Santa Monica • Brentwood • Sawtelle

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New restaurants, hidden parks, local rituals, and the spots worth getting off the couch for — all within a few miles of home.

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A romantically set dinner table with wineglasses creating a luxurious ambiance Dining

The 15 Best Restaurants in Santa Monica Right Now (2026)

From Michelin-starred tasting menus to late-night Thai and oceanview rooftops — where we actually eat…

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Stunning aerial view of a lively beachfront with palm trees and cityscape Beaches

The 12 Best Beaches in Los Angeles: A Westside Local’s Ranking

Hidden coves, surf breaks, family-friendly stretches, and the bonfire beach — ranked by a local…

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Outdoor music festival at night with a lit-up stage, colorful lights, and a crowd of thousands Arts

Santa Monica International Jazz Festival 2026: Your Complete Guide

Free Promenade sets, a Coltrane centennial at BroadStage, and Kamasi Washington at Tongva Park — the Westside’s first jazz festival is here…

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Breathtaking sunset over Santa Monica Pier with illuminated Ferris wheel and vibrant skies Hidden Gems

25 Things to Do in Santa Monica: A Local’s Guide for 2026

Every list starts with the Pier. This one starts where locals actually go — 25 spots organized by effort level…

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Beautiful coastal landscape with rocky shoreline, lush trees, and expansive ocean view Outdoors

The 8 Best Hikes Near Santa Monica (All Under 20 Minutes Away)

Ocean-view trails, waterfall loops, and beginner-friendly paths — all within striking distance of the beach…

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Appetizing breakfast table with orange juice, fried eggs, breads, and fresh vegetables Dining

The 10 Best Brunch Spots in Santa Monica Right Now

From oceanview rooftops and farmers market cafes to neighborhood classics worth the wait…

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Vibrant spread of traditional Indian dishes served on a table in a restaurant Dining

Fitoor Santa Monica: The Upscale Indian Restaurant the Westside Has Been Waiting For

Santa Monica’s most exciting new Indian restaurant is hiding in plain sight on Ocean Ave — and on weekends it brings the fire dancers.

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Overhead flat lay of diverse colorful dishes and fresh ingredients on a wooden table Dining

Neighborly Brentwood: Four Celebrity Chefs, One San Vicente Address

Questlove’s fried chicken, Mini Kabob wraps, Gaby Dalkin’s salads, and Sicilian pizza — the best new food hall in Brentwood is not a food court.

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Colorful Mexican tacos plated on a wooden board with fresh toppings and bright garnishes Dining

Broken Spanish Comedor: The Modern Mexican Kitchen Culver City Has Been Waiting For

Chef Ray Garcia’s beloved Broken Spanish is back — duck albondigas, a 100-bottle mezcal list, and mom’s enchiladas in a moody Culver City room.

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Bright museum hallway with exhibits and empty walkways, showcasing modern design Arts

LACMA’s New David Geffen Galleries Are Finally Here

After nearly two decades, LACMA’s 100,000 sq ft Peter Zumthor masterpiece opens April 19 with 26 galleries spanning 5,000 years of art…

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Warm and inviting restaurant setting with elegant leather seating and table setting Dining

The Wilkes: Brentwood Finally Gets the Steakhouse It Deserves

Snake River Farms cuts, latke-crusted schnitzel, and a 1954 Streamline Moderne building that was made for leather booths and old fashioneds…

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Cyclists riding through a car-free urban street on a bright sunny day Outdoors

CicLAvia West LA 2026: Your Complete Guide to the Car-Free April Event

West LA’s streets belong to bikes and pedestrians this April 26 — a free 3-mile car-free route through the heart of the Westside.

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Sunlit trail through a lush green park, dappled light filtering through trees Outdoors

Santa Monica Airport Is Becoming a 192-Acre Park — And the Designs Just Dropped

Eight districts, five miles of trails, a 2,000-seat amphitheater, and a community farm. The future of West LA’s biggest park just got very real.

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Vibrant spread of modern Indian dishes with bold colors and fresh garnishes Dining

BADMAASH Venice: Abbot Kinney Finally Has an Indian Restaurant Worth the Wait

Tikka poutine, date jam bourbon cocktails, and a cave-like back room on the Westside’s best dining street.

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Inviting outdoor restaurant patio with chairs, tables, and string lights in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Dining

The West LA Spring Dining Guide: 7 Tables We're Fighting Over Right Now

From a Brentwood courtyard doing Japanese-Argentine fusion to a Mar Vista wine bar that feels like a secret, these are the tables we can’t stop…

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Baseball at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day Outdoors

Opening Day: The Dodgers Are Back and the Padres Are Already Planning for Next Year

Everything went exactly as expected for the greatest franchise in the history of professional sports.

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Vibrant Thai green curry with fresh herbs and coconut milk Dining

Holy Basil Santa Monica: The Westside Finally Gets Real Thai Street Food

The acclaimed Thai street food kitchen opens on Santa Monica Blvd — seafood-forward, uncompromising, and already one of the best new restaurants on the Westside.

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Intimate wine bar with warm lighting and string lights Nightlife

Force of Nature: Venice’s Most Interesting New Bar Is Hiding Above Abbot Kinney

A women-owned wine bar in a century-old Victorian home, with a rooftop pulley that delivers pizza from next door. The best new bar on the Westside.

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Rich tonkotsu ramen with chashu pork and soft-boiled egg at Tsujita LA on Sawtelle Dining

Sawtelle Blvd: West LA’s Japanese Food Street You’ve Been Sleeping On

Tsujita’s tsukemen, Menya Tigre’s velvety broth, Marugame Udon’s $10 lunch — your complete guide to Little Osaka in West LA.

7 min read Read →
Golden sunset over the Pacific Ocean viewed from a clifftop park with palm trees Outdoors

Palisades Park at Sunset: The Free Show That Beats Any Bar

26 acres of blufftop parkland along Ocean Avenue, the 1889 Camera Obscura, a rose garden, and nightly sunsets over Santa Monica Bay that still stop people mid-sentence.

4 min read Read →
Charming outdoor courtyard restaurant with string lights and casual seating Hidden Gems

Brentwood Country Mart: Brunch, Boutiques, and Sunday Ritual

Farmshop’s California brunch, Reddi Chick rotisserie, an artisanal Sunday farmers market, and the low-key courtyard energy that Brentwood does better than anyone.

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Bright colorful vegetables and fruit at an outdoor farmer's market Dining

Santa Monica Farmer’s Market: Why Wednesday Wins

75 farmers, the best chefs in LA all shopping before you, and stone fruit so ripe it doesn’t survive the drive home. Arizona Ave & 2nd St, 8am–1pm, rain or shine.

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Modern urban park with lush greenery and city skyline in the background Outdoors

Tongva Park: Santa Monica’s Most Underrated Six Acres

Free concerts at the Gathering Hill amphitheater, 170+ plant species, a splash pad for kids, and ocean panoramas from Observation Hill — one block from the Pier.

4 min read Read →
Bright contemporary art gallery interior with white walls and natural lighting Arts

The Hammer Museum: World-Class Art, Always Free

UCLA’s Hammer Museum on Wilshire is one of LA’s best contemporary art spaces. Free admission every day, a legendary bookstore, free film screenings, and an open-air courtyard restaurant.

4 min read Read →
Cyclist on a paved bike path alongside a creek on a sunny Los Angeles day Outdoors

Ballona Creek Bike Path: West LA’s Secret 7-Mile Escape

A flat, car-free Class I path from Culver City through West LA, past Sawtelle, all the way to the beach at Marina del Rey. The best way to spend a Sunday morning without leaving the Westside.

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Elegant plated fine dining dish with precise garnish and sauces Dining

SELINE: Santa Monica’s New Michelin-Worthy Tasting Menu

Chef Dave Beran’s 15-to-18-course menu on Main Street just landed on the 2025 Michelin Guide. Southern California ingredients, no predictable plays. Book weeks ahead.

6 min read Read →
Wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with a puffy char-blistered crust fresh from the oven Dining

Cosetta Is the California-Italian Spot Ocean Park Needed

Chef Zach Pollack’s Ocean Park newcomer does puffy-crusted pizzas, small plates, house-baked bread, and a sprawling alfresco patio that makes every dinner feel like summer.

5 min read Read →
Rooftop bar at dusk with city lights and a warm glowing atmosphere Nightlife

The Best Bars in Santa Monica Right Now

From the craft cocktails at Elephante on Ocean Ave to the no-frills dive energy of Chez Jay — the definitive Westsider bar guide for 2025.

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Delicate steamed soup dumplings xiaolongbao arranged in a bamboo steamer Dining

Din Tai Fung Opens at Santa Monica Place — With Ocean Views

The iconic Taiwan-born XLB empire finally has a Santa Monica outpost, and it comes with a patio overlooking the ocean. Worth the wait and the (inevitable) line.

4 min read Read →
Empty sandy beach with calm blue water and clear California skies Beaches

The Locals’ Guide to Santa Monica Beach (Beyond the Pier)

Where to park, which lifeguard zones are least crowded, the best volleyball nets, where to watch the Santa Monica sunset with zero tourists. All the things only residents know.

6 min read Read →
Craft cocktails glowing on a dimly lit upscale bar Nightlife

S Bar by Katsuya: Brentwood’s Best Kept Nightlife Secret

Craft cocktails, Katsuya’s famous spicy crispy rice on happy hour, DJs Thursday through Saturday, and a bar staff that makes you feel like a regular from night one.

5 min read Read →
Perfectly seared wagyu steak resting on a wooden board Dining

Matu Kai: Brentwood’s New Wagyu Destination

100% grass-fed New Zealand wagyu, a five-course tasting menu at $87, and a wood-fire grill on San Vicente. The best new option for red meat lovers on the Westside.

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Elegantly plated Persian dishes on a white tablecloth Dining

Perse: A Modern Persian Dining Experience in Brentwood

The most refined Persian restaurant on the Westside — saffron lamb chops, short rib ghormeh sabzi, a glass wine cellar, and a room that looks like Paris.

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Single big red chili pepper on white background Dining

A Man of Consistency: The San Diego Resident Who Has Eaten at Chili’s Six Times This Week

Riley eats at Chili’s six times a week. He has a booth, a server named Trevor, and more peace of mind than anyone on our staff. We drove down to interview him and came back changed.

5 min read Read →
Lush green par-3 golf course on a sunny California morning Hidden Gems

Heroes Golf Course: West LA’s Best Kept Golf Secret

A 9-hole par-3 on the VA campus near UCLA — $12 to play, free for veterans, almost never crowded, and one of the most peaceful spots in West LA.

4 min read Read →