Welcome to Santa Monica
A vibrant beachside community with luxurious homes, upscale shopping, and five-star restaurants
Santa Monica is a bustling oceanside community with elegant homes, upscale shopping, fine restaurants, and exciting nightlife. Housing in Santa Monica consists of well-appointed single-family homes and luxurious condominiums. The tree-lined streets feature gorgeous estate homes with pristine yards and gardens. Architectural styles include Spanish, Mediterranean, Mid-Century modern, cottage, contemporary, and ranch.
Santa Monica comprises several neighborhoods, each having a unique ambiance and flair. Two of the more popular communities are North of Montana and Ocean Park. The North of Montana neighborhood gets its name because it is on the north side of Montana Avenue, a primary thoroughfare and hub for shopping and dining. This neighborhood is just minutes from
Palisades Park and is also home to the
Annenberg Community Beach House. This fantastic oceanfront community center provides residents with a pool, a splash pad, classes, activities, beach sports, and a guest house.
The Ocean Park neighborhood has a laid-back vibe and is popular with those who enjoy an active beach lifestyle. It offers the expansive
Ocean Front Walk with shopping, restaurants, kids' play areas, and a path for walking, biking, skating, and jogging. The beach is often bustling with volleyball, surfers, sunbathers, swimmers, and families enjoying a day in the sun. The beachfront is also home to
South Beach Park and
Crescent Bay Park, which provide green spaces and picnic areas for residents to enjoy. Main Street, which runs parallel to the ocean, is the primary shopping and dining hub in the Ocean Park community.
At the center of Santa Monica, and along its glorious beachfront, is
Santa Monica Beach and the iconic
Santa Monica Pier. The Santa Monica Pier is home to the famous Ferris Wheel, amusement rides, street performers, treat shops, restaurants, and community events. It’s also the location of fabulous upscale shopping at the
Downtown Santa Monica Mall and Santa Monica
3rd Street Promenade.
What to Love
Local Lifestyle
Santa Monica is an idyllic California beach town. It’s home to a welcoming community of sun worshippers and beach lovers, including young professionals, families, college students, celebrities, and executives. Residents thrive in this community of like-minded neighbors that crave an active outdoor lifestyle, upscale shopping, and superb dining. The area is busy with locals and tourists hanging out at the beach, surfing, swimming, jogging, beachcombing, and enjoying fine oceanfront restaurants.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Santa Monica is a Mecca for foodies, offering an endless list of upscale five-start restaurants and chic cafes. The
R&D Kitchen is a fabulous spot for lunch. It features meticulously prepared American fare in a stylish setting. It’s also a popular spot for fantastic craft cocktails.
Cobi’s at Dhaba offers a delectable menu of Asian curries and street food. If you are looking for a posh and impressive date night venue,
Elephante is perfect. Elephante features authentic Italian cuisine and breathtaking ocean views.
Shutters on the Beach is an elegant resort and the home of three popular dining venues. The
Coast Beach Cafe and Bar is Shutter’s beachfront cafe and bar. It offers incredible cocktails and mixed drinks, an extensive wine list, craft beers, and live music.
1 Pico Restaurant and Courtyard is Shutter’s fine-dining venue. 1 Pico has a bright and elegant dining area and is open for brunch and dinner. For dessert, indulge in their famous salted caramel popcorn sundae. The Shutters Resort also offers the
Living Room, a cozy spot for having drinks with friends and watching the sunset.
You can find excellent entertainment venues throughout Santa Monica.
Downtown Santa Monica offers comedy clubs, movie theaters, nightclubs with live music, and museums.
Premier shopping is around every corner in Santa Monica. The
Downtown Santa Monica Mall and Santa Monica
3rd Street Promenade are two of the most frequented shopping plazas in the community. These exclusive shopping venues feature designer shops and boutiques, including Hugo Boss, Johnny Was, and Michael Kors.
Things to Do
The beach provides endless opportunities for living the beach life. Whether you prefer relaxing, sunbathing, and listening to the soothing sound of waves crashing on the beach, or if you prefer surfing, jogging, and volleyball, Santa Monica will not disappoint. Santa Monica Beach is also home to the
Ice at Santa Monica, a seasonal ice-skating rink.
The iconic
Santa Monica Pier is a fun and exciting place to enjoy rides, amusements, treats, and entertainment. The
Ocean Front Walk is almost always buzzing with activity, skaters, bikers, joggers, walkers, and people-watchers. It’s also a wonderful place to enjoy drinks with friends, a delicious lunch, or watch the sunset. To get a break from the sun and surf, residents are just minutes from the green spaces and hiking trails in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Schools
Santa Monica offers excellent public, private, and charter schools.