Sun-drenched Santa Monica, California, stole my heart the first time I set foot in Los Angeles in 2017. Its iconic pier stretches out over the Pacific like a welcoming hand, promising days spent basking on golden sands and nights buzzing with vibrant nightlife. But Santa Monica is more than just a postcard paradise. In 2020, I became an official Angeleno, and this charming city became my home. Beyond the tourist attractions, I discovered a hidden pulse – friendly streets teeming with life, a rich tapestry of cultures, and a community woven with kind-hearted yet complex individuals. It’s a place that feeds your soul with every encounter.

Santa Monica is a place that’s near and dear to my heart. I have so many memories within the Santa Monica city limits, with some of the very best happening in an eclectic apartment at the crossroads of Santa Monica Blvd. and Berkeley St. While it’s home to some amazing tourist landmarks, including Santa Monica Pier and Third Street Promenade, some of the best spots can be found when you venture away from the tourist attractions. 

What I loved about my area of Santa Monica was how walkable it was. I lived in the Northeast area and loved exploring coffee shops near my apartment. One of my absolute favorites was Lokl Haus off Santa Monica Blvd. It’s a small family-owned business with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere and “European eclectic” decor. My go-to here was always an iced vanilla latte – and they never disappointed. Another great one was Cafe Ruisseau. They have locations in Beverly Hills, Playa Vista and Santa Monica, and the Santa Monica location was a few minutes walk from me. Here, I tried the iced white chocolate mocha, mostly because I’m a sucker for white chocolate. Cafe Ruisseau also has pastries and grab’n’go food, so I ended up trying a Chia Parfait when I was there. 

Coffee shops weren’t the only things I explored in Santa Monica. Right on the corner from my apartment was a bar called Busby’s West, which is known as the biggest sports bar in West LA. During the day, it was your standard sports bar with greasy food and lots of beer. As the day turned to night, it turned into a full on bar with a main bar and back bar, pool, energetic music and a full arcade. My friends and I spent many nights here, either as a pregame or a place to end the night. I was even able to take some of my out-of-state friends here while they were visiting. If the bar isn’t your vibe and you’re looking for a chill brewery, Santa Monica Brew Works is the place for you. Santa Monica Brew Works is Santa Monica’s first and only local and independent craft brewery. It was approximately a 1-mile walk from my apartment, so we would walk here to enjoy some refreshing beer and cider every once in a while. In August 2022, Emmy Squared Pizza opened its first West Coast location at Santa Monica Brew Works. What is better than beer and pizza? 

For a delicious brunch, Blueys Santa Monica is my favorite. Blueys is an Australian-inspired breakfast and lunch café serving delicious breakfast dishes, sandwiches and more. Personally, I’ve only been for breakfast and brunch, so I’ve never tried the sandwiches. However, I can attest to the acai breakfast bowl and the gluten-free sweet squash pancakes being to die for. I recommend getting here early because it gets BUSY.

I’ll wrap it up with mine and my boyfriend’s number one place in Santa Monica – Rosti Tuscan Kitchen on Montana Ave. Note, there are multiple locations in the area, but this one is our favorite. We have brought friends here and even spent an anniversary here. One of the servers always remembers us, which is part of what keeps us coming back. Not to mention, there is truly something for everyone on its menu, with normal, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. I am a sucker for the gluten-free BBQ chicken sandwich, the gluten-free turkey avocado sandwich and the gluten free pizza. But, by far my favorite dish, is the drunken shrimp linguine with gluten-free noodles. (Can you tell I’m gluten-free?)

So, there you have it. My insider tips to Santa Monica. Obviously there is so much more to explore in Santa Monica, and these are just my opinions. But if you ever find yourself in the area, I highly recommend checking them out when you’re not shopping or at the beach. Santa Monica will forever hold a special place in my heart and I’m so grateful for this city for three amazing years living in it.