Hey Local Guides!
I’d love to share my favorite places in my little corner of the world - Santa Monica, California.
A few years ago, my husband Josh and I moved 6,683 miles across the country from Washington, DC. Moving our lives here has introduced me to new experiences from sound baths to sweat lodges and in celebration of our 3 year anniversary in Santa Monica, I’d like to share my top 33 things to do!
33. Lunch at Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals | 1200 Pacific Coast Highway
Most beach eateries sell exclusively fried fare, which yes, I want, but not when I’m wearing a bikini and sitting in sand. Located at the bottom of the California Incline, Perry’s Cafe sells fresh eats like organic quinoa salads, vanilla protein shakes and mango smoothies that won’t leave you feeling too full to have fun on the beach. And don’t worry, they still sell boardwalk favs like hot dogs, homemade potato chips and two kinds of fries.
32. Happy Hour at Santa Monica Massage & Reflexology Center | 312 Santa Monica Boulevard
Now this is a happy hour I can get behind. Santa Monica Massage offers a"happy hour" special from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM that includes one 60 minute massage for just $30. It’s a no-frills kind of place with each massage bed separated by a curtain, but honestly you’ll be so relaxed you won’t even notice there’s other people around. They offer just about every type of massage there is, but I highly recommend booking Leo for deep tissue.
31. Try a Sound Bath with Scott Greenhut at Bhakti Yoga Shala | 207 Arizona Avenue
Head to the shala with your sleepover gear for an hour of radical relaxation led by Scott Greenhut. Simply recline on your yoga mat and enjoy this 90 minute musical experience, guided by singing crystal bowls, gongs, wind chimes and more. For the coziest experience, I recommend packing a yoga mat, pillow and comfy blanket and arriving 30 minutes early so you can unplug. Now, relax and settle in for this unique adventure.
30. Sip Beautiful Coffee at Urth Caffe | 2327 Main Street
Urth is among my favorite spots for an unhurried breakfast. They’re best known for picture-perfect organic lattes and homemade pastries, but also serve lunchy things like colorful soups and salads. You know you’re in California because they offer not 2, not 3 but FIVE types of milk including dairy, almond, soy, oat and coconut.
29. Swig an ancient Aztec drink at the Golden Mean Cafe |1028 Wilshire Boulevard
Swing by Golden Mean and give meat-free and dairy-free dishes a chance. They cater to the neighborhood’s vegan crowd, including my mom and mother-in-law who are vegans and just love it. I’ve tried a lot of items, but a true standout is The Works Burger, a 26 ingredient patty topped with smoky tempeh. If I’m craving sweets, I go for their original Macaccino latte, which is made from a hand-roasted mix of maca root and tastes like fresh cinnamon, chocolate and coffee combined. The Aztecs once drank it to give them energy before battle. Whether or not you’re vegan, you’ll also love lingering over a slice of their homemade pistachio saffron or strawberry cake.
28. Flow at Morning Nectar Yoga with Angel Cantu at the Bhakti Yoga Shala | 207 Arizona Avenue
Yoga with Angel is one of the sweetest ways to start the day. And yes, Angel is her real name! Swing by the shala bright and early for her 60 minute morning nectar class, which is a sweet hybrid of vinyasa and yin. Everything Angel teaches comes straight from the heart and no two classes are exactly alike. Last spring, I hired Angel to lead a private session for my mom’s birthday and it was one of the most moving mother/daughter experiences we’ve ever had.
27. Rent a Breeze Bike
Just grab a bike and go! I’ve fallen in love with the Breeze Bike Share stations around town and think every visitor should create an account if they’re in Santa Monica for a few days. It’s easy to register on-the-go and affordable for every budget. I love taking a breezy ride down the California Incline and seeing where the Pacific Ocean meets the Santa Monica Mountains.
26. Indulge in Rori’s Artisanal Creamery | 910 Montana Avenue
A field trip to Rori’s is a Saturday tradition. Everything is made in-house, right down to the candy in their Chocolate Candy Peanut Butter Swirl. You have to try Josh’s indescribably delicious order: two scoops of Chocolate Candy Peanut Butter Swirl, extra peanut butter candy toppings and warm Nutella sauce.
25. Read subtitles at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center | 1332 2nd Street
Of the dozen movie theatres we have in the neighborhood, Laemmle is by far my favorite. Not only do they feature offbeat and international films, they have a concession stand that serves popcorn with real butter and sea salt, not the mysterious yellow powder you see at big chains. You’ll leave feeling just a tiny bit more cultured than you did before.
24. Take a BollyPop Class with Aakansha at Varieties International | 2523 17th Street
If you’ve ever fantasized about being a back-up dancer for your favorite pop artist (uhhhhh, just me?) then BollyPop is definitely the cardio dance class for you! Bollypop is a heart-pounding hour of modern Bollywood choreography led by teacher and founder, Aakansha who hails from Delhi. Aakansha’s happy spirit is infectious and I felt welcomed and encouraged in the class. What I really love about her style is that she translates the song lyrics from Tamul to English before we begin choreography.
23. Try Metro Cafe | 603 Arizona Avenue
This might just be my favorite place to work in Santa Monica. There’s a constant hum of conversation of laptops, entrepreneurs and friends and feels very laid back California. There’s a large backyard with seating, so it’s a nice place to enjoy coffee al fresco. The best part? It’s run by a local church so everything is served from the heart and you can pay what you’re able to.
22. Escape to Gelato-go Santa Monica | 1305 Montana Avenue
From the mammoth espresso machine to the delightful ice cream cone dumpster for those tiny spoons, Gelato-go really does make me feel like I’m in an authentic gelateria in Rome. There’s minimal seating, but I recommend doing as the Italians do and taking your gelato with you for a stroll along Montana.
21. Blonde? Visit Sara Brunet at Salon Republic | 1333 2nd Street
I joke that the longer I stay in California, the blonder my hair gets. Maintaining platinum blonde hair requires up-keep every 4 to 5 weeks, so I’m so grateful to have met such a talented colorist as Sara Brunet. I tried other places around here and honestly, one salon actually fried about 2 inches off the bottom of my hair. Sara brought my sad, damaged hair back to life with her magic!
20. Get a Thai Massage with Lotus at Santa Monica Massage Therapy | 625 Montana Avenue
Lotus is one of those massage therapists who has a spidey sense of exactly where your body needs relief. It’s a no-frills place, so you’re not paying for plush amenities like lavender towels and cucumber water. Try to unplug for 15 minutes or so before your session to help ease yourself into total bliss.
19. Catch a whacky improv show at M.i.'s Westside Comedy Theatre | 1323-A 3rd St Promenade
Josh is obsessed with coming here, so naturally I’ve tried to find a few shows I like too. Some of my favorite improv shows are Bear Supply, Mission Improvible and Ruby Rocket. In addition to attracting a strong pool of talented improv performers, they’ve recently hosted surprise drop-ins like Howie Mandel, Adam Sandler and Conan O’Brien.
18. Indulge in a facial with Olga Dror at Number One Beauty | 1426 Montana Avenue
You’ll find sweet Olga in the most unlikely of places, a tiny rental space in the back of my favorite local beauty supply store. Originally from Poland, she has 40+ years experience and a natural ability to connect with clients’ needs. All of the skincare products I’ve used the last 3 years are actually from a family-owned affordable brand she recommended called Gunilla of Sweden.
17. Lift something heavy at Double Ops Functional Training | 1317 7th Street
Double Ops has been a pretty transformative place for me and I definitely count it among my favorite spots in Santa Monica. I started coming to Double Ops about a year ago and am so grateful for the fitness education and group training I receive here. Their personalized approach to each client always makes me feel welcome! It’s super clean, high-tech and the owner Chris is a master of creating a fun fitness community. I highly recommend trying a class with Dusty or Katy!
16. Cool down with an icy treat - Frozen Fruit Co. | 729 Montana Avenue
Everything here is 100% vegan and made from…yes, you guessed it - real fruit! After a workout, their pineapple and passion fruit flavor is just what I’m craving. There’s plenty of seating outside by a little fountain so you can lounge for a while and people-watch on Montana. For a brief taste of Hawaii, I recommend coming in for a treat that won’t leave you with a sugar hangover.
15. Learn about the Tongva at the Santa Monica History Museum | 1350 7th Street
Whether you’re a born-and-bred local or just visiting, this is definitely an underrated museum worth seeing. I spent about two hours here and left with a much better understanding of our city. It was fascinating to learn about the Tongva tribe who lived in Santa Monica Bay as far back as 9,000 B.C., even using tar from the La Brea Tar Pit to waterproof their canoes. The exhibits feel freshly curated for a modern audience and I highly recommend taking a quick tour with one of the museum representatives, David. You can even ask their historians for a free hour of research if you leave wanting to know something more!
14. Feast on crunchy papadam and sweet chutneys - Chandni | 1909 Wilshire Boulevard
Indian food pretty much always hits the spot. I like Chandni, because it has a 100% vegetarian menu but still makes carnivores happy. They have ample booth seating so you can get cozy during your meal and the servers never rush you out. Definitely order the papadam with chutneys as an appetizer. They’re only open for dinner, so ready your appetite and come by after 5:00 PM.
13. Grab an Iced Coffee and Take a Saturday Stroll - Primo Passo Coffee Co. | 702 Montana Avenue
You can’t go wrong with an iced cold brew from family-owned coffee shop, Primo Passo. I love coming here on Saturday mornings, because it’s buzzing with happy neighborly energy. This is where you’ll find Santa Monica locals enjoying a newspaper in the sunshine and meeting up with friends. After you finish up your coffee, be sure to visit some of my favorite local boutiques like Step!Shoes, Brentwood General Store and Limonaia.
12. Magic Monday - Santa Monica Playhouse & Group Theatre at 1211 4th Street
Some people have season tickets for their favorite football team…we have season tickets to Magic Monday. If you love experiencing the strange anf fantastical world of magicians, illusionists, jugglers and more then this is the show for you.
11. Visit the statue of Santa Monica on Ocean Avenue
Our little city was named after a strong woman named Monica who was best known as a Christian saint born in 300 A.D. and the mother of former bad boy, St. Augustine of Hippo. Saint Monica is beloved for representing the virtues of unwavering love and patience. I learned at the Santa Monica Museum of History that our city was named after her because an 18th century missionary named Father Juan Crespí discovered the nearby Serra Springs and the water reminded him of the many tears that Monica shed for her son.
10. Walk on Main Street
There are so many cute boutiques and restaurants along Main Street just off Pico Boulevard. It’s an awesome place to go for a stroll and if you go on Saturday, you’ll find one of the best farmer’s markets in town. We’ve gone to the fabulous Fourth of July parade on Main Street ever since we moved here, and I highly recommend making it a tradition of your own!
9. Take a nap in Palisades Park on Ocean Avenue
This one’s self-explanatory because all these activities I’m recommending are gonna make you sleepy. Situated at the top of the sandstone bluff, Palisades Park offers breathtaking vistas from the South Bay to Malibu. It’s spread across 26.4 acres so there’s plenty of room to find a grassy spot for reading or napping. You’ll see a ton of locals out here on the weekend in lawn chairs and on picnic blankets. So grab a beach towel, hang on to your valuables and catch a few zzz’s.
8. Watch the fitness acrobats at the original Muscle Beach
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the Muscle Beach in Venice isn’t the original Muscle Beach. Bodybuilding was born down in the sand by the Santa Monica Pier on the rings and bars where you can still catch a glimpse of acrobats, yogis and fitness fanatics alike.
7. Catch the sunset at ONYX Rooftop Bar at Hotel Shangri-La | 1301 Ocean Avenue
Fact: sunsets are even more beautiful when your hands are filled with truffle-dusted fries. ONYX has an insane, unspoiled view of the Pacific Ocean, further complimented by their creative cocktails and small bites like a $23 Tower of Fries. I like to bring friends and family here (see my Momma below!) to watch the sunset and enjoy the happy hour specials including Josh’s favorite cocktail, The Waterloo Sunset. It’s also one of the only places in town that allows cigars, so my brother-in-law Luke feels right at home. And trust me on the fry tower.
6. Ride the Ferris Wheel on Santa Monica Pier at Pacific Park at 380 Santa Monica Pier
Josh and I rode the Ferris Wheel at sunset when we first moved here and it’s still one of the sweetest date nights we’ve had! The Pacific Wheel is best known the world’s only solar-powered wheel and features more than 174,000 LED lights that are constantly changing. I highly recommend grabbing a ice cream at Scoops and letting the coastal views take your breath away.
5. Pick-up fresh wild flowers at the Santa Monica Farmers Market
One of the most spectacular floral arrangements I’ve ever seen came from the Santa Monica Farmers Market and was given to me as an Easter gift. There are a number of vendors, but I like the nuts and dried fruit from Kennedy Family Farms the best.
4. Workout with a view of the Pacific Ocean - Santa Monica Stairs at 699 Adelaide Drive
You’ll be exhausted, but your heart will thank you.
3. Watch the sunset at The Penthouse - The Huntley Hotel on 1111 2nd Street
2. Worship and Chill - Vintage Church | 1015 California Avenue
Being part of such a vibrant, inclusive and loving church community makes me so happy. Highly recommend checking us out when you’re in town!
1. Get Tickets to We Should Hang Out Sometime - Santa Monica Playhouse & Group Theatre | 1211 4th Street
Well, obviously I’m going to encourage you to come see the show I co-produce with my husband called We Should Hang Out Sometime. The courtyard provides a cozy place to hang out before the show and feels miles away from the hustle and bustle of the Santa Monica Promenade. The show itself is a heartwarming blend of comedic storytelling and stand-up comedy. Look for tickets at WeShouldHangOutSometime.com and we can meet in person!
What are your favorite things to do in Santa Monica, Local Guides?! Please let me know if you’re ever in town!
