Venice Beach, California, is a popular place to visit.
It has excellent food, beautiful people and unique things to do. Venice Beach is a beachfront community in Los Angeles County that lies along the Pacific Ocean between the Marina del Ray and Santa Monica.
Arguably, Venice is one of the hippest beaches not only on the West coast, but also on the East coast of the US.
Either way, the questions remain. Where should you go if you are visiting this wonderful city? What should you see? What should you eat? In this article, we will share some of our top picks.
Grab your boardshorts and sunscreen; this is going to be quite a ride.
High Rooftop Lounge at The Erwin
Situated on the top of Hotel Erwin, High Rooftop lounge is the most fabulous outdoor bar in Venice. They serve small bites and mix some really cool Cali-style specialty cocktails.
In addition to the occasional DJ playing some thumping tunes, the views here are breathtaking, and the sunset is to die for.
A word of advice. On weekends and special holidays, the lounge can get crowded, and there may be a wait. So it's a good idea to make a reservation.
Location: 1697 Pacific Avenue
Menotti's Coffee Stop
Personally speaking, Menotti's is my go-to coffee joint in all of SoCal.
Yes, I said all of Southern California.
Menotti's is a hip destination with a unique Venice vibe to grab a freshly ground espresso, some light nosh, or even a pastry and take in the funky, artsy atmosphere.
Situated in a prime people-watching location, Menotti's offers fantastic views of the boardwalk and is a popular gathering spot for the views and the excellent coffee.
They serve coffee from Four Barrel Coffee, and in addition, there are both organic and vegan options to choose from. The menu at Menotti's includes drink options such as espresso, flat white, cortado, Americano, and other traditional coffee shop offerings.
A local (and my) favorite is the avocado-poached eggs.
Location: 56 Windward Avenue
Felix Trattoria
Located on Venice's hippest street, Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Felix Trattoria is an homage to hand-made pasta. It's almost as if my wife's Italian grandma is in the kitchen making this from scratch and with love.
Chef Evan Funke makes his specialty kinds of pasta, and everything else for that matter, in a glass-enclosed space directly in the middle of the restaurant so you can watch your dish being created.
While the traditional menu has a range of delicious antipasti and other delectable items. Still, people come to the Felix Trattoria for the pasta.
If you are unsure what to choose, try the incredible but straightforward trofie, bright green spirals with basil pesto and loads of cheese.
I can safely say that this is my favorite place for a great meal in the Venice area.
Location: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Rose Cafe-Restaurant
The Rose Venice is an iconic restaurant in the heart of Venice and has been around since 1979. Revamped into a more modern, boho-chic concept with chef Jason Neroni at the helm, he has kept the roots of The Rose that the community knows and loves while introducing seasonal, globally influenced cuisine.
The restaurant serves a selection of globally inspired dishes as well as some original Rose favorites.
The space features indoor and outdoor dining, a well-stocked grocery store, a beer garden, and, as if that wasn't enough, a bakery.
With a full menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a wide selection of drinks, including coffee, tea, juice, cocktails, wine, and beer, the cafe has got you covered.
The Korean-Style Fried Chicken sandwich is the bomb.
Location: 220 Rose Avenue
Superba Food & Bread
Equal parts bakery, cafe, and urban park, the folks at Superba have a lot to be proud of. Their food and people show that they're committed to sharing these lovely things with the Venice community.
Superba Food & Bread is an industrial-chic cafe serving California-inspired food specializing in homemade breads and other delectable baked goods.
One of the cafe's specialties is avocado toast. This trendy but simple dish is topped with ripe California avocados, a dash of chili, and spicy radish sprouts and is served with olive oil.
The food is fresh and healthy and includes several exciting entrees, such as a delicious black rice salad with pineapple, cashew, and tempura-fried cauliflower.
Grab the Hippie Burger for something easy, light, and on the go. You won't regret it.
Location: 1900 Lincoln Blvd.
Venice Beach Beer Company
Where there is food, beer is close by.
Served at the Firestone Walker Brewhouse, this is a place to kick back, chill and grab a local brew.
Established in Venice Beach in 2010, Venice Beach Beer Company is a brewery that brews locally inspired beers. The beers are a bit edgy in flavor with a mission to capture Venice's quirky, artsy, and unique vibe in each of their brews.
But it's a good edgy.
Examples of their beers include an amber ale, an India pale ale, and an orange wheat ale. They often participate in local events such as the LA Beerfest and more.
Grab yourself some comfort mac-n-cheese while you're here.
Location: 3205 Washington Blvd.
Venice Duck Brewery
Venice Duck Brewery brews beers inspired by Venice's creative, high-energy atmosphere.
The unique name comes from a local tale of a fella who attended a party in the Venice canal district, passed out, and woke up on the sidewalk the next morning covered in ducks. Yes, ducks.
A lot like the local scene, Venice Duck beers have unique names, like Dogtown Duck IPA, Lucky Duck Agave Blonde, and the unusual Stoner Duck Hemp Brown Ale.
The duck-named beers can be found at many local bars and retail shops, and other local events.
Order online and take a 6-pack to the beach.
Location: 4238 Coolidge Avenue
The final word
While there are many places to eat and drink in Venice, we hope we've captured the essence.
Didn't see your favorite?
Leave us a comment, we'll get you on the next round.