The best restaurants in Santa Monica

Now relocated to Santa Monica from its longtime chili bowl-shaped home on Pico Boulevard, this Westside sushi bar run by the eponymous chef and his wife Yuko Sakurai offers a streamlined, exclusive approach to top-notch sushi in the form of a $280 omakase—one of the best in the city's upper sushi echelons. Every night of service, after a brief selection of kaiseki-style appetizers, Nakao breaks out a wood block of sliced fish, each brilliant, shining row ready to be prepared for each guest. The luxurious selection always satisfies, as does Sakurai's ultra-refined sake selection.

Time Out tip: For something different, Shunji-san has begun offering a $190 oryori menu at 6:30pm on select Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. While there’s no sushi, the seasonally inspired hot and cold dishes offer a pleasing middle ground between izakaya fare and ultra high-end kaiseki.

L.A.’s Spanish dining scene is fairly lackluster, but this Santa Monica tapas bar serves a decent enough selection of traditional bar bites from Asturias, Catalonia, the Basque region and Galicia, where chef-owner Sandra Cordero spent her childhood summers. Pronounced “chuntos” (which means “together” in the Galician dialect), the restaurant offers hallmarks like patatas bravas and croquetas de jamon alongside harder-to-find items like bikinis (tiny grilled cheese sandwiches), tuna empanadas (served in slices, unlike the ones in Latin America) and whole fried anchovies. Not every dish will impress Spanish food snobs, but Westsiders are already flocking to the lofted dining room for calimocho (red wine and Coca-Cola) and a well-appointed list of Spanish cocktails, sherries, wines and vermouths.

Time Out tip: For a little more privacy, request a table upstairs. The cozy atmosphere is perfect for dates.

West of La Cienega, there’s nothing like the Georgian Room, a stylish speakeasy-style joint hidden away in the basement of the Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica. Restored to its former Old Hollywood glory (the space once served the likes of Judy Garland and Dick Van Dyke), the upscale Italian steakhouse serves premium cocktails and impeccably finished dry-aged steaks, plus a standout seasonal ravioli. The live jazz singers and a pianist manning the vintage Steinway might translate into a higher bill at the end of the night, but the sultry ambience here is unmatched. In our humble opinion, you won’t find a more glamorous and delicious way in Los Angeles to enjoy a New York strip and a dirty vodka martini. (And yes, we’re throwing shade at the kitchen at Musso’s right now.) At night’s end, former All Day Baby pastry chef Thessa Diadem whips up a swoon-worthy rendition of baked Alaska, plus other polished takes on classic desserts.

Time Out tip: On Sundays, the Georgian Room hosts Spaghetti Sundays, which features a $65 prix fixe menu of Italian American classics and a more casual atmosphere. My suggestion? Adding on the $30 New York strip supplement as your main.

Beautifully plated, locally sourced and utterly delicious seafood are on the menu every night at Crudo e Nudo, a tiny, charming Main Street restaurant that keeps sustainability and ethics in mind. First launched as a pop-up during the pandemic, the restaurant features a cozy, built-out parklet that serves as the bulk of its seating, where servers will dole out gorgeous small plates of seafood that will likely change how you look at crudo. Here, chef Brian Bornemann—formerly of Michael’s, also on this list—adds bright, modern tweaks to the typically stalwart oil-and-lemon Italian raw dish, for a casually artisan seafood meal that'll definitely upstage your everyday sushi joint. Vegan dishes and natural wines round out Crudo e Nudo's offerings for a laidback gourmet experience you won't soon forget.

Time Out tip: If you’re in search of a more filling meal, be sure to include the tuna tartare toast and crispy squid ink rice in your order.

After years as a Main Street pop-up, Jordan Snyder and Alex Williams’s artisanal sandwich shop is now an indispensible lunchtime destination along Montana Avenue—and while the square footage might be limited, the ample flavors and attention to detail make Bread Head a worthwhile daytime dining destination. The beautiful, impossibly crackly focaccia crust and high-quality ingredients make every bit of difference here. Made fresh daily, each focaccia slice’s golden, buttery half combines with high-quality meats, luscious cheeses and a mélange of flavorful spreads. The duo have also added newer items like the Combo Grinder (Bread Head’s take on a classic Italian sub), plus hot sandwich specials on weekdays and weekly dessert specials.

Time Out tip: If you’re in search of a more filling meal, be sure to include the tuna tartare toast and crispy squid ink rice in your order.

This buzzy burger pop-up dates back to the early days of the pandemic, when owners Max Miller and Danny Gordon first began selling short rib smashburgers in the driveway of Gordon’s Mar Vista home. Now, Heavy Handed has gone fully brick-and-mortar on Santa Monica’s Main Street, where lines form daily for the pair’s juicy short rib patties topped with American cheese, beef tallow fries (no breaks for vegetarians here) and brand-new Straus Creamery soft-serve. Combine all that with wine and beer, plus the casual patio and parklet, and you’ve got a great new Westside gourmet burger option.

Run by Clémence de Lutz, one of the main pastry masterminds behind the Gourmandise School, and Friends & Family alum Tony Hernandez, this newer gourmet bakery in Santa Monica serves some of the absolute best pastries on the Westside as well as some of the best croissants in Los Angeles. Lines tend to form early, and while the croissants often run out early, there’s always something delicious in one way or another behind the glass. Lutz and Hernandez pride themselves on using locally sourced flour varieties, milk from Straus Family Creamery, fruit from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, imported French butter and more ethically sourced chocolate, for higher quality you can taste. Savories like ham and cheese croissants and seasonal fruit danishes round out the tiny pastry case here, and while we can’t guarantee everything will be available when you come in, we can guarantee it’ll be delicious—and quite likely worth the wait.

Time Out tip: We can’t recommend the croissants here enough. Buttery, flaky and decadent, they offer just the right amount of crisp-to-softness ratio.

This Tokyo-based restaurant chain quietly serves some of L.A.'s tastiest Japanese drinking fare from the former Musha space in Santa Monica. The Westside location is the family-run company’s first location outside Japan, and the well-priced array of sashimi, fried and grilled dishes and more unconventional pairings (think negitoro over garlic bread) put Shirubē’s on the shortlist of L.A.’s best izakayas. Highlights include the signature flame-seared mackerel, shoyu butter corn ribs and the dan dan udon, all of which make the long trek to the ultra-touristy Third Street Promenade area feel very much worth it. Best of all, the kitchen stays open until 10pm—so you count on a later evening meal here.

Time Out tip: While the regular dinner menu is excellent, the happy hour menu (Mon–Thu, 5–6:30pm; Fri, 9–10:30pm; Sat 4–6pm and 9–10:30pm; Sun 4–6pm) is a downright steal, with most items running under $10.

Next to Ghisallo, this Ocean Park storefront is helping meet the city’s overflowing demand for Montreal-style bagels. Though lines are, for now, nowhere as long as the more eastward Courage Bagels, those hoping for a taste of Layla’s delicious open-face creations should arrive early and anticipate at least a half-hour wait to order. Once at the counter, you’ll find a mix of savory and sweet options like the must-order Pre-Jam (seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey), plus specialy coffee and matcha drinks. There’s also a small “not bagels” section that includes muffins, challah bread and overnight oats. 

Time Out tip: For those who live, work and play closer to central L.A., Layla also has a second location in Beverly Hills.

Vibes: the only word that comes to mind after the elevator ride up to this Tulum-like, all-day rooftop restaurant and bar serving seasonal California Italian cuisine and top-notch cocktails. Located upstairs from the Laemmle Theater, Elephante boasts one Santa Monica’s best indoor-outdoor spaces, with resort-like interior design that feels ripped from the pages of Conde Nast Traveler. Inside, chic modern wood furniture and a selection of cacti and lush houseplants set the stage for a stunning view of the ocean from the aptly-named Sunset Room. Meet friends during the day for brunch and lunch, then bring a date at night for low-lit romance. Our go-to is the whipped eggplant dip with puffy house-made flatbread, but there’s also excellent pizza, pasta and a sunny weekend brunch with the likes of soft polenta with eggs, crab and sweet corn.

Time Out tip: Don’t come here exclusively for the food—you’ll likely be disappointed.

Founded in 1979, this charming bungalow restaurant was one of the earliest pioneers of California cuisine. While farmers’ market-inspired menus and interesting wine lists are now commonplace across Los Angeles, Michael’s still satisfies today with a seasonally driven menu of comfort food classics and an ever-changing specials. On my recent visit, I enjoyed the Wagyu bolognese, served with buttery noodles and a luxurious tomato basil soup served with grilled cheese. The real show-stopper, however, was an off-menu octopus ceviche, served with housemade potato chips cleverly seasoned with rice vinegar. The verdant back patio is one of my favorite dining rooms in Santa Monica, and quite possibly all of L.A. The hospitality, however, is the cherry on top; at a time when standards for customer service have dropped to all-time lows, the staff at Michael’s takes special efforts to make sure newcomers feel right at home among a predominantly gray-haired regulars’ crowd.

Time Out tip: Skip the $39 bacon avocado cheeseburger and fries. The burger is solid, but not worth the money.

This Ocean Park pizzeria comes by way of Brentwood's Pizzana, where Ghisallo’s founding chef, David Rodriguez, first cut his teeth. Two styles of pizza are on offer here: a hybridized Neapolitan-style, whole and made to order, plus triangles of thin-crust New York-inspired available at the counter. Locals gravitate towards dining in on, when the former comes fresh from the oven and topped with ingredients like ricotta, prosciutto, quince, basil and rosemary (the Campesino, one of Rodriguez's favorites), but one could just as easily take a couple of slices to go for a day at the beach. Throw in the charming back patio, which features heaters and string lights in the evenings, and it’s a delightful spot that serves some of L.A.’s best pizzas.

Time Out tip: During the day, Ghisallo also hosts Tre Mani, a lunchtime sandwich pop-up that uses foccacia bread from Jyan Isaac next door. They don’t travel well and aren’t my absolute favorite, but they’re still quite delicious when eaten right on the spot.

Immaculately crafted charcuterie boards put this sister-run wine and cheese shop on the map, but did you know that Lady & Larder also makes some of the best sandwiches in Santa Monica? Available from noon to 3pm, Tuesday through Sunday, the seasonal creations incorporate produce from the famous nearby Santa Monica Farmers' Market, plus sliced bread from Bub and Grandma's and baguettes from Clark Street Bakery. In the summer, we look forward to the Venice Cowgirl, which uses stone fruit, apricot habanero jam and luscious triple cream cheese to create the perfect sweet, peppery sandwich. The rest of the year, enjoy evergreen standouts like the Hot Girl Salami and the Talk to Me Goose (mortadella, aged cheese, pepper relish, pepperoncinis, shaved onions and pickle-flavored potato chips).

Time Out tip: Lady & Larder can become quite busy during lunchtime, so it’s best to order ahead if you’re strapped for time.

After a tenure at pre-pandemic Smorgasburg L.A., chef Tezeta “Tete” Alemayehu flipped her vegan Ethiopian food concept, T&T Lifestyle, into the brick-and-mortar Berbere, a mostly daytime Santa Monica eatery serving delicious, plant-based food. Also run by Alemayehu’s partner, Tsega-Ab “Bicko” Fenta, Berbere bills itself as an “unusual vegan restaurant,” which it is—in the best way possible. Here, Alemayehu offers an expanded menu of flatbreads, burritos and tacos, in addition to her signature Eat the Rainbow, a quartet of colorful vegetable and legume stews served with spongy housemade injera.

Time Out tip: Round out your meal with the strong Ethiopian coffee and tea options infused with citrus and spices.

Though the ranch-to-table ethos might no longer generate as much buzz today, Salt's Cure's pancake-oriented offshoot, Breakfast by Salt's Cure, is one of the best breakfast options in the city. Head to Montana Avenue—one of Santa Monica's toniest streets—for chef-owner Chris Phelps's effortlessly delicious griddle cakes and a casual order-at-the-counter situation. Once you take a bite, you'll immediately understand; somehow salty, sweet, doughy and crispy all at the same time, they give your normal pancakes or griddle cakes a run for their money. Oh, and there's no syrup served with the griddle cakes. You'll get over it after the first bite, we promise.

Time Out tip: Bring all your friends with dietary restrictions: Salt’s Cure pancakes can be made gluten-free or vegan.

One of the Westside's finest breakfast and brunch spots, Huckleberry offers straightforward farm-to-table plates like a fruit-studded porridge bowl and a breakfast bowl topped with housemade chorizo. In the front, there’s also a counter full of rotating, takeout-friendly seasonal salads, as well as a fully stocked pastry case. If you're in the mood for umami, it’s hard to go wrong with the fried egg sandwich that features the trinity of gruyere cheese, Niman Ranch bacon and housemade aioli on country toast. The crowd thins out on weekdays, which is when I recommend going if possible; you'll get a chance to breathe at this Santa Monica brunch stalwart while still enjoying equally delicious food.

Time Out tip: This is one of the better places in Santa Monica to take your kids or any friends (or family) with kids.

Temporarily closed due to recent wildfires.