. Quaintish.
Good for a quick danish and/or coffee. Located within a 5-minute walk.
12 locals recommend
La Monarca Bakery
1300 Wilshire BlvdGood for a quick danish and/or coffee. Located within a 5-minute walk.
Night Life
Enter with caution (or excitement) on the weekends or Thursday nights. It’s a singles scene at those hours and busy. During the weekends there is day time drinking that is perhaps as popular as the night. That said, it’s one of the largest bars in Santa Monica and is outside to a large degree. Some nights they have a live band but I aged out of this place a few years ago so I’m no longer dialed in ;).
9 locals recommend
The Bungalow
101 Wilshire BoulevardEnter with caution (or excitement) on the weekends or Thursday nights. It’s a singles scene at those hours and busy. During the weekends there is day time drinking that is perhaps as popular as the night. That said, it’s one of the largest bars in Santa Monica and is outside to a large degree. Some nights they have a live band but I aged out of this place a few years ago so I’m no longer dialed in ;).
If you want a loud filled, packed to the shoulder bar/club experience with a mix of people from all walks of life, this is your spot. While located in West Hollywood, this night club is a must visit and caters to all in terms of visual enjoyment and
overall debauchery.
471 locals recommend
The Abbey
692 N Robertson BlvdIf you want a loud filled, packed to the shoulder bar/club experience with a mix of people from all walks of life, this is your spot. While located in West Hollywood, this night club is a must visit and caters to all in terms of visual enjoyment and
overall debauchery.
It’s a small speak easy like environment. Drinks can run expensive but it’s one of the more relaxed bars in Santa Monica.
25 locals recommend
Bar Chloe
1449 2nd StIt’s a small speak easy like environment. Drinks can run expensive but it’s one of the more relaxed bars in Santa Monica.
This is your quintessential Irish bar. Drinks are a reasonable cost. Just watch out for the awkward male bathroom with the awkward urinal.
33 locals recommend
Ye Olde Kings Head
116 Santa Monica BlvdThis is your quintessential Irish bar. Drinks are a reasonable cost. Just watch out for the awkward male bathroom with the awkward urinal.
I highly recommend visiting this spot during the day and not on a weekend. It’s very relaxing. However, at night I’d personally steer clear as it’s a bit startup bro.
63 locals recommend
Elephante
1332 2nd StI highly recommend visiting this spot during the day and not on a weekend. It’s very relaxing. However, at night I’d personally steer clear as it’s a bit startup bro.
Rooftop bar. Cocktails are about $20. You’ve been warned but worth a visit.
9 locals recommend
Santa Monica Proper Hotel
700 Wilshire BlvdRooftop bar. Cocktails are about $20. You’ve been warned but worth a visit.
The Hollywood Roosevelt
7000 Hollywood BlvdNeighborhoods
You know it. You’ve seen it in movies. It’s totally different than santa monica. Go to the boardwalk. Check out the skate park. It’s generally very safe. Just be a bit wary at night - id avoid the boardwalk after sunset.
352 locals recommend
Venice
You know it. You’ve seen it in movies. It’s totally different than santa monica. Go to the boardwalk. Check out the skate park. It’s generally very safe. Just be a bit wary at night - id avoid the boardwalk after sunset.
This is a cute shopping street, though it has become more and more commercialize in the last 5 years, hence why it’s now a shopping street. There are more food spots these days but still limited. Intellegentsia coffee and toms shoes are good places to stop into. And first Friday’s is the month are a scene.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney BoulevardThis is a cute shopping street, though it has become more and more commercialize in the last 5 years, hence why it’s now a shopping street. There are more food spots these days but still limited. Intellegentsia coffee and toms shoes are good places to stop into. And first Friday’s is the month are a scene.
This is primarily a shopping street. But there is some entertainment by way of people, steer artists and weirdos alike. Food on the promenade isn’t great so head to Misfit which is close by.
133 locals recommend
3rd Street Promenade
3rd Street PromenadeThis is primarily a shopping street. But there is some entertainment by way of people, steer artists and weirdos alike. Food on the promenade isn’t great so head to Misfit which is close by.
Fairfax
Shopping and food
Hiking and science stuff. Parking can be crazy so plan accordingly.
4367 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdHiking and science stuff. Parking can be crazy so plan accordingly.
Melrose Avenue
7763 Melrose AveMostly boutiques. The west end is high end. The east end less so.
Cheap(ish) Eats
Hailed as some of the best pizza on the West Side. I prefer Sicilian but it’s all generally good.
41 locals recommend
Joe's Pizza
8539 Sunset BlvdHailed as some of the best pizza on the West Side. I prefer Sicilian but it’s all generally good.
This a must try for those not familiar. It’s a variety of meats inside of a rice ball wrapped in seaweed with furakaki on top. It’s a great fulfilling snack. The shop is tiny and their door is backwards. So you’ll experience awkwardness in the ordering and eating (just stand outside) but that all adds to the vibe.
161 locals recommend
Sunny Spot
822 Washington BlvdThis a must try for those not familiar. It’s a variety of meats inside of a rice ball wrapped in seaweed with furakaki on top. It’s a great fulfilling snack. The shop is tiny and their door is backwards. So you’ll experience awkwardness in the ordering and eating (just stand outside) but that all adds to the vibe.
There is a famous story that is quite sorted around this spot. That aside, the food is great and the sizes are large if you like kabobs and schwarma. I recommend the combo plate with whole steak pieces and chicken. It takes about 10 minutes. And try their garlic paste.
121 locals recommend
Zankou Chicken
5065 Sunset BlvdThere is a famous story that is quite sorted around this spot. That aside, the food is great and the sizes are large if you like kabobs and schwarma. I recommend the combo plate with whole steak pieces and chicken. It takes about 10 minutes. And try their garlic paste.
Grass fed and rated one of the hormone free burgers in recent time. This is a great greasy spoon burger. I suggest their hiho burger in the largest size.
10 locals recommend
HiHo Cheeseburger
1320 2nd StGrass fed and rated one of the hormone free burgers in recent time. This is a great greasy spoon burger. I suggest their hiho burger in the largest size.
The food is simple and the environment inviting. I’d recommend a hot plate such as the chicken with roasted potatoes and kale salad.
432 locals recommend
Tender Greens
6290 Sunset BlvdThe food is simple and the environment inviting. I’d recommend a hot plate such as the chicken with roasted potatoes and kale salad.
Shake Shack
8520 Santa Monica BlvdGreat great burgers.
This is a bar. But a bar with Kogi truck tacos. There is also a burger, quesadillas and a full stocked bar. Seating can be sparse but well worth the trip.
116 locals recommend
Alibi Room
12236 Washington BlvdThis is a bar. But a bar with Kogi truck tacos. There is also a burger, quesadillas and a full stocked bar. Seating can be sparse but well worth the trip.
Don’t confuse this Thai Dishes with the one on Wilshire. I suggest the Pad See Yew and the Shrimp with Beans.
Thai Dishes on Broadway
123 BroadwayDon’t confuse this Thai Dishes with the one on Wilshire. I suggest the Pad See Yew and the Shrimp with Beans.
While I wouldn’t go out of my way for this...well you don’t have to. It’s across the street from our place at the corner. Just turn left out our door and cross the street. It’s at the corner of 14th and Santa Monica Blvd. It’s convenient in a pinch and you need some nourishment.
70 locals recommend
Truxton's American Bistro
8611 Truxton AveWhile I wouldn’t go out of my way for this...well you don’t have to. It’s across the street from our place at the corner. Just turn left out our door and cross the street. It’s at the corner of 14th and Santa Monica Blvd. It’s convenient in a pinch and you need some nourishment.
Sightseeing
If you’d like to see what a $1 billion mall looks like, look no further than CC Mall. Located close by is CAA which is open to the public.
232 locals recommend
Century City Mall station
If you’d like to see what a $1 billion mall looks like, look no further than CC Mall. Located close by is CAA which is open to the public.
Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset BlvdDessert
Decadence at its finest. Get the donut with Ube ice cream or the bread pudding.
14 locals recommend
B Sweet Dessert Bar
2005 Sawtelle BlvdDecadence at its finest. Get the donut with Ube ice cream or the bread pudding.