CalifornianOceanfront hotel brunch$$$$$30-60ocean-avenueDinner nightly; weekend brunchBook ahead
1 Pico is the oceanfront dining room at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, coastal Californian cooking with Southern Italian leanings above the sand.
Order: Whatever the seasonal coastal tasting plates are, with a Route 66 centennial cocktail
Tip: Ask for a window table at sunset; the Coast cafe downstairs covers the casual all-day beach service instead.
BakeryBakery all-day breakfast$$$15-25downtownDaily 07:00-15:00Walk-in only
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.
AmericanGriddle-cake counter$$$15-25montana-avenueBreakfast and lunch dailyWalk-in only
Breakfast by Salt's Cure griddles its famous oatmeal griddle cakes on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, a compact daytime spin-off of the original room.
Order: Oatmeal griddle cakes with salted butter
Tip: Gluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
CalifornianHotel garden brunch$$$$25-45ocean-avenueBreakfast daily; weekend brunchBook ahead
FIG at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica cooks off weekly farmers market runs, wood-blistered pizzas and lemon ricotta pancakes on a garden terrace.
Order: Lemon ricotta pancakes or the breakfast burrito
Tip: The sun-trap garden terrace and the Potting Shed private room book out for weekend brunch; go on a weekday morning.
MediterraneanRooftop weekend brunch$$$$30-60downtownLunch Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00; brunch Sat-Sun 11:00-15:00; dinner daily 17:00-22:00Book ahead
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
Order: Challah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night
Tip: Proper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
ItalianGarden weekend brunch$$$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.