Avoid the Tourists With This Guide of Hidden Gems
Surfing, shopping, sunshine and sea—Santa Monica surely has it all and then some. Bringing the coastal charm to Los Angeles living, this beachside city lures year-round crowds from near and far with its sunny siren song, in sharp contrast to the Hollywood hustle. But beyond the lights of the Santa Monica Pier and its tourist temptations lies a neighborhood full of hidden gems and a superb social scene. If your goal is to hit the beach by day and dodge the bar-hoppers by night, then you’re in luck. Whether you’re a longtime local or just want to live like one, let us serve up the perfect itinerary for a summer day in the life of a Santa Monica local.
Check-in at The Regent Santa Monica Beach
Set up shop at your beachside retreat, The Regent Santa Monica Beach (formerly known as Loews Santa Monica) and prepare to experience the local lifestyle. Post up in the Presidential Suite, with full panoramic views of the California coastline and the bustling beach below. Lounge around in your separate living and dining spaces, fully equipped game room and enjoy a long soak in the tub followed by cocktails on the balcony alongside your personal fire pit when the sun goes down. Head poolside for bites and bevs at Azure Bar, with staggering views of the peaceful Pacific, or enjoy a leisurely sip and sup at Orla, the hotel’s signature eatery with culinary nods to chef Michael Mina’s Greek and Egyptian heritage.
Local Insight: Stop by The Regent’s Sweet July Cafe for beach-time snacks or a cup of Joe on the go! This outpost features a menu inspired by founder Ayesha Curry’s love for farmers market-inspired California cuisine.
Peruse the Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market
Skip the trip to Whole Foods and stroll the stalls of the Santa Monica Downtown Farmers Market to score some of the freshest produce in town. Every Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., head over to 2nd and Arizona (just around the corner from the Third Street Promenade) where you’ll rub elbows with celebrated chefs, incognito off-duty celebs and your friendly neighborhood TikTokers while perusing the best agricultural offerings, artisanal creations and local provisions. Sample gluten-free grains, hand-made jams and an array of irresistibly fresh baked goods. Then, grab your greens and scoop up some calla lilies before hitting the strip of nearby shops for some retail therapy.
Local Insight: Be sure to bring cash as a backup option, in case your favorite vendor doesn’t take Apple Pay (or credit cards, for that matter).
Coffee and Tunes at Endless Noise Coffee + Vinyl
Step right up and step back in time when you grab your morning brew at Endless Noise Coffee + Vinyl. If you’ve been looking for a chance to unplug and revisit a simpler time, this eclectic coffee shop and retro record store mashup is just the ticket. Sip on a custom cold brew or a cappuccino while sifting through the classics, and take your favorite tunes for a spin on the needle. Tucked away on Stanford Street, away from the beachy bustle of the tourist belt, the bougainvillea-canopied patio is the perfect spot for a moment of self-reflection—with a caffeine kick.
Build a Charcuterie Board at Lady & Larder
Feeling peckish? It’s always a good day for charcuterie, and no one does it better in Santa Monica than Lady & Larder. Pop into the little dream shop on Pico for a stacked sandwich from the secret lunch menu (available Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Browse an array of gourmet delights like caviar and cultured butter or pick a pretty picnic box and make it an al fresco affair. Known for their elevated charcuterie boards, curated with locally sourced meats, seasonal fruits and a selection of bespoke cheeses, this 100% family-owned and woman-led operation is helmed by twin sisters Sarah and Boo, who also offer charcuterie classes to help you perfect your presentation.
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Rest and Relax at Willow Spa
Find your zen and book a massage at Willow Spa to feel your cares instantly melt away. Using a sumptuous selection of traditional techniques from every corner of the world—think Swedish and Shiatsu styles to Reiki healing and “Table Thai” (blending aspects of the Northern, Southern and Western modalities), knowledgeable masseurs custom create a cloud-nine experience for the ultimate day of bliss. Always wanted to try cupping? How about a Himalayan salt stone massage? Now’s the time to unwind, unplug and reset your nervous system, with little extras like a foot scrub, aromatherapy and detoxifying oils to help get you back to living your best life.
Dinner at Isla
When the dinner bell rings, head over to Isla—Main Street’s little slice of paradise. Sister to nearby Crudo and Nudo, this neighborhood nook boasts a charming ambiance with a menu of hyper-locally sourced selections—from seafood specialties like drunken Venus clams, Channel Island black cod and crispy calamari, to Italian crowd-pleasers like bucatini, tagliatelle and tagliolini. They also serve vegetarian delights like charred cabbage and whole cauliflower drizzled with roasted garlic tahini. An extensive local wine list and cocktail selection make it easy to whet your whistle, with a happy hour “Sundowners” selection from 4-6 p.m. and a “Moonlighters” menu from 9 p.m. until close.
Drinks at Chez Jay
Need a nightcap? Side-step the queues at the trending hotspots and stroll past the pier-side partiers to duck into Chez Jay—a historic haunt that’s been a late-night mainstay for those in the know since 1959, and an official local landmark since 2012. With its beachside location, unassuming exterior and decidedly ‘60s vibe, this cocktail cubby-hole and celebrity hideaway is the kind of joint that conjures images of the perfect backdrop for a clandestine meeting or a midnight rendezvous. On another day, stop by The Backyard for brunch and Bloodys and sprawl out on the sun-drenched backyard bungalow-style patio, or hop in for happy hour with light bites and margs on a weekday afternoon.
Local Insight: At Chez Jay, photos have been prohibited in the bar since the 1960s—when Marilyn and JFK affair rumors were running wild!
Based in Los Angeles, Kandace has spent the past ten years in the fashion and lifestyle space, and recently in entertainment at Sony Pictures Studios. She has a Masters in Journalism from Emerson College and has studied in Paris, Firenze, and Washington DC, beginning her career as a style editor and tastemaker for NBC. She is an internationally award-winning filmmaker, having studied screenwriting for film and television at UCLA, and her work has been celebrated around the world, in cities like London, Nice, New York, and Montréal. Paying homage to her French heritage, she is also the creator of The Chic American--a style and culture editorial destination for Francophiles, dedicated to the art of living an elevated, French-inspired lifestyle.
