SANTA MONICA

Santa Monica is probably one of the most iconic neighborhoods in Los Angeles, with its famed boardwalk, shopping promenade, and that neon-glowing, solar-powered ferris wheel seen in oh-so-many TV shows, movies, and aerial shots of the city (it was also named one of the coolest ferris wheels in the world in 2013). But this is our version of Santa Monica, all the lesser-known, locally beloved spots far from the Third Street Promenade and the throngs of tourists. In fact, we didn't step foot on the promenade or Main Street during our Santa Monica day, opting instead for the special spots we favored during our years as residents in this sun-speckled, beachside neighborhood. If you're using our blog as a guide, get ready to discover all the places you won't find in guidebooks or "Top 10" lists.

Stop 1: Sweet Rose Creamery

 

Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan are Santa Monica heroes: the couple who were both born and raised in Santa Monica, and slowly and thoughtfully opened a handful of restaurants, bakeries and café’s (mostly along Wilshire Boulevard) throughout the neighborhood, capitalizing on local ingredients, handmade products, and delicious ideas. You can’t really go wrong with any of their spots (Milo and Olive is one of our favorites in the entire city for pizza), but Sweet Rose is our place for coffee. This small and bright café is barely more than a walk-up, with seasonal ice-cream offerings and coffee drinks written on giant chalk wall behind the counter. We ordered two iced versions of the cold-brew with homemade vanilla syrup and a splash of cream, and then ogled the pastries (the strawberry walnut scone in particular).

(826 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica)

Stop 2: Virginia Avenue Park Farmer's Market

 

We’re certainly not lacking for farmer’s markets on the Westside (and the one in downtown Santa Monica is epic), but this sweet market in the Virginia Avenue Park has long been the locals’ favorite. There’s a fantastic selection of flowers, with many of the bunches $10 and under, a shaded food court with tables and chairs, and so much juicy, fresh, and ripe pieces of fruit and vegetables, you’ll never want to enter your local Albertson’s ever again. We ordered the beef quesadilla (probably one of our favorite breakfasts in town) for $6, and grabbed a bulbous, crisp apple for $1.50 for dessert.

 

(2200 Virginia Avenue, Santa Monica)

Stop 3: Bergamot Station 

 

By the time we pulled out onto Pico Boulevard, temperatures were over 90 degrees and we needed somewhere we could cool off, stat. We headed to Bergamot Station, an old train station (the Los Angeles and Independence Railroad operated its line here from 1875 to 1953) turned art gallery complex. Passenger service at the train station ceased in the 1950s, and the sprawling complex was purchased by the city of Santa Monica in the 1980s and converted into artists’ studios. The art gallery and cultural complex now house over 30 galleries and a darling (and delicious!) café. We scoped out original photographs of Marilyn Monroe, the eclectic and whimsical gift shop, walls of floral artwork, and some Dali-inspired sculptures. Who says the Westside is lacking culture?

Insider’s tip: there’s a vast parking lot with free parking for gallery visitors.

(2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica)

Stop 4: Vintage Shopping on Wilshire Boulevard 

Santa Monica is a neighborhood with great shopping - every single chain store you can imagine, an outdoor mall, sweet boutiques. But its vintage shopping is a lesser-known treasure, and there are some fantastic finds along Wilshire Boulevard. Haute Seconds is any designer-lover's dream: a meticulously organized shop brimming with Chanel, Prada, Oscar de la Renta, and so many more. Pieces are in impeccable shape, and they have the prices to prove it. We did find one rack on the left-hand side of the shop with options from $25 to $95, and these included a few lovely DVF and Tracey Reese dresses. Drool.

Great Labels is another shop featuring designer threads, and although the clothes skew a little more mature, the price-points are much lower than Haute Seconds. The shop is easy to navigate, and we saw many a pair of high-heels we would love to teeter around in.

(2629 Wilshire Boulevard and 1126 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica)

Stop 5: Caffe Luxxe

 

The coffee at Caffe Luxxe is no joke. This adorable neighborhood coffeehouse handcrafts their artisanal coffee with beans they roast at their own facility in Gardena. The baristas also receive one year of training, so clearly take their technique seriously. Sounds fancy, right? Fortunately for the local regulars, this seriously delicious coffee comes without a serious attitude. They specialize in cappuccinos (they boast that their beans are the best, so their cappuccinos are also the best) and because it was still smoldering outside, we got ours over ice. We also ordered the vegan banana walnut chocolate cake, which was sticky, dense and chocolatey. OH MY.

(925 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica)

Stop 6: Pono Burger

 

 The burger is a big deal in Los Angeles. A really big deal. Tacos, French Dip, and burgers - these are the food items we brag about, the dishes that we know are better here than anywhere else in the country. And in Santa Monica, you have some of the best burgers to choose from: Umami, Father's Office, Rustic Canyon. 

But we didn't visit any of those joints on this day. We beelined to one of our favorite new hamburger restaurants, where organic grassfed burgers are served with a Hawaiian twist. Pono Burger embraces everything great about Santa Monica: the materials and ingredients of the restaurant are all locally sourced, down to the firewood and the fresh flowers from the farmer's market. The menu changes seasonally, the beef comes from a family-owned California ranch - and did we mention you can eat your meal in a World War II bunker? 

We ordered the Piku "Fig" Burger, The Paniolo Burger, the Russet Potato Fries, and a half-order of the Seasonal Farmer's Market Salad. The Piku was a clear favorite, because the combination of brie cheese and fig was other worldly, although the sauce on The Paniolo was something we wanted to eat by the spoonful. The folks at Pono have perfected the details of their menu - the meat is juicy, the burger bun is fluffy and sweet, and their condiments are divine (the aioli! the guava rum sauce! the coffee Bourbon barbecue sauce!)

"Pono" most definitely has to mean DELICIOUS (it actually means "to do the right way"). Umami what?

(829 Broadway, Santa Monica)

 

    

The Details:

Santa Monica is very walkable, but we highly recommend getting around on bike. You can rent bicycles here.

A map of our day looks like this: 

 

ATWATER VILLAGE

Atwater Village, you say? Where exactly is Atwater Village? This charming neighborhood lies just between Glendale, Silver Lake and Griffith Park. It's located in the Los Angeles River flood plain, and that proximity gave the area its name - "at water" (the "Village" part came later, in 1986). The neighborhood prospered through the 1920s and 1930s, with help from the nearby DWP substation and the construction of the Pacific Electric Railway - the bright red street cars could be seen running up and down Glendale Boulevard until the system was dismantled in favor of automobiles and highways.

Although Atwater Village has really expanded in the last five years or so, it's still a quiet neighborhood, often referred to as the "Small Town Silver Lake." There's not a lot open late, but it was a perfect little spot for a full day of exploring in Northeast LA!

Stop 1: The Village Bakery and Cafe

The Village Bakery and Cafe is aptly named. It really is a neighborhood spot, with locals lined up out the door, chewing on free cookies while they wait to order breakfast scrambles, brioche french toast and the Vegan BLTA. 

Don't miss out on the baked goods - they're incredible. You can get a handmade loaf of bread for $5, and we're sure you'll love a baked strawberry donut, a peanut butter brownie, or berry hand pie. Treat yo'self!

3119 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 2: Kaldi Coffee

The vibe at Kaldi Coffee is friendly and completely unpretentious, unlike many a hip coffee shop on the east side. The baristas smile wide and welcome questions, and they play a foot-tapping rotation of 60s and 70s music. It can sometimes be tough to find a spot inside, but the sunny front patio is a delight. We ordered a perfect iced soy latte, but decided we'll be coming back for the Pirate's Chai (matcha tea with cinnamon and cardamon).

Bonus: free wi-fi and they roast their coffee beans on site.

3147 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 3: Red Car River Park

The Red Car River Park is very small, more of an opening to the LA River than a full-blown park. There is a bike path and several spots to sit and gaze out at the river, where you can see just where the old red trolleys crossed from Silver Lake on the way to Glendale when they were in operation. The Red Car River Park also has an impressive mural and we ran into a group of people finishing some street art. A good place to soak in some LA history!

Corner of Ferncroft Road and Glendale Blvd

Stop 4: Atwater Village Farmers' Market

The Atwater Village Farmers' Market runs in the center of the neighborhood every Sunday from 10am-2pm. The market sells all sorts of goodies, including artisan cheeses, farm fresh eggs, handcrafted jams and chutneys, and fresh juice. There's a food court in the back, where you can find vegan mole at Rice & Beans and fish tacos at Pescadores de Ensenada. We were especially enamored with the bright baskets of handpicked berries - three baskets for $7!

Insider's tip: the market is held in the parking lot of Wells Fargo bank, so it's easy to get cash!

3250 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles.

Stop 5: Atwater Village Farm

If you don't make it during farmers' market hours, you can simply walk down a block to Atwater Village Farm. This small corner grocery offers fresh produce, loaves of paleo bread, vegan carrot cupcakes, fresh-squeezed juice in mason jars, and homemade spreads like vegan cilantro hummus and cumin & dry olive hummus. There's also a small counter in back with sandwiches and salads.

3224 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 6: Alias Books East

This is a wonderful place for used-books, especially those that are rare or out-of-print. The staff is very friendly and the prices are low. The collection at Alias Books East focuses on film and the arts, and is incredibly organized. Come on in, we're sure you'll find something you like!

3163 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 7: Sweets for the Soul

It was late afternoon and our blood sugar levels were dropping. Thank goodness for Sweets for the Soul! The shop specializes in gourmet brownies, so we ordered two mini brownies: the Peanut Butter Shot and the Salted Caramel Shot. They were both rich and deliciously decadent. We also tried the homemade tootsie rolls (how could we not?! They were 25 cents each!), which were more chocolatey and less chewy than the ones you found in your Halloween basket. Divine!

3169 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

Stop 8: 55 Degree Wine

This cute wine shop and tasting room is unassuming, sitting next to a Starbucks in a small lot. The upstairs is not unlike a mini Bevmo, but the real magic happens downstairs, where they do tastings everyday at 5pm. 55 Degree Wine specializes in flights, and they feature four flights of 3 tastings each week (ranging from $15-20). The cellar is adorable, and they serve cheeses, meats and thin crust pizzas as well.

3111 Glendale Blvd #2, Los Angeles

Stop 9: Baracoa Cuban Cafe

Our last stop was Baracoa Cuban Cafe, a small "mom and pop" restaurant that serves traditional Cuban food. We took it as a good sign that every single person in the ten table cafe was speaking in Spanish, and we ogled the Oxtail and Ropa Vieja as the dishes went by. The service was painfully slow, but our fried plantains, yucca and beef empanadas more than made up for it. A lovely slice of Havana right here in Los Angeles!

3175 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles

The Details:

We took the Metro Bus 733 from Culver City to the Main/1st Street Station in Downtown LA. From there, we hopped on the 92 bus toward Burbank Station. Get off at Glendale/Glenhurst. Once you're there, Atwater Village is easily walkable! 

A map of our day looks something like this: