Destination Known | LA: Venice + Santa Monica
Stay
(Splurge) Santa Monica | Shutters on the Beach
(Save) Airbnb - We stayed in a perfectly located back house on Beverly Ave. at Ocean Park Blvd. It was walkable to the beach; but, with a stroller, a necessary quick drive to the hustle of Venice.
Eat | Venice
Gjelina - Hot hot hot ticket even though it’s been open for a decade. Sit outside on the patio.
Rose Cafe - Venice staple. Delicious food + scene. Request a table outside on the patio near the plant wall.
Tasting Kitchen - Dimly lit, exposed brick, romance-inducing dinner spot…where we balanced on small, backless bar stools while holding our squirming baby. we shall return to verify my initial take on the place.
Plant Food + Wine - Insanely delicious vegan cuisine set in magical garden out back. As always, proper ordering is gross over-ordering - it’s the only way for those married to meat verify that v(egan) is a turn on.
Salt Air - I went here with my mom while wedding dress shopping, so, the oysters, rillette, and vino hold a special place in my heart and tummy.
La Tostaderia - Order-at-the-counter, atmosphere-less Mexican seafood spot with great ppl watching on Abbott Kinney and the best of the best comida. It was the grand finale of establishments that made me lament the absence of fresh, delicious, and healthy food in Houston.
Breakfast @ Great White or Gjusta or Moon Juice
Drink | Venice
Neighbor - Sweet little pinterest spot for drinks/bites. The best seat in the house is the outdoor, wooden deck.
Hotel Erwin - rooftop
Eat | Santa Monica
Cassia - We didn’t have a chance to stop by, but, two different sets of friends ended up here on the Saturday night of our trip so needless to say the rec is very veri(fied).
Urth Cafe - super casual, solid breakfast spot
Drink | Santa Monica
Shutters on the Beach - laid back drinks on the sand, Coast is their restaurant with many an option
Eat | Malibu
Nobu - We showed up at 11a on Sunday without a reservation to splurge on a joint b-day lunch on the deck overlooking the ocean; we were accommodated (con bebe) swimmingly well! I don’t fancy myself a sushi snob as long as the fishies are fresh but this one is worth the hype on every level - from atmosphere to staff and of course, food.
Do
With our 3.5 month-old babe, we were or should have been in nap jail for 4+ hrs/day; (not totally) thankfully, she gave us back the time with 5:30a PT wake-ups. So, we did some stuff…
walk the beach from Santa Monica to Venice
walk/shop Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice
Hike Solstice Canyon in Malibu - we went at 7:30a and beat the traffic for a 20-minute drive and lovely two hour sea-view heavy hike