Welcome to Santa Monica
An iconic beachside community with a bustling downtown and vibrant culture
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in Western Los Angeles County with a population of about 93,000 residents. The city is named after the Christian saint, Monica. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles – Pacific Palisades on the Northwest, Brentwood on the North, West Los Angeles on the Northeast, Mar Vista on the East, and Venice on the Southeast. Partly because of its agreeable climate, Santa Monica had become a famed resort town by the early 20th century. The city has experienced a boom since the late 1980s through the revitalization of its downtown core, The Promenade, significant job growth, and increased tourism.
Known for being both chic and chill, Santa Monica is home to an array of art galleries, luxury and boutique shopping destinations, upscale and locally owned restaurants and everything else a bustling city by the beach has to offer. Residents enjoy the offerings of a laid-back beach town along with the edge that comes with being a cultural hub of Southern California. The
Santa Monica Pier famously marks the end of Route 66 and is an iconic tourist destination for travelers from around the world.
With the Metro Line now connecting Santa Monica to Downtown Los Angeles and everywhere in between, residents are connected to the larger LA Metro area and enjoy increased accessibility to the surrounding neighborhoods.
What to Love
- Beach accessibility
- Vibrant culture & rich history
- Community events & neighborhood activities
- A vast network of bike paths & public transportation
People & Lifestyle
Santa Monica is home to a mixture of affluent single-family neighborhoods, renters, surfers, professionals, and students. With that comes varied types of residences including but not limited to luxury condos with ocean views, historical Craftsman homes and beachfront estates. With beaches, bike/walk paths, parks, restaurants and cultural institutions just a stones throw away from their front doors, Santa Monica residents can easily access a wide variety of activities year round.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Local residents and international travelers alike have their choice of fine dining and/or casual eats throughout Santa Monica. The Downtown Santa Monica Farmer's Market famously provides chefs from all over the city with locally sourced produce that is served up daily. Local favorites like
Local Kitchen & Wine Bar,
Lunetta and
Birdie G's offer seasonal dishes, custom crafted cocktail menus and comfortable atmospheres for a low-key, upscale dining experience.
The Ivy at The Shore,
The Lobster and
Michael's are some of Santa Monica's most iconic and well-known restaurants.
Santa Monica Place is a newly remodeled, outdoor shopping center that includes Louis Vuitton, Allsaints and Nike stores, as well as a Nordstroms in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. If you prefer the smaller, more eclectic type of shopping experience you can visit
Montana Ave. just a couple of miles away. There, you will find boutique businesses like
Burro,
Andrew's Cheese Shop and
Savannah Santa Monica.
Movie theaters line the
Third Street Promenade and are in close proximity to the Santa Monica Pier, where you can visit
Pacific Park and enjoy a 360 degree view from the top of the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel.
Things to Do
Bergamont Station Arts Center was a former railroad station that has been transformed into a large complex full of different fine art galleries and businesses that host rotating art exhibitions, cultural activities, and non-profit/educational events throughout the year. If you prefer the performing arts, the Broad Stage, made possible by the donation of famous Los Angeles philanthropists Eli and Edith Broad, is a perfect place to enjoy a live theatrical or musical performance. The Twilight Concert Series at the Pier is also a favorite among locals who can simply bring a blanket and picnic and post up on the beach to experience a live concert during the warm Summer months.
