For those who don’t live on the Westside, making the trek to Santa Monica for lunch or dinner can be daunting. Will there be traffic? Probably. Will it be hard to find parking? Unless you’re in one of the public lots around Third Street Promenade, probably. (I’ll take a moment to shout out the E Line, which will drop you right off by Bergamot Station as well as the Promenade.) But will the food be worth it? Yep. From destination-worthy sushi to every price point and type of Italian food under the sun, this small, tourist-friendly beachside city is full of amazing restaurants, some of which worth driving across town.
In recent years, Main Street has become a hotbed of up-and-coming culinary talent, where more affordable, still destination-worthy eats like Heavy Handed and Crudo e Nudo coexist alongside more upscale eats like Pasjoli. Closer to the Promenade, I’ve visited overpriced old-timers like Capo and touristy chains like BOA and Hillstone to bring you the best of Downtown Santa Monica, as well. Venture to the city’s sleepier areas, like Ocean Park, and you’ll find excellent sandwiches, sushi and bagels. This guide is by no means exhaustive, but these are the Santa Monica restaurants we think you shouldn’t miss.
February 2025: In light of Burgette and Cassia’s recent closure announcements, I’ve removed both restaurants from the list. Since my last guide update, I’ve also revisited Michael’s, Pasjoli, Bread Head and Birdie G’s, and revised their listings accordingly. New tips have also been added for every restaurant on the list.
RECOMMENDED: Best restaurants on the Westside