The definitive guide to Abbot Kinney

Grow Venice, an outdoor-and-Southern California-inspired gift shop, is likely to catch your eye as you walk by with its broad array of home goods, children’s toys and other small, stylish accessories. Located close to Venice Boulevard, this small store is full of fun, colorful little gifts, including crystals, planters, seasonal home decor and other small, eco-friendly tchotchkes.

When you’re in the mood to shell out on a piece that you’ll wear for years, we recommend heading to Heist, which has our favorite range of women’s designer brands in all of Venice. Owner Nilou Ghodsi has an eye for modern classics, pulling in a cadre of brands such as Golden Goose riding boots, Henry Cuir distressed leather weekender bags and Raquel Allegra knits. Like the store itself—which is kitted out in brick, leather and wood—everything in Heist is comfy and understatedly chic.

Perfect the modern Scandinavian look for your home with a stop at this Venice boutique, which features furniture, fine art, housewares and kitchen products as well all-ages clothing and knick-knacks for little ones. The stylish boutique, which also sells its goods online, draws its inventory from over 60 Scandinavian designers with standouts including brass-wire baskets, matte black stoneware, textiles featuring hand-drawn designs and luxurious, abstract jewelry. Indulge in the Swedish pastime of lördagsgodis, or Saturday candy, in the store’s extensive sweets selection. You can also get your laptop repaired at the Mac Studio Shop, the third-party Apple repair service located inside the store.

The Venice-based shop combines style and function with European vintage-inspired bicycles from cruisers and 8-speeders to limited editions in luxe colors like cream and sage. The tiny back bungalow storefront also carries Brooks leather saddles, waxed cotton saddlebags and brass bells to accessorize your two-wheeler.

This charming shop on Abbot Kinney offers a catch-all selection of gifts: clothes, books, homeware and letterpress cards. It’s perfect if you’re in need of a gift or housewarming present, and is also a cute little spot to do some casual browsing for household knick-knacks. 

The only L.A. outpost of this sustainable online fashion brand, Everlane's Abbot Kinney shop is a conscientious millennial shopper's dream come true. Designed with an online-first consumer in mind, this brick-and-mortar features knowledgeable employees, in-person returns and plenty of fitting rooms for items from the brand's collection that are harder to size from its online store alone.

Whether you’re looking for stylish sunwear or everyday optical lenses, this beachy eyewear haven has it all. Emulating the coastal ambience of Venice’s chic Abbot Kinney boutiques, this West Coast flagship store boasts a minimalistic, breezy interior with artistic touches from colorful minimalist designer Geoff McFetridge.

Where does one begin with Erewhon? Now known nationwide for its palpitation-inducing prices, vast array of wellness products and famous clientele, this upscale market’s Abbot Kinney location is a downright people-watching scene most days of the week, as well as a purveyor of delicious, health-conscious prepared deli and hot foods at prices comparable to other fast-casual restaurants. Those grabbing a quick smoothie or daytime bite from this L.A. wellness mecca’s deli and hot food counters can sit on its Venice location's charming vine-covered patio or the additional bench seating at the edge of the parking lot—all the better to listen in on nearby conversations straight off of @OverheardLA.

This artisanal ice cream import from Portland may now be a veritable mini-chain in L.A. but its Abbot Kinney location still draws crowds, particularly on weekends. Their extensive menu boasts flavors both sinful and curious—many of which feature ingredients exclusive to Southern California, reflecting the company’s “farm-to-cone” philosophy. Rotating seasonal flavors keep things interesting each month, from their July Summer Berry series to spooky October flavors. The best part? You don’t have to choose just one. Guests can opt for an ice cream flight including your choice of four flavors from both classic and seasonal menus.

Situated at the westernmost end of Abbot Kinney, Alfred Coffee’s Venice location isn't as conducive to people-watching or casually sipping as the millennial pink coffee company’s other L.A. locations. With only a few indoor and parklet tables, it’s more of a stop-and-go spot for some of L.A.’s most aesthetically pleasing caffeinated specialty drinks. Still, you'll find the mini-chain's high-quality matcha lattes and zippy cappuccinos in its now-iconic “But First, Coffee” cups (plus a neon sign of the same slogan inside), as well as one or two of Alfred’s fun seasonal or collaborative drinks on the menu at any given time.

The Venice outpost of this artisan/craft-focused flea market mini-empire brings records, vintage and vintage-inspired clothing, cosmetics, jewelry and more to the outside of Westminster Avenue Elementary School. A handful of small batch confectioners provide sweet treats to snack on or take home, while food trucks and nearby restaurants provide heartier bites. Though relatively small in size, owing perhaps to its prime location bookending the famed Abbot Kinney stretch, vendors hawk a diverse range of hand-made and expertly curated wares that seems to simultaneously fit in and stand out in one of the nation’s most unusual neighborhoods.

The Westside location of L.A.’s most famous coffee bar is only marginally less of a scene than its sibling in Silver Lake. With long lines, a menagerie of dogs tied up outside, and the best-tasting brew available by the beach, Intelligentsia is crowded but decidedly worth the hassle; and a nice respite from a sunny day of shopping. 

Tucked between the grittier Venice Boardwalk and more bourgeois Abbot Kinney Boulevard, the Venice Canals offer a completely different side of the famed beachfront neighborhood. Take a stroll through these three canal-lined blocks—hence the name, Venice—and you’ll discover an historic multimillion dollar real estate idyll: arching pedestrian bridges, charming beach houses, bunches of ducklings and the occasional paddle boarding bulldog. Though you won’t find boat rentals anywhere along the canals, you can bring your own non-motorized vessel to tour the neighborhood at water level (enter via the launch ramp at Venice Boulevard).

There are plenty of things to do in Santa Monica without setting foot on the pier or Third Street Promenade, from fresh dinners prepared straight from the farmers' market to bars with a view.