Water Grill Santa Monica is a seafood restaurant in Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica.
Editorially verified August 18, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Must order: Live spot prawns in season, plus a dozen cold-water oysters
Tip: Ask what came off the boats that day; Santa Barbara spot prawns are charcoal-grilled when the traps are running.
Address: 1401 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The Lobster has watched the Santa Monica Pier from its Ocean Avenue perch since 1923, grilling Maine and spiny lobster above the beach crowds.
Order: Grilled lobster or the lobster roll with truffle parmesan fries
Tip: Book Resy for a window at golden hour; the lobster roll at the bar is the affordable route.
Ivy at the Shore keeps its bougainvillea-draped pink facade on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, an American menu served on the same florid patio since 1985.
Order: Crab cakes and the fried chicken, plus a gimlet on the patio
Tip: Brunch runs to 13:00 weekdays and 14:00 weekends; the patio people-watching is the real product.
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.
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.
Capo is Bruce Marder's almond-wood-fired Italian room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, open since 1998 with a cellar of more than 2,500 wine selections.
Order: Rigatoni with white truffle meat sauce and something off the wood fire
Tip: The wine list has held Wine Spectator's Grand Award every year since 2015; budget accordingly.
The Lobster has watched the Santa Monica Pier from its Ocean Avenue perch since 1923, grilling Maine and spiny lobster above the beach crowds.
Order: Grilled lobster or the lobster roll with truffle parmesan fries
Tip: Book Resy for a window at golden hour; the lobster roll at the bar is the affordable route.
Ivy at the Shore keeps its bougainvillea-draped pink facade on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, an American menu served on the same florid patio since 1985.
Order: Crab cakes and the fried chicken, plus a gimlet on the patio
Tip: Brunch runs to 13:00 weekdays and 14:00 weekends; the patio people-watching is the real product.
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.
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.
Capo is Bruce Marder's almond-wood-fired Italian room on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, open since 1998 with a cellar of more than 2,500 wine selections.
Order: Rigatoni with white truffle meat sauce and something off the wood fire
Tip: The wine list has held Wine Spectator's Grand Award every year since 2015; budget accordingly.
Chinois on Main is Wolfgang Puck's 1983 Santa Monica original, still folding Chinese tradition and French technique into California produce on Main Street.
Order: The whole sizzling catfish and the Chinois chicken salad
Tip: Executive chefs Junuen Saldana and Ramiro Saucedo keep the classics on; book OpenTable or phone the room.
