CalifornianHotel garden brunch$$$$25-45ocean-avenueBreakfast daily; weekend brunchBook ahead
FIG at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica cooks off weekly farmers market runs, wood-blistered pizzas and lemon ricotta pancakes on a garden terrace.
Order: Lemon ricotta pancakes or the breakfast burrito
Tip: The sun-trap garden terrace and the Potting Shed private room book out for weekend brunch; go on a weekday morning.
MediterraneanRooftop weekend brunch$$$$30-60downtownLunch Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00; brunch Sat-Sun 11:00-15:00; dinner daily 17:00-22:00Book ahead
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Order: Challah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
ItalianGarden weekend brunch$$$mid-cityDinner Sun-Thu 17:00-21:00, Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; brunch Sat-Sun 10:30-16:30, last seating 14:00Book ahead
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.
Order: Burrata with prosciutto and figs, then the Wellington steak
Tip: The garden brunch with pastries and bottomless pours is the weekend play; book OpenTable for patio seats.
Southeast AsianSoutheast Asian weekend brunch$$$$20-40main-streetDinner nightly from 17:00; Sat-Sun brunch serviceWalk-in friendly
Cobi's cooks Southeast Asian food in a florid Main Street bungalow in Santa Monica, a Bib Gourmand room of curries, dumplings and wood-grilled plates.
Order: Pork dumplings, nasi goreng and a wok-tossed curry
Tip: The Michelin Bib Gourmand crowd books ahead on Resy; the weekend brunch sitting is the calmer way to get a table.
AmericanOcean-view hotel brunch$$$$25-50downtownBreakfast daily 07:00-11:00; lunch Mon-Fri 11:00-14:30; brunch Sat-Sun 11:00-14:30; dinner nightly 17:00-21:30; bar to 01:00 Fri-SatBook ahead
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
Order: Weekend brunch with the ocean panorama
Tip: Happy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.
CalifornianCountry Mart brunch and market$$$$20-40brentwood-country-martBakery and market daily from 07:00; restaurant brunch from 09:00Book ahead
Farmshop pairs a Californian brunch room with an artisan market in the Brentwood Country Mart on 26th Street in Santa Monica, bakery counter from 07:00.
Order: Coddled eggs with brioche, then raid the market shelves
Tip: The market side sells the bakery bread, cheese and prepared food to go when the brunch wait runs long.