Flight delayed? Picking someone up? Skip the airport terminal and head 5-20 minutes in any direction. Playa del Rey is closest, Venice is best for wandering, Manhattan Beach has the beach walk, Culver City has the most to do. All worth the detour.
Marina + Playa · 119 Culver Blvd, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
Bright, breezy, and beach-adjacent, this multi-room hang blends casual café, ice cream bar, whiskey speakeasy, and sit-down seafood spot—all under one roof. The front patio’s dotted with dogs and laptop lingerers, while…
Marina + Playa · 15 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292
A laid‑back dive bar shrine since the ’60s, right by the beach—sawdust on the floor, pool tables clacking, and a jukebox that kicks in when the surf crowd rolls out. The star here? A char‑grilled “world‑famous” cheesebu…
Venice · 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Part bakery, part deli, part fever dream of every Silver Lake expat who moved west. Gjusta is a Venice institution with the chaotic charm of a Parisian marché—if that marché had brisket banh mi, kouign-amann, and a smok…
Venice · 2905 Washington Blvd, Venice, CA 90292, USA
Red-sauce tradition meets Venice in a celebratory but casual way. The Rice Ball—an arancino packed with meat sauce, peas, ricotta, and mozzarella—is the dish everyone tells you to order first. From there, pappardelle wi…
Manhattan Beach · 1148 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Nestled just a block from the ocean, this snug 32-seat seafood bar feels like a sunlit beach shack that’s somehow both high-end and effortlessly casual. Natural light floods the place, the chatter hums, and you’ll be el…
Culver City · 3578 Hayden Ave, Culver City, CA 90232
A minimalist daytime canteen in Culver City where breakfast feels more like modern art than morning fuel. Sunlight pours over stark tables as grain bowls, savory porridges, and avocado confit arrive looking too pretty t…
Mar Vista - West LA · 195 Culver Blvd, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
A microscopic Playa del Rey dive where you’re basically drinking in someone’s nautical-themed living room. The ceiling is cluttered with dollar bills, the bar stools are always full, and karaoke happens whether you’re e…