Your Guide to the Westside - Los Angeles Locals

 We obviously have a big place in our heart for coastal living.  So, we thought it might be nice to start a series based on our beloved city of Angels.

First up, we wanted to feature a little neighborhood on the westside of Los Angeles you may have heard of:

Venice Beach

First founded in 1905 by a tobacco millionaire named Abbot Kinney (yes, the namesake of the fast growing luxury shopping and restaurant street in the heart of Venice) this seaside neighborhood has become one of the worlds top travel destinations while still serving a community of artists and performers alike.

 

Many notable counter-culture icons have spent time living and creating in Venice such as Jim Morrison + The Doors, Dennis Hopper, poet Charles Bukowski, all around artist Patti Smith, and of course skateboarding legends from the original Z-boys teams such as Jay Adams.

There have been many iterations of this beloved neighborhood, from a bohemian artist conclave to ground zero for California surf and skate culture to the recent tech-driven gentrification, so if there is one thing Venice is expert at it's change. 

Through it all, Venice remains one of LA's most unique and diverse neighborhoods.  Here are a few of the things we love.

See:

Venice Canals

Charming walking canals accessible by foot or bike only - to find one of the various entry points pop "Venice Beach Canals" into your GPS.

(Photo by Nantoyara)

 

Boardwalk / Venice Sign

Beneath the archway of the oft-photographed 'Venice' sign is a 1.5 mile boardwalk that runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean.  Famous for muscle beach, an eclectic group of beachside vendors and dynamic performers, this is colorful Venice at its best.  Enter "Windward Circle" into your GPS and head west.

Don't miss the skaterboarders at the Venice Beach Skate park. Watch skaters catch big air as the sun sets over the Pacific with hills of Malibu in the background.  California cool at its finest.  

(Photo by Jen Judge)

 

(Photo by Travel Diction)

 

 Eat + Drink:

Quick Breakfast / Coffee

Groundworks

You may want to trade the chaos of Abbot Kinney for this funky, bohemian, and locally roasted coffee (and tea) located on Rose Ave.

(Photo via Groundworks)

 

Lunch

Gjusta

This order-at-the-counter sandwich shop offers people watching as good as the food.  The quirky back patio is perfect for a casual lunch or coffee meeting.

(Photo via Zagat)

 

Dinner

Plant Food + Wine

Serving vegan food and organic wine, this hidden gem has an expansive back patio that is most magical and romantic at night.  Not as busy as some of the more reknowned Venice eateries,  you'll still want to make a dinner reservation to be safe.  

(Photo via Plant Food + Wine)

 

Drinks

Townhouse Venice

This Venice classic can get quite busy, so if you're craving a quiet drink you may want to head else-where.  But, if you're down for a semi-divey vibe with the possibility of catching an amazing show in the basement speak easy - head here and try your luck. There's usually dancing regardless.

(Photo via Townhouse Venice)

 

 Do:

Head to Abbot Kinney for all around shopping.  A few of our favorites to check out are Tortoise for cool Japanese gifts and homeware, Burro for gifts and the classic Mystic Journey bookstore.

Check out 'The Linc," or Lincoln Boulevard for up and coming local shops like General Store and the Tradesmen for menswear. 

 

 

 Are you in Los Angeles?  If so, we'd love to hear from you about your favorite corners of this city.  Check in with us for a chance to have your neck of the woods featured!

hello@ocean-and-main.com