Where to sit, sip and slow down in Santa Monica.
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Santa Monica lingers in over a cortado.
Dogtown Coffee brews organic micro-roasted coffee in the old Zephyr surf shop on Main Street in Santa Monica, breakfast burritos for the dawn patrol.
DrinkCold brew
TipThe building birthed the Z-Boys skate team; get the breakfast burrito before the surf crowd clears the batch.
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.
Caffe Luxxe opened its first European-style espresso bar on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica in 2006 and still pulls the Westside's silkiest shots.
DrinkCappuccino
TipThis is the original of the small family of caffes, marked Where It All Began; the Brentwood Country Mart branch opens daily at 07:00.
Primo Passo Coffee Co. pulls hazelnut lattes and light-roast pour-overs behind glass on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, roasting under its own name.
DrinkHazelnut latte
TipThe house-made hazelnut latte is the signature; window stools turn over fast on weekend mornings.
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.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
DrinkDrip coffee with a pastry
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
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.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
DrinkDrip coffee
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
DrinkEspresso
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Sogno Toscano stacks an espresso bar, Italian market and wine bar into one Montana Avenue corner in Santa Monica, panini by day and aperitivo by night.
DrinkCappuccino
TipBookable wine tastings run in the evenings; otherwise take a Bufalina panino and a glass at the window.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Step into the glamor of old Hollywood as you dine at historic restaurants once graced by silver screen legends. Explore top-rated contemporary fare and diverse immigra...
Guided tour · 6 hours
Spend a day surfing in Los Angeles with local experts. Visit two iconic surf breaks in Southern California, learn about the history of the beaches, and enjoy a picnic ...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Experience the energy of the iconic Original Farmers Market, a Los Angeles landmark since 1934, and discover why the market and its the surrounding neighborhood remain...