Indulging in Santa Monica: Is it Worth The Splurge?

Los Angeles is a sprawling mix of funky, eclectic, classic, rich, and nostalgic neighborhoods, such as Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Malibu, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Bel-Air, to name a few. Each is full of individuality, fun things to do, and some more interesting than others.

Known as “the City of Angels”, LA’s scene is studded with sunbathers, movie and television fans and actors, shoppers, surfers, cosmetic surgeons, famous chefs, hotel tycoons, students, and so many other colorful souls. You will never get bored in this town.

Santa Monica is a beachside pet-friendly city in western Los Angeles County. It is bustling with cyclists, movie shoots, tourists, and beach-goers, and many homeless make it their personal home as well. Muscle Beach, made famous by bodybuilder Jack Lalanne, is an outdoor workout facility. You can glimpse some interesting people here.

The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian-only, sprawling shopping district, complete with some street performers, vendors, but some troublemakers, too. It is a great area for strolling through outdoor cafes, street vendors, unique fountains, and a good, though terribly pricey, movie theater.

A Shopper’s Paradise

Stores I recommend in Santa Monica are Camper, a Barcelona based shoe company, and Fred Segal’s funky emporium. There are two Fred Segal locations, the main one in Santa Monica, which will take you the better part of a day to go through and explore, and a smaller one on Melrose in Hollywood. Fred Segal became famous first because he created the first only jeans-only store in the 1960’s, and the rest is history. Read more about Fred Segal, the clothing entrepreneur. You can even have lunch while at the shop.

My favorite shopping in Santa Monica is on Montana Avenue, full of funky pet-friendly shops and original cafes. For shopping on Montana, I recommend apparel at ABS by Allen Schwartz, gifts, fashions, and original items at Kitson, and the enormous selection of bath & beauty supplies at Palmetto.

Decadent Dining in Santa Monica

Part of the joy of a trip to Los Angeles is visiting upscale Santa Monica. There are always new hip restaurants to try, but I still enjoy going to some old favorites as well. Locanda Portofino, a restaurant that serves fine fusion Italian cuisine, looks typical sitting in a strip mall location, but it is anything but. We have been going there for over 15 years now because of the food quality, service, and prices. My favorite dish is Tagliatelle all’uovo alla bolognese, paired with their yummy bread and a side salad. Perfection!

Catch, located inside the Hotel Casa Del Mar, has a lovely ambiance, upscale wine menu, and a gorgeous chilled shellfish platter.  I had a rhubarb meringue dessert here that would make your toes curl! We also bumped into Robin Williams there on our visit.

Another restaurant is Rustic Canyon Winebar and Seasonal Kitchen. Rustic Canyon has a regularly changing seasonal menu based on sustainable agriculture. The food at Rustic Canyon is meant to be shared, so when we were invited there with our friends (Cindy and Chris), who took the liberty of ordering for us. We started with vibrant cocktails and appetizers of pork shanks, Marcona almonds, and focaccia. Next up, wine, a stellar cheese platter, and homemade charcuterie. For dinner,  we tried the special chicken and beef options, some lip-smacking side dishes, and Moscow Mules. We even shared creme brûlée. Though I am a foodie, this restaurant made me feel a bit out of my comfort zone. Once I saw how it was done, I was fine and thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was amazing! 

Sightseeing is a Must in Santa Monica

Other than eating and shopping, Santa Monica has something very special that other nearby cities cannot compare with, The Pier. The Santa Monica Pier, a 1906 amusement area, features a waterfront Ferris wheel, trapeze school, rides, boardwalk style games, and the 46-horse Looff Hippodrome (carousel), which is National Historic Landmark. There are quite a few touristy junk-type shops to pilfer through.

The Pier houses my favorite Los Angeles restaurant, The Lobster. The Lobster has a fun happy hour menu, all my favorite wines, and creative cocktails. Their specialty, lobster, of course, may break the bank, but California is not my ideal town for skimping so we will indulge. Take a selfie after they dress up in your plastic Lobster bib. While in Santa Monica, be sure to stroll through the beautiful Pacific Park and maybe ride the oceanfront roller coaster or carousel, but hold tight to your purses and wallets.

Our friends Cindy and Chris ready to partake in the lobster feast at The Lobster.

Stellar Resorts

Santa Monica is a famed resort town and my favorite are both located on Pico Boulevard: Shutters on the Beach and JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot. Shutters on the Beach is an iconic luxury hotel in its own class, with Tibetan rugs, marble bathrooms, whirlpool tubs with the finest bath toiletries, and John Robshaw bedding. While at Shutters you must have either the delicious Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or the Bulls-Eye Breakfast Skillet from One Pico, their on-site restaurant. If it is chilly outside, no problem, the restaurant will bring outdoor heaters to your table; you just have to ask.

The JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot is a totally different style than Shutters on the Beach, but I like it equally as much. Beach view rooms offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, and the rooms have heavenly featherbeds with 300 count Italian linens. Skip the restaurants here as they are good, but nothing special, and there are plenty of awesome ones close by. We always use Marriott points when booking here to save money.

For my family, Santa Monica is definitely worth the splurge. There are many vacation destinations where you can save money but this is one that allows for a much greater experience if you choose to open the wallet and enjoy. As always, safe travels and have fun.

Santa Monica Photo Gallery

FYI: The famous Route 66 runs to Santa Monica.

Tip: Take a few minutes to watch the talent skateboarders; you will be amazed!

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Check out our other California posts:

Pebble Beach      

Newport Beach       

Carlsbad