The workaday Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevard corridors, holding the brewery, wood-oven bakeries and Thai and taco counters.
Fia fills a big garden dining room on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica with coastal Italian cooking, burrata with prosciutto and figs, raw fish and steaks.
OrderBurrata with prosciutto and figs, then the Wellington steak
TipThe garden brunch with pastries and bottomless pours is the weekend play; book OpenTable for patio seats.
Holy Basil brought its Bangkok street-food kitchen west to Santa Monica Boulevard in late 2025, crab fried rice and pad kee mao with natural wine and sake.
OrderBangkok crab fried rice and pad kee mao moo krob
TipOwners Deau Arpapornnopparat and Joy Yuon plan seven-day service and brunch in 2026; until then dinner books out.
Fia Steak is the wood-panelled chophouse next to its sister garden room on Wilshire in Santa Monica, built on dry-aged cuts and old-school table service.
Order14-ounce New York strip with grilled Castelvetrano olives
TipTime Out rates it among the city's best; start with the ahi tuna cigar before the 14-ounce New York strip.
Milo & Olive runs its wood oven from dawn bakery to late pizzeria on Wilshire in Santa Monica, garlic knots, breads and pies from the Rustic Canyon family.
OrderGarlic knot, then the mushroom pizza
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
Tacos Por Favor has fed Santa Monica's Olympic Boulevard workshops since the nineties, a no-frills counter of hard-shell tacos and chile relleno burritos.
OrderChicken tacos and a chile relleno burrito
TipThe lunch rush peaks at noon sharp; order the chicken taco plate and grab salsa from the bar before sitting.
Goodboybob Coffee Roasters runs its Santa Monica cafe and retail room on Broadway, an ex-art-project brand pulling shots of its own award-listed roasts.
DrinkHouse blend espresso
TipBags of the House Blend and Marine Layer dark roast sell at the counter; the espresso bar closes at 17:00 sharp.
10 Speed Coffee opened its first standalone bar on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2017, a cycling-born roaster brand pouring next to Saint John's hospital.
DrinkFlat white
TipIt opens at 06:00 every day, one of the earliest specialty pours in Santa Monica; big windows make it a good work stop.
Tartine Santa Monica proofs its country loaves in a converted church off Arizona Avenue, the San Francisco bakery's Westside room with a full cafe.
DrinkCoffee bar pour-over
TipMorning buns and ham and Gruyere croissants go first; the bread rack restocks around midday if you miss the open.
Milo & Olive runs its wood oven from dawn bakery to late pizzeria on Wilshire in Santa Monica, garlic knots, breads and pies from the Rustic Canyon family.
Worth the queueGarlic knot
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
Tartine Santa Monica proofs its country loaves in a converted church off Arizona Avenue, the San Francisco bakery's Westside room with a full cafe.
Worth the queueCountry loaf
TipMorning buns and ham and Gruyere croissants go first; the bread rack restocks around midday if you miss the open.
Goodboybob Coffee Roasters runs its Santa Monica cafe and retail room on Broadway, an ex-art-project brand pulling shots of its own award-listed roasts.
BeansRotating single origins
BrewsEspresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
TipBags of the House Blend and Marine Layer dark roast sell at the counter; the espresso bar closes at 17:00 sharp.
10 Speed Coffee opened its first standalone bar on Santa Monica Boulevard in 2017, a cycling-born roaster brand pouring next to Saint John's hospital.
BeansHouse roasts
BrewsEspresso, Filter
TipIt opens at 06:00 every day, one of the earliest specialty pours in Santa Monica; big windows make it a good work stop.
Offhand Wine Bar gives the Westside Winos crew a Santa Monica Boulevard room of their own, low-fuss pours and plates from lunch to midnight pours.
PourRotating by-the-glass chalkboard
WineLow-intervention pours from the Westside Winos crew
FoodLunch and dinner plates
TipFriday and Saturday it holds the corner till midnight, rare for this stretch; lunch service makes it a day-drinking sleeper.
The Gaslite has held its Wilshire Boulevard corner in Santa Monica since 1962, a come-as-you-are karaoke dive open 06:00 to 02:00 with free popcorn.
DrinkWell drink with free popcorn
FoodBar menu
TipIt bills itself as Southern California's longest-running karaoke; sign up early because the nightly list fills by 21:00.
Santa Monica Brew Works pours ten house taps in its Colorado Avenue taproom, 310 Blonde to PCH Porter, with Emmy Squared pizza serving till late.
Drink310 Blonde Ale
FoodBar menu
TipMonday is all-day happy hour; the Emmy Squared after-hours menu runs Friday and Saturday from 21:00.
Tacos Por Favor has fed Santa Monica's Olympic Boulevard workshops since the nineties, a no-frills counter of hard-shell tacos and chile relleno burritos.
TryHard-shell tacos and burritos
TipThe lunch rush peaks at noon sharp; order the chicken taco plate and grab salsa from the bar before sitting.
Santa Monica Brew Works pours ten house taps in its Colorado Avenue taproom, 310 Blonde to PCH Porter, with Emmy Squared pizza serving till late.
TipMonday is all-day happy hour; the Emmy Squared after-hours menu runs Friday and Saturday from 21:00.
Co-opportunity Market is LA County's only organic food co-op, a member-owned Santa Monica grocery on Broadway open to everyone from 07:00 daily.
TipYou do not need a membership to shop; the deli case and bulk aisles are the practical picnic supply run.
Tacos Por Favor has fed Santa Monica's Olympic Boulevard workshops since the nineties, a no-frills counter of hard-shell tacos and chile relleno burritos.
TryTaco plates
TipThe lunch rush peaks at noon sharp; order the chicken taco plate and grab salsa from the bar before sitting.
Fia fills a big garden dining room on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica with coastal Italian cooking, burrata with prosciutto and figs, raw fish and steaks.
OrderBurrata with prosciutto and figs, then the Wellington steak
TipThe garden brunch with pastries and bottomless pours is the weekend play; book OpenTable for patio seats.
Milo & Olive runs its wood oven from dawn bakery to late pizzeria on Wilshire in Santa Monica, garlic knots, breads and pies from the Rustic Canyon family.
OrderGarlic knot, then the mushroom pizza
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
The Gaslite has held its Wilshire Boulevard corner in Santa Monica since 1962, a come-as-you-are karaoke dive open 06:00 to 02:00 with free popcorn.
OrderCheap well drinks and a turn on the karaoke list
TipIt bills itself as Southern California's longest-running karaoke; sign up early because the nightly list fills by 21:00.
Santa Monica Brew Works pours ten house taps in its Colorado Avenue taproom, 310 Blonde to PCH Porter, with Emmy Squared pizza serving till late.
Order310 Blonde Ale with a Detroit-style Emmy Squared square
TipMonday is all-day happy hour; the Emmy Squared after-hours menu runs Friday and Saturday from 21:00.
The Gaslite has held its Wilshire Boulevard corner in Santa Monica since 1962, a come-as-you-are karaoke dive open 06:00 to 02:00 with free popcorn.
TipIt bills itself as Southern California's longest-running karaoke; sign up early because the nightly list fills by 21:00.
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