If you are in Venice Beach
So, you have found yourself in Venice Beach. You came to experience the art, hit some tourist spots, or some other reason. If you are in Venice Beach, I have some great recommendations for things to do and eat.
Table of Contents
Places to eat
No guide to Venice Beach and the Boardwalk would be complete without a list of restaurant recommendations. In an area that appeals to tourists, these are places I recommend to have more local experiences.
I just want a good cup of coffee
Menotti’s Coffee Shop
I always start my favorite places to eat with a place to get a good cup of coffee. Here, that place is Menotti’s coffee. It is housed in the former location of Menotti’s Grocery store, which was one of Venice Beach’s first tenants.
This coffee shop concentrates on serving great coffee, and not too much else. There isn’t a counter filled with pastries and sandwiches. Because coffee is their focus, they host regular vendors, Nuts and Bolts Donuts, for your morning treat needs instead of making things in-house. They also host pop-ups, so keep an eye out for those on Instagram if you are in the area.
Menotti’s recently branched out to Culver City.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: https://www.menottiscoffeeveniceca.com/
- Location: 55 Windward
- Cost: Filtered coffee is $4, a flat white is $4, and a Spanish latte is $6.50. Note that non-dairy milk is an extra dollar.
Breakfast
eggslut
In a town that is loyal to the breakfast burrito, eggslut has offered something different and it has really paid off. Some argue that eggslut has the best breakfast sandwich in all of Los Angeles. They serve classics like egg, sausage, and cheese, but you do have some great breakfast upgrade options like the Gaucho–Wagyu Beef, a very herby and tangy chimichurri, with arugula. The dish that keeps bringing people back, is called the Slut– a delicate sou vide egg that melts in your mouth served with crusty bread.
The very first eggslut location was in the Grand Central Market and was started by Alvin Cailan–who you may know from First We Feast’s the Burger Show. I talk about that historic food hall in this post. They have since expanded around the world. If you find yourself close to any eggslut, I recommend it.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: https://www.eggslut.com
- Location: 1161 Pacific
- Cost: Egg sandwiches are $8.25, The Slut is $9.00, and the Gaucho is $13.00
- Other information: Pay by card or phone
Lunch
Teddy’s Red Tacos
I once told someone if I ever left Los Angeles, I would have to eat Teddy’s Red Tacos before leaving the city. It is my favorite taco, mulita, and soup in the city. I wasn’t super familiar with birria before EaterLA lured me into this place. If you haven’t experienced birria, it is beautiful and flavorful, bordering on spicy, peppery, tomatoey broth, with fresh herbs, and onions with shredded goat–or in Teddy’s case, beef.
The menu looks a bit limited, with birria the star of every item, but don’t think of it as one-note. Each item tastes different. Varied accompaniments add nuance to taco, tostada, and quesadilla. The fresh cheese in the quesadilla complements the broth with a nice tang, a great alternative to shredded cheddar. The consumé is a must-order for dipping everything in and finishing off at the end. If you can drink a hug, this is it. There are people more qualified than I to talk about birria; I just know I love it.
This is the first brick-and-mortar Teddy’s and is steps from the beach.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: https://www.teddysredtacosofficial.com
- Location: The a brick and mortar at 2-46 Windward in Venice.
- Cost: $13.99 for the deluxe plate, tacos are $1.99, quesadillas $3.99.
- Order: the deluxe plate because you get a bit of everything
- Other information: Go to the website to order ahead and skip the line.
Dinner
Gran Blanco
Housed in the old Bank of Venice this restaurant is a sister restaurant to Great White up the street. (Gran Blanco means great white in Italian.) What I love about Gran Blanco is how chill It is–beachy and calm even though you are steps from the boardwalk. There is a good mix of loungy furniture and tables–great for date night or hanging with friends. They have a great cocktail program and vinyl collection at the bar.
The cuisine is Mediterranean with a little world-hopping and of course, made with local California ingredients,
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: https://granblanco.com/
- Location: 80 Windward
- Cost: Appetizers are around $10, mains are around $25, and cocktails are around $16.
Note: See more Venice dinner recommendations are located in my next post about Abbot Kinney.
Things to do
If you are in Venice Beach, be sure to be on the lookout for art and hidden gems. Here art rules, from gallery spaces to murals that line the alleyways and facades of buildings.
Art
Venice Beach Art Walls
The Venice Beach art walls are a place for artists to make their mark on the city. It is also a spot for influencers to show that they were in Venice. Art changes periodically so be sure to visit often.
Mosaic Tile House
This artistic attraction is the work of a couple, Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran. They transformed their Venice Bungalow into a mosaic masterpiece. There isn’t a space that isn’t covered in broken pottery, plates, glass, and whatever they can find. To me, it looks like Van Gogh and Gaudi had a very artistic love child. On Saturdays, they open up their home for tours.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Email for reservations: mosaictilehouse@mac.com
- Location: 1116 Palms Blvd.
- Cost: $20 for adults, seniors, $15, and kids under 12 are FREE.
- Other information: Tours are available by reservation.
I just want to dance in Venice
Townhouse
The Townhouse has been open every night since 1915. Although ownership has changed over the last 106 years, the doors have remained open. This place was one of the few places on the west side where you could be served alcohol during prohibition. They pay homage to that fact by keeping the original speakeasy, the Del Monte, on the lower floor.
They host DJs from around the world that offer a wide range of music from beat-heavy house to 60s soul. You might recognize some KCRW, our local public radio station, DJs there. Covers are inexpensive and draw a big crowd–pre-COVID.
Pair their cocktails, which are great for a place in a touristy location, with one of the pop-ups that roll through the space offering the best cuisines of Los Angeles.
Hours, cost, and other information
- Website: http://www.townhousevenice.com/
- Location: 52 Windward Avenue
Next up…. Trendy Abbot Kinney
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