What to order at Big Dean's Ocean Front Cafe

Signature drink
Bucket of beers on the boardwalk
Editor tip
It became Big Dean's in the 1970s; grab a patio rail seat, order the burger and watch the boardwalk crowds.
CuisineAmerican
TypeBeach bar
Price$
Neighborhoodocean-avenue
HoursMon 12:00-19:00; Tue-Thu 11:00-20:00; Fri 11:00-21:00; Sat-Sun 10:00-20:00
Signature drinkBucket of beers on the boardwalk
Last verified

Food program: Bar menu

Tip: It became Big Dean's in the 1970s; grab a patio rail seat, order the burger and watch the boardwalk crowds.

Location

Address: 1615 Ocean Front Walk, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Also in ocean-avenue

The Bungalow ★ 4.0

Cocktail barLounge$$$ocean-avenueWed-Thu 17:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00; Sun 17:00-22:00; closed Mon-Tue

The Bungalow sprawls through a beach-house maze at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, cocktails, DJs and pool tables with ocean air off the bluff.

Signature drink: Spicy margarita

Food: Bar menu

Tip: Dress code loosens early; go at 17:00 for a patio sofa because the queue after 21:00 on weekends is real.

The Georgian Room ★ 4.4

SteakhouseHotel bar$$$$ocean-avenueWed 17:00-22:00; Thu 17:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00; Sun 17:00-21:00

The Georgian Room, in the 1933 Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, pairs Tuscan chophouse cooking with live jazz around a Steinway grand.

Signature drink: Martini beside the Steinway

Food: Bar menu

Tip: Friday and Saturday it runs to 02:00 with live music; Spaghetti Sunday closes the week with a set menu.

Full ocean-avenue food guide →

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The Bungalow ★ 4.0

Cocktail barLounge$$$ocean-avenueWed-Thu 17:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-01:00; Sun 17:00-22:00; closed Mon-Tue

The Bungalow sprawls through a beach-house maze at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, cocktails, DJs and pool tables with ocean air off the bluff.

Signature drink: Spicy margarita

Food: Bar menu

Tip: Dress code loosens early; go at 17:00 for a patio sofa because the queue after 21:00 on weekends is real.

The Penthouse ★ 4.1

AmericanHotel bar$$$downtownBreakfast daily 07:00-11:00; lunch Mon-Fri 11:00-14:30; brunch Sat-Sun 11:00-14:30; dinner nightly 17:00-21:30; bar to 01:00 Fri-Sat

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.

The Georgian Room ★ 4.4

SteakhouseHotel bar$$$$ocean-avenueWed 17:00-22:00; Thu 17:00-23:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-02:00; Sun 17:00-21:00

The Georgian Room, in the 1933 Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, pairs Tuscan chophouse cooking with live jazz around a Steinway grand.

Signature drink: Martini beside the Steinway

Food: Bar menu

Tip: Friday and Saturday it runs to 02:00 with live music; Spaghetti Sunday closes the week with a set menu.

Elephante ★ 4.3

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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 ★ 4.3

MediterraneanRooftop bar$$$downtownLunch Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00; brunch Sat-Sun 11:00-15:00; dinner daily 17:00-22:00

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.

Not No Bar ★ 4.2

Cocktail barCocktail bar$$main-streetMon 17:00-01:00; Thu-Sun 17:00-01:00; closed Tue-Wed

Not No Bar plays throwback Euro disco over wood-fired pizza on Main Street in Santa Monica, bar director Kent Thompson's cocktails until 01:00.

Signature drink: Soy Del Rancho

Food: Bar menu

Tip: Friday and Saturday are fully walk-in; the patio never takes bookings and the room goes 21-plus after 22:00.

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