For first-time visitors to Los Angeles, Santa Monica is one of the best places to explore. You can bike to the beach, walk to coffee in the morning, spend the afternoon outdoors, and quickly return to the shoreline for dinner.
Our beachside city, on the westside of Los Angeles County, opens up into smaller neighborhoods filled with local restaurants, long coastal bike paths, shopping streets like Montana Avenue and Main Street, and some of the dreamiest sunsets in California.
The Ambrose Hotel is close to it all, conveniently located on 20th Street, a few blocks from Montana Avenue and about a mile from the beach. A perfect home base to explore L.A. like a local.
Not sure where to start? Begin with our First-Time Visitor Guide to Santa Monica, filled with the best local spots and must-see attractions.
Start at the pier, and look for hidden gems.
It’s iconic for a reason. The Santa Monica Pier is where Route 66 ends and the Pacific begins, home to the magnificent West Coaster rollercoaster that twists and turns over the ocean. The pier is ideal for families and first-time visitors looking for picture-perfect views and easy fun. The solar Ferris wheel turns slowly enough to take in the full sweep of the coastline, and live musicians set up near the entrance most evenings.
While you’re there, walk to Heal the Bay Aquarium, which is tucked underneath the boardwalk at the base of the pier. This low-key hidden gem is highly interactive, especially great for young kids. Visitors can stick their hands in tanks, meet enthusiastic staff, and marvel at leopard sharks. It’s open weekends only, noon to four, and an hour is all you need. Just uphill from the pier, Tongva Park winds through native landscaping, shaded benches, and elevated ocean views.
Montana Avenue & 3rd Street Promenade – what to know before you wander.
Montana Avenue runs about 10 blocks through one of Santa Monica’s quieter residential neighborhoods filled with local boutiques, delicious coffee, yoga studios and more. It has a lived-in, unforced character that stands out in Los Angeles.
For an easy L.A. morning and excellent people-watching, Primo Passo Coffee Co. is a great place to fuel up for the day before shopping at Citron or Brentwood General Store. Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe is worth the slight detour for one of the city’s classic breakfasts.
The 3rd Street Promenade, by contrast, is three pedestrian blocks of shops, restaurants, and street performers that hum with energy every night. It’s anchored by spots like Santa Monica Place, with crowds spilling out of Din Tai Fung and Ugo Trattoria.
Main Street, closer to Venice, is where Santa Monica starts to feel more like a beach town again. Picture local surf shops, casual cafes, and bars that slowly fill as the evening cools off.
Bike, padel, and play near the beach for a classic L.A. experience.
The Marvin Braude Trail runs 22 miles along the shoreline, and the Santa Monica stretch is the best of it – flat and smooth, with the mountains behind you and the water ahead, pelicans occasionally gliding by.
Rent a complimentary bike from The Ambrose and cruise through Venice, past the roller skaters and the canals and the handball courts, letting intuition guide the afternoon.
South of the pier, Muscle Beach has been running its open-air show since the 1930s. Someone is always doing something improbable on the rings, and watching it for twenty minutes in the sunshine is a classic Los Angeles afternoon.
A mile north on the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), the Annenberg Community Beach House sits on the former estate of actress Marion Davies, outfitted with a public pool, volleyball courts, and a quiet cafe that feels like a secret garden (more on that below). The blufftop path through Palisades Park, just above the PCH, is typically empty before 8am. Work up a sweat and soak in views of the Santa Monica Mountains and Pacific Ocean.
Where to eat like a local in Santa Monica.
If you’re here on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, Santa Monica Farmers Market fills several downtown blocks with citrus, strawberries, flowers, and chefs shopping for the night’s menus.
Back on the Beach Cafe at the Annenberg Community Beach House is literally on the sand with tables in the sun and the water close enough to hear the waves. Try the shakshuka, you won’t be disappointed.
A few blocks from The Ambrose, Rustic Canyon runs a seasonal California menu that changes often enough to reward repeat visits, with a serious wine list that’s still approachable. Book ahead.
Right across the street, Tartine is a quintessential California bakery lauded for its fresh-baked bread and rotating specials. Come here for a pastry-filled breakfast, or visit in the evening for pizza and wine pairings.
L.A. hotspot Tacos Por Favor has been serving excellent tacos, burritos, and horchata for decades. Visit when you’re in the mood for something quick and delicious.
On the walk back, Rori’s does an ice cream sandwich (the snickerdoodle, still warm, with brown sugar vanilla and a Nutella schmear) that you will absolutely sit on the curb to eat, and you won’t regret it.
A note from us.
Our Weekend Getaway offer is available now, transforming your weekend into a restorative retreat at The Ambrose where Sunday stays are offered at 30% savings.
Complimentary Tesla service to local destinations is available from 11am to 7:30pm, and our daily wine hour celebrates California’s finest from 5pm to 7pm. Plus, wellness amenities including Peloton bikes and beach cruisers are waiting, and our courtyard with a fireplace and sunny seating areas fills with light for extra time to relax. You don’t need much of a plan. Book your stay and let the city take care of the rest.