How to Spend a 24-Hour Staycation in LA’s Westside Beach Neighborhoods

Sometimes, you have to make a mad rush through Los Angeles’s restaurants in a single day. Whether it’s a long layover, a quick work trip, or friends visiting from out of town who need a glimpse of the city’s unparalleled dining scene, this guide is here to help. Eater has already published a 24-hour guide on how to eat through LA’s Eastside and Pasadena, so this trail is to inspire anyone staying around Venice, Santa Monica, Malibu, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, and greater West LA. In essence, it’s a rough look at an amoeba of a city that defies clear geological boundaries. Here is a handy itinerary for eating through Los Angeles’s Westside in a single day.

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8 a.m. — Sourdough Bagels and Coffee at Layla Bagels

Matthew Kang

Drawing heavily from the path that Virgil Village’s Courage Bagel set, Layla Bagels in Santa Monica baked gently crisped sourdough bagels loaded generously with seasonings. Instead of a spongey New York City-style bagel, these are more texturally nuanced, like artisanal bagels in the Montreal style. What distinguishes Layla in the more modern split LA bagel school is the use of ultra-fresh produce like heirloom tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and pickled onions layered above tender smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese. Try the beautiful peaches and strawberry over cream cheese for a bright, summery topping. The lines form early, so expect to wait for these Instagram-worthy breakfasts. 1614 Ocean Park Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA, 90405.

9:30 a.m. — Pastries at Petit Grain

Wonho Frank Lee

If the carbs at Layla Bagels weren’t enough to get the day started, opt for a follow-up at Santa Monica’s recently opened Petit Grain, a bakery star in the making from veterans Clémence de Lutz and Tony Hernandez that bakes some of the finest laminated pastries in the city. The tiny shop draws lines from well before its 8 a.m. opening time, where folks come for their daily croissant, fruit-topped danishes, hand pies, and quiches. 1209 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA, 90403.

Noon — Sandwiches at Bay Cities Italian Deli or Bread Head

Bay Cities is an iconic Italian deli and market that has fashioned itself into a hallmark of Westside dining, one Godmother sandwich at a time. While that sandwich, with its folkloric stack of Genoa salami, mortadella, capicola, ham, prosciutto, and provolone bedded in “the works,” is the seminal choice, other sandwiches here will satisfy, like the simpler Little Dom Lorenzo and serrano ham-laden Spaniard, all served on the deli’s signature chewy Italian hero roll. 1517 Lincoln Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Cathy Chaplin

For a new-school option, try the focaccia sandwiches at Bread Head, which continue to make waves — and earn rave reviews — in its new brick-and-mortar outpost on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. The sandwiches can be ordered in full (great for sharing, or for one person who feels particularly hungry) or half sizes (which swing in under $15), with varieties like a muffuletta layering salami cotto, mortadella, and pit-smoked ham; roasted turkey with Calabrian chile-infused mayo; a stacked BLT; and a vegetarian-friendly mozzarella with avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and za’atar. Sides like Zapp’s Voodoo chips and homemade sweet tea complete the order. 1518 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403.

Farley Elliott

3 p.m. — Shop-hopping in Venice Beach

One of the more can’t-miss opportunities afforded by a Westside staycation is crawling Abbot Kinney, Venice’s iconic shopping and dining boulevard that provides a healthy balance of upscale and irreverent. Take a lap on either side to window-shop or poke into one of its many boutiques; sip cocktails at bars like local legend Roosterfish or the Brig; perch on the patio of schiacciata superstar All’Antico Vinaio; up your kitchen decor game at minimalist homewares shop Goodies; or, if you want to make it feel extra tony, grab an Instagrammable smoothie from the nearby Erewhon. Further down the way, near Windward Circle, crawlers can pick up hyper-curated market goods at Gjusta Grocer, which offers housemade sandwiches, salads, breads, dips, and drinks, as well as market-side items from small-batch purveyors.

6 p.m. — Dinner at Pasjoli or bang-bang at Bar Monette and Burgette

Wonho Frank Lee

Santa Monica’s varied restaurant scene offers plenty in the way of compelling options, like modern Southeast Asian at Cassia, upscale California French at Citrin, polished izakaya fare at Shirubē, and suave Spanish pintxos at Xuntos. Down in Venice, steaks reign at American Beauty while pastas dominate at Evan Funke’s Felix. In between the two dominant Westside neighborhoods stands Pasjoli, a refined modern French restaurant from fine dining chef Dave Beran. The room feels elegant but unstuffy, with attentive service that isn’t afraid to have a good time. Expect familiar but aggressively reimagined bistro dishes that feel like Escoffier was reborn in the 21st century, like salmon tartare, scallop quenelle, blanquette de veau, and whole-pressed duck prepared tableside. The chocolate souffle follows the classic French textbook to perfection. 732 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90405.

Bar Monette

For a more relaxed but no less stylish night out, consider a double-header at Bar Monette and Burgette, sister restaurants near the Santa Monica waterfront that offer two sides of the same coin. At Bar Monette, pore over a thoughtfully curated wine list that complements the wood-fired pizzas topped with things like zucchini blossoms and piquillo peppers, truffle and aged cheese, and blisteringly sweet figs. (You’ll get a copper pair of scissors to cut slices to your own size preference.) At Burgette next door, the namesake burgers of course rule the menu, with unexpected but irresistible renditions like a crispy-edged salmon belly smash burger and the Frenchy La Burgette with whole-grain Dijon, cornichon, and American and mimolette cheeses. 109 and 111 Santa Monica Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

11 p.m. — Cocktails at Accomplice

Jakob N. Layman

Accomplice has the one-two punch of having some of the best, most inventive cocktails in the entire city as well as a late-night menu from chef David Kuo’s Taiwanese restaurant Little Fatty. Start with a Creator, a stirred drink with gin, rhubarb cordial, Mount Rigi Swiss aperitif, avocado leaf, Damiana liqueur, and Hoja Santa oil for an herbaceous sipper. Then try one of the bar’s classics, the Horse with No Name using tequila, rum, passionfruit, and amontillado sherry topped with black sesame seeds. 3813 Grand View Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90066.

1 a.m. — Tacos at Tamix

Matthew Kang

Tamix, an undeniably superlative taco spot, has multiple locations, including another spot in Palms on the corner of Venice and Sepulveda. At the Westside outpost, order up some of Los Angeles’s best tacos al pastor, a local specialty that takes adobo-marinated pork and cooks it on a spit called a trompo. They’re topped with a slice of pineapple for a sweet bite. Make sure to dress each taco with various kinds of salsa, onions, and cilantro (or pico de gallo) — because tacos should never be naked. 3801 S. Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA.

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Where to stay

Budget: The Kinney Hotel on Washington Boulevard in Venice offers colorful, clean, and reasonably priced rooms with easy parking. The former motel feels like a boutique hotel with its relaxed shared spaces that boast a ping pong tables, firepit, and wading pool. The hotel’s pretty close to restaurants and bars in Venice, and a short hop away from Santa Monica. Rooms go for around $200 a night.

Mid-range: The Georgian Hotel reaches into luxury boutique territory with just a small handful of rooms in a gorgeous Art Deco blue building right on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. Expect higher-end appointments and a solid food and beverage situation on site with California Italian restaurant Sirena and clubby steakhouse the Georgian Room. Rates range from around $350 to $550.

Those in the Marriott points system can check out the newly opened Sandbourne, a sprawling full-service hotel with a breezy stepped courtyard that draws travelers into its Gulla Jonsdottir-designed restaurant Marelle, helmed by chef Raphael Lunetta. There’s more of a resort feel here with ocean views, large swimming pool, and modern bedrooms. Rates start at $490 and go up to the high $600s.

For a brutalist design fever dream, the Proper in Santa Monica can’t be beat — from designer Kelly Wearstler’s postmodern aesthetic that permeates all corners, the ritzy rooftop pool and restaurant, and the downstairs bar marked by cavernous booths and plush seating. Rates typically start from $649 per night, depending on the room and time of week.

High-end: The twin hotels of Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach are classic luxury hotels in Santa Monica, with locations just off the sand. Casa del Mar’s classic structure gives a luxe Italianesque experience affording near perfect ocean views from many rooms. The resort fee gives a ton of perks, like yoga lessons, bike rentals, afternoon house car service around the area, and a welcome drink. Rates start at $800 and go up to $1,200 for standard rooms. Shutters on the Beach offers a more coastal California experience, with a more private cottage feel. Restaurant 1 Pico’s excellent Californian food uses farmers market produce and high-end proteins with clean ocean views during the sunset. Rates are similar to Casa del Mar, around $900 to $1,500 for standard rooms, with many of the same daily resort perks.