Welcome to Santa Monica
The quintessential Southern California neighborhood
Located just off the famous Pacific Coast Highway lies the beautiful neighborhood of Santa Monica, California. Home to 93,000 residents and tucked between Pacific Palisades and Venice along the coast, this resort community has grown over the last forty years and continues to expand with the addition of upscale dining options, luxury shopping opportunities, and beautiful beachfront homes.
Loaded with bike paths and sustainable transportation systems, a recent boom of tech companies seeking a more laid-back atmosphere, and famous for its pier and amusement park, Santa Monica offers 300 days of pure sunshine, mild temperatures, and crystal clear skies. This picture-perfect neighborhood rooted in community and sustainability is truly an idyllic place to call home.
What to Love
- The lively and friendly atmosphere of the neighborhood
- Endless things to do for all interests and all ages
- Perfect weather year-round with gorgeous oceanfront views
Local Lifestyle
Residents of Santa Monica experience the perfect blend of laid-back beach living with an upscale, cosmopolitan lifestyle. Relax along the pristine Southern California beaches, grab a coffee along the casual and artsy Main Street and browse the high-end shops of Montana Avenue. The area features expansive modern homes and contemporary apartment complexes and condominiums, most with beachfront access or waterfront views from high-rise patios. The city boasts an excellent school system and many families, young professionals, artists, and students call this quintessential California beach townhome.
Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping
Grab a seat at the bar for a French-inspired cocktail or make a dining room reservation at Pasjoli, an elevated French bistro on Main Street. Featuring unique French creations from award-winning Chef Dave Beran, Pasjoli reflects a thoughtful cooking style in an upscale, industrial dining space. Enjoy classic French hors d'oeuvres or choose the option to bring a six-course catered meal home for parties and events.
Known as Los Angeles’ favorite liquor store since 1968, Wally’s is the place to visit for premier quality wine and spirits, cheese plates, and exceptional cuisine. Dine-in or peruse the shelves of over 8,000 hand-selected wines, spirits, and beer. The Santa Monica location features an elegant dining room, a wine and cheese market, and exceptional customer service.
Crudo e Nudo embraces local, seasonal ingredients in their Italian-inspired raw bar. Established in the middle of the 2020 pandemic, Chef Brian Bornemann and Leena Culhane wanted to bring a new, inspiring spot to Santa Monica. Created from a desire to bring the community back together, Crudo e Nudo focuses on hospitality, locally-sourced ingredients from independent farmers, and environmentally-minded practices. Menu options are simple, yet savory, and feature freshly caught seafood, a raw bar, and vegan options. Crudo e Nudo also offers a fun “Wine of the Month Club” which brings new and adventurous wines straight to your home.
Erin McKenna’s Bakery focuses on gluten-free, vegan, and healthy baked goods. With a mission to bring the best flavors to those who cannot indulge in everyday desserts, Erin McKenna’s Bakery brings incredible options to the Los Angeles community. All are welcome to enjoy their unique creations in a fun, pink, and neon-themed bakery. Try the classic crumb cake or grab a dozen chocolate cookies to-go! Can’t make it to the shop? They ship nationwide!
Things to Do
The Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier are the focal points of the neighborhood. Enjoy pristine, white-sand beaches with fantastic surf and stroll the iconic pier and amusement park, which also feature an aquarium, shops, and restaurants. Spend the day outdoors enjoying the best of Southern California weather and stick around for popular events held at the pier and on the beach throughout the year. Heal the Bay Aquarium hosts Pride Month activities every year in June, part of the SaMo Pride Festival to celebrate community, diversity, and Santa Monica’s inclusive spirit.
MAINopoly: Taste of Main Street is the culinary event of the year. Each year on Memorial Day weekend, the city becomes a living Monopoly game to showcase the neighborhood’s excellent culinary scene. This all-ages event is a unique experience featuring over 20 restaurant tastings along Main Street and offers prizes. Participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite Monopoly characters and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Summer SOULstice — a free event held annually on the Santa Monica Pier.
Palisades Park spans over 26 acres and features numerous overlooks along Ocean Avenue. The popular park includes public art installations, picnic areas, historic structures, and the Santa Monica Camera Obscura. The park is home to over 30 different species of trees and plants and features views of the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains in the distance.
Celebrate the fine arts at the annual Montana Avenue Art Walk. Over 40 artists set up shop along the avenue to showcase their work to the community with live bands playing throughout the day. The event hopes to highlight local artists and bring more people to independent businesses along the avenue.
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