The Promenade grid: farmers market mornings, hand roll counters and tasting rooms between the pier and Wilshire.
Rustic Canyon is Santa Monica's farmers-market dining room on Wilshire, now cooking seasonal Mexican-Californian food a few blocks from the Wednesday market.
Order: The vegetable plates that change weekly with the market
Tip: Last seating is 21:00 most nights; the menu shifts weekly with the Arizona Avenue market haul.
Citrin is Josiah Citrin's modern Californian flagship on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, a Michelin-starred dining room built on market produce.
Order: The prix fixe, built around Santa Monica farmers market produce
Tip: Book the a la carte room; the 14-seat Melisse counter behind it is a separate, pricier reservation.
Melisse is the 14-seat tasting counter hidden behind Citrin in Santa Monica, a two-Michelin-star room from Josiah Citrin and chef partner Ken Takayama.
Order: The full tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around the week's market
Tip: Around 800 dollars for two before wine, with a strict no-cancellation policy; book two to three weeks out.
Michael's Santa Monica has run since 1979, Michael McCarty's garden dining room on 3rd Street where a long line of famous chefs cooked market-first food.
Order: Whatever the market plates are that week; the garden room is the point
Tip: Alumni include Jonathan Waxman and Nancy Silverton; chef Job Carder now runs the hyper-seasonal menu. Book on Resy.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Order: Whipped eggplant dip with flatbread, then a pizza as the sun drops
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Order: Challah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
Xuntos fills a 1926 Art Deco building in downtown Santa Monica with Sandra Cordero's Galician tapas, razor clams, percebes and vermouth over two floors.
Order: Razor clams, jamon iberico and a porron of Basque cider
Tip: The menu runs from jamon iberico to Galician empanadas; ask for the mezzanine seats above the bar.
Tar & Roses has held its downtown Santa Monica corner since 2012, a wood-fire kitchen of oxtail dumplings and whole fried snapper that improves with age.
Order: Oxtail dumplings, then the whole fried snapper with soba
Tip: The whole fried snapper with cold soba is built for two; smaller plates share better than they look.
Shirube runs a charcoal-grill izakaya on Wilshire in downtown Santa Monica, corn ribs in shoyu butter and blowtorched mackerel with most plates under 25.
Order: Shoyu butter corn ribs and the mentaiko udon
Tip: Sit at the bar for the courtside view of the charcoal grill; the mentaiko udon disappears early on weekends.
Citrin is Josiah Citrin's modern Californian flagship on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, a Michelin-starred dining room built on market produce.
Order: The prix fixe, built around Santa Monica farmers market produce
Tip: Book the a la carte room; the 14-seat Melisse counter behind it is a separate, pricier reservation.
Melisse is the 14-seat tasting counter hidden behind Citrin in Santa Monica, a two-Michelin-star room from Josiah Citrin and chef partner Ken Takayama.
Order: The full tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around the week's market
Tip: Around 800 dollars for two before wine, with a strict no-cancellation policy; book two to three weeks out.
Michael's Santa Monica has run since 1979, Michael McCarty's garden dining room on 3rd Street where a long line of famous chefs cooked market-first food.
Order: Whatever the market plates are that week; the garden room is the point
Tip: Alumni include Jonathan Waxman and Nancy Silverton; chef Job Carder now runs the hyper-seasonal menu. Book on Resy.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Order: Whipped eggplant dip with flatbread, then a pizza as the sun drops
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Order: The Godmother with the works, hot peppers included
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Din Tai Fung folds its xiao long bao on the third floor of Santa Monica Place, garlicky string beans and spicy wontons with an ocean-view patio queue.
Order: Pork xiao long bao, spicy wontons and garlicky string beans
Tip: Join the waitlist before you shop; the third-floor patio tables catch the ocean air and clear fastest at lunch.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
Order: The five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
Tip: No reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
Sugarfish serves the Nozawa-school Trust Me on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, warm loose rice and cool fish in a set menu that rarely misses a beat.
Order: The Trust Me set, finished with the hand roll
Tip: No reservations; go at 11:30 sharp or mid-afternoon to dodge the wait, and default to the Trust Me.
HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.
Order: Double cheeseburger, mustard-grilled, with fries
Tip: The mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
Colapasta sheets fresh organic pasta on 5th Street in downtown Santa Monica, beef ragu lasagna and beet ravioli in brown butter at bargain prices.
Order: Beet ravioli in brown butter and the ragu lasagna
Tip: Seating is first come, first served; last seating is fifteen minutes before close, so do not cut it fine.
La Purepecha hand-presses corn tortillas on Broadway in Santa Monica, a Michoacan-style counter of asada tacos and machaca burritos without the fuss.
Order: Asada tacos on handmade corn tortillas
Tip: Tacos on handmade tortillas with cilantro and onions are the order; parking sits right beside the shop.
Benny's Tacos brines its rotisserie chicken for 24 hours in citrus and garlic on Wilshire in Santa Monica, with churros piped full of Bavarian cream.
Order: Rotisserie chicken plate and a Bavarian cream churro
Tip: The rotisserie chicken plate feeds two; finish with the cream-filled churros even if you think you will not.
Sweetfin builds chef-driven poke bowls on Broadway in Santa Monica, an entirely gluten-free kitchen of bamboo rice, kale noodles and citrus ponzu fish.
Order: Spicy tuna bowl on bamboo rice
Tip: Every bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
Ye Olde King's Head has poured pints a block from the Santa Monica Pier since the mid-1970s, the British pub whose fish and chips built its name.
Order: Fish and chips with a pint of bitter
Tip: Afternoon tea is served Monday to Saturday until 16:00 in the tea room; the gift shop bakery sells sausage rolls to go.
Shirube runs a charcoal-grill izakaya on Wilshire in downtown Santa Monica, corn ribs in shoyu butter and blowtorched mackerel with most plates under 25.
Order: Shoyu butter corn ribs and the mentaiko udon
Tip: Sit at the bar for the courtside view of the charcoal grill; the mentaiko udon disappears early on weekends.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
Signature drink: Drip coffee with a pastry
Tip: Weekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
Tip: Weekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Worth the queue: Maple bacon biscuit
Petitgrain Boulangerie laminates French croissants beside Mexican conchas on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, a two-tradition pastry case with cult queues.
Tip: There is a two-cinnamon-roll maximum per party, in person or pre-order; put your name on the list 24 hours ahead.
Worth the queue: Concha
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Worth the queue: Godmother roll
Wally's runs a wine shop, cheese counter and restaurant under one Wilshire Boulevard roof in Santa Monica, a by-the-glass list beside the retail wall.
Signature pour: Ask the floor team what is open from the retail wall
Wine focus: Deep by-the-glass list beside a retail wall
Food: Cheese counter and full restaurant menu
Tip: Anything on the retail wall can be drunk at the table for corkage; the cheese counter builds boards to order.
AJA Vineyards pours its Malibu Coast AVA estate wines in a 2nd Street tasting room in Santa Monica, flights and glasses beside boards of cheese and snacks.
Signature pour: Malibu Coast estate flight
Wine focus: Malibu Coast AVA estate wines
Food: Artisanal snacks and grazing boards
Tip: Happy hour knocks 5 dollars off flights Wednesday to Friday 15:00-18:00; outside food is allowed for a 15 dollar fee.
Xuntos fills a 1926 Art Deco building in downtown Santa Monica with Sandra Cordero's Galician tapas, razor clams, percebes and vermouth over two floors.
Signature pour: Vermouth on tap, poured over ice
Wine focus: Spanish wines, vermouth and Basque cider
Food: Galician pintxos and tapas
Tip: The menu runs from jamon iberico to Galician empanadas; ask for the mezzanine seats above the bar.
Ye Olde King's Head has poured pints a block from the Santa Monica Pier since the mid-1970s, the British pub whose fish and chips built its name.
Signature drink: Imported bitter on draught
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Afternoon tea is served Monday to Saturday until 16:00 in the tea room; the gift shop bakery sells sausage rolls to go.
Harvelle's books blues, burlesque and soul into a low-lit 4th Street room in downtown Santa Monica, one of the Westside's longest-running music bars.
Signature drink: Whisky cocktail at the stage
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Tickets go through Seat Engine on the venue site; the long-running Toledo Show jazz and burlesque revue owns Sunday nights.
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
Signature drink: Sunset cocktail on the 18th floor
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Signature drink: Aperol spritz at golden hour
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Signature drink: Proper Hour seasonal cocktail
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
AJA Vineyards pours its Malibu Coast AVA estate wines in a 2nd Street tasting room in Santa Monica, flights and glasses beside boards of cheese and snacks.
Signature drink: Estate wine flight
Food: Bar menu
Tip: Happy hour knocks 5 dollars off flights Wednesday to Friday 15:00-18:00; outside food is allowed for a 15 dollar fee.
La Purepecha hand-presses corn tortillas on Broadway in Santa Monica, a Michoacan-style counter of asada tacos and machaca burritos without the fuss.
Try: Asada tacos on handmade tortillas
Tip: Tacos on handmade tortillas with cilantro and onions are the order; parking sits right beside the shop.
Benny's Tacos brines its rotisserie chicken for 24 hours in citrus and garlic on Wilshire in Santa Monica, with churros piped full of Bavarian cream.
Try: Rotisserie chicken tacos
Tip: The rotisserie chicken plate feeds two; finish with the cream-filled churros even if you think you will not.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Try: The Godmother sub, takeout counter
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Sweetfin builds chef-driven poke bowls on Broadway in Santa Monica, an entirely gluten-free kitchen of bamboo rice, kale noodles and citrus ponzu fish.
Try: Poke bowls
Tip: Every bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.
Try: Wagyu cheeseburger, counter service
Tip: The mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
Ye Olde King's Head has poured pints a block from the Santa Monica Pier since the mid-1970s, the British pub whose fish and chips built its name.
Tip: Afternoon tea is served Monday to Saturday until 16:00 in the tea room; the gift shop bakery sells sausage rolls to go.
The Santa Monica Wednesday Farmers Market has filled Arizona Avenue since 1981, with 60-plus California farms supplying half of LA's serious kitchens.
Tip: Chefs clear the rare stuff before 09:00; carry cash for the small stands and watch for restaurant carts doing rounds.
The Saturday Downtown Farmers Market runs 40-plus stands on Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica with the highest share of certified organic growers in town.
Tip: This is the organics-heavy sibling of the Wednesday market, running since 1991; EBT and Cal Fresh are accepted.
Santa Monica Seafood has sold fish since 1939 and its Wilshire Boulevard market pairs a retail counter with an oyster-and-chowder cafe in the aisles.
Tip: Eat at the cafe counter, then buy what you liked from the ice case to cook at home; the market runs an hour before close.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
Wally's runs a wine shop, cheese counter and restaurant under one Wilshire Boulevard roof in Santa Monica, a by-the-glass list beside the retail wall.
Tip: Anything on the retail wall can be drunk at the table for corkage; the cheese counter builds boards to order.
Six Taste walks five Santa Monica tastings across eight downtown blocks, timed to the farmers market with stops from handmade pasta to British pie.
Tip: Tastings from handmade pasta to pork soup dumplings count as lunch; tips of 15 to 20 percent are customary and separate.
Usal Project runs seasonal guided walks of the Santa Monica Farmers Market, tasting at the stalls and learning to pick peak produce with a farm liaison.
Tip: Sessions sell out and registration closes between dates; the ticket includes samples, take-home produce and a market map.
Winterlit lights the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica through December, a free weekend holiday market ringed by the district's outdoor dining.
Tip: Markets run Friday afternoons and full weekend days on three December weekends; pair it with the seasonal ice rink on Arizona Avenue.
Dine LA Restaurant Week brings set menus from 15 to 65 dollars to Santa Monica each August, with rooms like Water Grill and The Lobster taking part.
Tip: The Aug 14 to 28, 2026 edition includes Santa Monica seafood houses; book the 65 dollar dinner tiers early on OpenTable.
The Gourmandise School teaches hands-on cooking and baking classes on Level 3 of Santa Monica Place, classic technique taught with farmers market produce.
Tip: Classes book through the school's own calendar and sell out around holidays; the school sits two blocks from the Wednesday market.
Bay Cities Italian Deli, family-owned since 1925, bakes and stacks the Godmother on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica behind hour-long lunchtime queues.
Try: The Godmother
Tip: Order the Godmother online ahead and skip the queue; it is debit or cash only and closed Monday and Tuesday.
La Purepecha hand-presses corn tortillas on Broadway in Santa Monica, a Michoacan-style counter of asada tacos and machaca burritos without the fuss.
Try: Handmade-tortilla tacos
Tip: Tacos on handmade tortillas with cilantro and onions are the order; parking sits right beside the shop.
Benny's Tacos brines its rotisserie chicken for 24 hours in citrus and garlic on Wilshire in Santa Monica, with churros piped full of Bavarian cream.
Try: Rotisserie chicken plates
Tip: The rotisserie chicken plate feeds two; finish with the cream-filled churros even if you think you will not.
Sweetfin builds chef-driven poke bowls on Broadway in Santa Monica, an entirely gluten-free kitchen of bamboo rice, kale noodles and citrus ponzu fish.
Try: Poke bowls
Tip: Every bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
Try: Hand roll sets
Tip: No reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
HiHo Cheeseburger griddles 100 percent grass-fed wagyu from First Light Farm on 2nd Street in Santa Monica, a classic double for fast-casual money.
Try: Wagyu cheeseburgers
Tip: The mustard-grilled double with onions is the order; it is counter service, so grab a booth before you order.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
Order: Maple bacon biscuit and the green onion goat cheese quiche
Tip: Weekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Order: Challah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
Order: Weekend brunch with the ocean panorama
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Order: Whipped eggplant dip with flatbread, then a pizza as the sun drops
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Try: Rooftop pizza and spritzes
Order: Whipped eggplant dip with flatbread, then a pizza as the sun drops
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
Try: Hand rolls at the bar
Order: The five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
Tip: No reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
Try: Cocktails over the coastline
Order: Weekend brunch with the ocean panorama
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.
Harvelle's books blues, burlesque and soul into a low-lit 4th Street room in downtown Santa Monica, one of the Westside's longest-running music bars.
Try: Blues sets and whisky cocktails
Order: A whisky cocktail down front at the stage
Tip: Tickets go through Seat Engine on the venue site; the long-running Toledo Show jazz and burlesque revue owns Sunday nights.
Harvelle's books blues, burlesque and soul into a low-lit 4th Street room in downtown Santa Monica, one of the Westside's longest-running music bars.
Tip: Tickets go through Seat Engine on the venue site; the long-running Toledo Show jazz and burlesque revue owns Sunday nights.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
Tip: Go before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.