40 editor picks in Santa Monica.
40 mid-range places in Santa Monica, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good restaurants in Santa Monica, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Santa Monica food.
Father's Office on Montana Avenue is the Santa Monica gastropub where Sang Yoon's no-substitutions Office Burger was born, backed by 36 craft taps.
OrderThe Office Burger, exactly as it comes
TipNo ketchup, no substitutions, 21-plus only; the burger comes one way and the bar means it.
Father's Office on Montana Avenue is the Santa Monica gastropub where Sang Yoon's no-substitutions Office Burger was born, backed by 36 craft taps.
OrderThe Office Burger, exactly as it comes
TipNo ketchup, no substitutions, 21-plus only; the burger comes one way and the bar means it.
Father's Office on Montana Avenue is the Santa Monica gastropub where Sang Yoon's no-substitutions Office Burger was born, backed by 36 craft taps.
TipNo ketchup, no substitutions, 21-plus only; the burger comes one way and the bar means it.
Father's Office on Montana Avenue is the Santa Monica gastropub where Sang Yoon's no-substitutions Office Burger was born, backed by 36 craft taps.
TipNo ketchup, no substitutions, 21-plus only; the burger comes one way and the bar means it.
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.
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.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
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.
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
OrderMaple bacon biscuit and the green onion goat cheese quiche
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
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.
Shirube runs a charcoal-grill izakaya on Wilshire in downtown Santa Monica, corn ribs in shoyu butter and blowtorched mackerel with most plates under 25.
OrderShoyu butter corn ribs and the mentaiko udon
TipSit at the bar for the courtside view of the charcoal grill; the mentaiko udon disappears early on weekends.
Ghisallo blisters Neapolitan-and-New-York-style pies on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, with arancini, radicchio salads and a semi-hidden back patio.
OrderSquash blossom pizza in season, the diavola year-round
TipThe back patio is the seat; squash blossom pizza when it is on, diavola otherwise. Wine list stays well priced.
Din Tai Fung folds its xiao long bao on the third floor of Santa Monica Place, garlicky string beans and spicy wontons with an ocean-view patio queue.
OrderPork xiao long bao, spicy wontons and garlicky string beans
TipJoin the waitlist before you shop; the third-floor patio tables catch the ocean air and clear fastest at lunch.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
OrderThe five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
TipNo reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
Ghisallo blisters Neapolitan-and-New-York-style pies on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, with arancini, radicchio salads and a semi-hidden back patio.
OrderSquash blossom pizza in season, the diavola year-round
TipThe back patio is the seat; squash blossom pizza when it is on, diavola otherwise. Wine list stays well priced.
Satdha Plant Based Thai Kitchen has cooked gourmet vegan Thai food on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2013, no fake meats, just vegetable craft.
OrderKhao soi and the lion's mane mushroom fried chicken
TipChef Gunn Pankum's lion's mane mushroom fried chicken converts sceptics; the khao soi is the quiet best dish.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Shirube runs a charcoal-grill izakaya on Wilshire in downtown Santa Monica, corn ribs in shoyu butter and blowtorched mackerel with most plates under 25.
OrderShoyu butter corn ribs and the mentaiko udon
TipSit at the bar for the courtside view of the charcoal grill; the mentaiko udon disappears early on weekends.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
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.
TipGluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Chez Jay has kept its nautical dive-bar dining room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica since 1959, a city Historic Landmark of steaks, peanuts and lore.
TipThe sandy-floored front room is the landmark bit, designated by the city in 2012; the Backyard patio opened in 2019.
Chez Jay has kept its nautical dive-bar dining room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica since 1959, a city Historic Landmark of steaks, peanuts and lore.
OrderSteak and a martini, peanut shells on the floor
TipThe sandy-floored front room is the landmark bit, designated by the city in 2012; the Backyard patio opened in 2019.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
OrderThe five-roll set, toro and blue crab included
TipNo reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
Chez Jay has kept its nautical dive-bar dining room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica since 1959, a city Historic Landmark of steaks, peanuts and lore.
OrderSteak and a martini, peanut shells on the floor
TipThe sandy-floored front room is the landmark bit, designated by the city in 2012; the Backyard patio opened in 2019.
Satdha Plant Based Thai Kitchen has cooked gourmet vegan Thai food on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2013, no fake meats, just vegetable craft.
OrderKhao soi and the lion's mane mushroom fried chicken
TipChef Gunn Pankum's lion's mane mushroom fried chicken converts sceptics; the khao soi is the quiet best dish.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
KazuNori runs its original-format hand roll bar on Broadway in downtown Santa Monica, crisp nori and warm rice sets rolled the second you sit down.
OrderHand roll sets
TipNo reservations at the bar; the Friday-Saturday private bar for 7 to 12 was added for the 10th anniversary.
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.
OrderOatmeal griddle cakes with salted butter
TipGluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
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.
TipMorning buns and ham and Gruyere croissants go first; the bread rack restocks around midday if you miss the open.
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.
TipMorning buns and ham and Gruyere croissants go first; the bread rack restocks around midday if you miss the open.
Basement Tavern hides under the 1890s Victorian on Main Street in Santa Monica, a candlelit whiskey bar with live bands packed in most nights.
TipEnter down the side stairs of the Victorian; it gets shoulder-to-shoulder after 21:00 when the band starts.
Lady & Larder builds California cheese boards and stacked deli sandwiches on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, a sister-run shop with serious wine to go.
TipSandwiches like the Hot Girl Salami sell out before 14:00; order boards for pickup a day ahead.
Lady & Larder builds California cheese boards and stacked deli sandwiches on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, a sister-run shop with serious wine to go.
OrderHot Girl Salami sandwich and a picnic cheese board
TipSandwiches like the Hot Girl Salami sell out before 14:00; order boards for pickup a day ahead.
Colapasta sheets fresh organic pasta on 5th Street in downtown Santa Monica, beef ragu lasagna and beet ravioli in brown butter at bargain prices.
OrderBeet ravioli in brown butter and the ragu lasagna
TipSeating is first come, first served; last seating is fifteen minutes before close, so do not cut it fine.
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.
TipFriday and Saturday are fully walk-in; the patio never takes bookings and the room goes 21-plus after 22:00.
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.
TipMonday is all-day happy hour; the Emmy Squared after-hours menu runs Friday and Saturday from 21:00.
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.
TipFriday and Saturday it holds the corner till midnight, rare for this stretch; lunch service makes it a day-drinking sleeper.
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