Venice was the first place Jamie and I lived when we moved to Los Angeles. We loved living there and still spend a ton of time there. It's bohemian, artsy, beachy and cool. It's certainly gotten 'bougier' over the years, but still has some grit. Whether you’re looking to move to Venice or are just spending the day there, here are some spots that you can’t miss! 

​​​​Restaurants

Felix 

Felix is one of the tougher reservations to get in Venice these days, but if you didn't plan far enough in advance, we’ve had luck walking in early or grabbing a spot at the bar. Start with the focaccia and stuffed squash blossoms. You can’t go wrong with any of the pizzas or homemade pastas. The space used to be Joe's, a real Venice staple and one of our old favorites. We miss it, but Felix is amazing!

Barrique

Formerly Ado, this was one of our go-to date spots when we lived in Venice. Romantic and delicious! Get the house specialty, the Tagliolini Rossi - beet pasta in a quail ragu served on a bed of cheese fondue. It is soooooo good.

Gjelina

Gjelina is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! The girls love the lemon ricotta pancakes and I always get the crispy egg duck hash. GTA, right next door, is great when you just want to grab and go.

The Rose 

Formerly The Rose Cafe (I still call it that), this place got a makeover several years back and is a super fun spot for brunch (get the breakfast burrito - huge but delicious) or for cocktails.

Great White

Gorgeous decor, great atmosphere, and yummy food! They also have a killer breakfast burrito. 

Bars 

The Tasting Kitchen

In my opinion, The Tasting Kitchen has some of the best cocktails in LA. My personal favorite is the Braveheart -  an off-the-menu Scotch drink with ginger and lemon.

Rooftop at the Erwin 

Amazing views. It's the perfect place for sunset drinks!

Belles Beach House

Enjoy retro island vibes while sipping on a delicious hand-crafted cocktail! 

Coffee Shops / Cafes

Menotti's Coffee Stop

Possibly my favorite espresso drinks. I also frequent their Mar Vista location.

Intelligentsia

Right in the middle of the main drag on Abbot Kinney, it's the perfect spot to refuel on a shopping trip.

Zinque

Zinque used to be around the corner from our place in Venice but moved to another location on Venice. Great ambiance and good spot to work during the day if you need a change of scenery. They have a full food menu and wine too!

Superba Food + Bread

Also has a full food menu and an incredible onsite bakery. Delicious bread and amazing pastries. Get the chocolate chip cookie - might be the best on the west side.

Shopping 

It’s no secret that Abbot Kinney is the place to be when it comes to shopping in Venice. Here you’ll find some of the best boutiques, galleries, restaurants, and bars. Some of my favorite spots include The Great, Christy Dawn, Zadig & Voltaire, Burro, and Cuyana. 

Some other spots in Venice that are great for shopping are Gjusta Home and Huzzah. 

Fun Facts About Venice Beach 

• Venice Beach was founded in 1905 by tobacco millionaire, Abbot Kinney, as a beach resort town modeled after Venice in homage to his Venetian wife.
• The canals were actually more widespread but the city started filling them in / converting them to streets. But luckily they ran out of money as the great depression started and the canals as we know them today were left as-is! They fell into pretty terrible condition but were rehabbed and reopened in the early 90s.
• The 2028 Summer Olympics will be taking place in Los Angeles, competitions for Skateboarding and 3×3 basketball will be hosted in Venice!
• Venice is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Los Angeles and second in SoCal only to Disneyland.

My favorite spots to live / buy real estate in Venice would have to be the walk streets - Amoroso, Nowita, Marco and Crescent Place. They are so peaceful and magical. And also, the Silver Strand (technically Marina Del Rey) just south of the Venice pier. The beach is so quiet there because the boardwalk stops. It's a really special place to live!

Click HERE to see some of my favorite active listings in Venice at the moment.

Come with me to Venice!