Dinner plans are easy near Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, with polished restaurants, relaxed service, and the coast never far from the table.
Ocean Avenue has the best waterfront views in Santa Monica. But it’s the restaurants in and around this famous stretch that give you a taste of the city beyond the postcard — from cheese-wheel pasta on Montana Avenue to open-fire cooking at Bergamot Station and old-school Italian tucked near Santa Monica Canyon.
Here are the top restaurants in and around Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica that you should seriously make time for.
Table of Contents:
Citrin and Mélisse
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90401
Chef Josiah Citrin offers two distinct dining experiences under one roof.
Citrin is a one-Michelin-starred restaurant that’s fun and approachable, with a large bar and a menu that lets you choose between a full set and individual plates. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in for a relaxed dinner with favorites like the Maine lobster or lobster bolognese.
For a more guided experience, there’s Mélisse, which holds two Michelin stars. This small, hidden room with only 14 seats delivers an unforgettable dining experience. For roughly $400, the chefs and sommeliers lead you through an 18-course tasting menu made with the best ingredients from local California farmers.
Rustic Canyon
1119 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401
Since 2006, Rustic Canyon has been a local staple that focuses on a slow food approach. In other words, they prioritize locally-sourced ingredients and traditional cooking methods over speed.
Founder Josh Loeb originally started the concept as a series of monthly dinners at his home, and the restaurant you see today is meant to continue that deliberate approach to dining. The menu is built around ingredients from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, so the dishes change often to match what’s fresh each week.
Giorgio Baldi
114 W. Channel Rd., Santa Monica, CA 90402
Giorgio Baldi has been a family-run establishment for over thirty years, tucked away in a quiet spot near the Pacific Palisades. While it’s a well-known hideaway for the likes of Rihanna and Taylor Swift, this restaurant treats every guest with the same level of respect, no matter who they are.
Inside, the small and cozy dining room keeps the atmosphere focused on the excellent dishes rather than the crowd. You can expect a menu filled with beloved classics, like their signature sweet corn agnolotti, beef carpaccio, and linguini vongole.
Chinois
2709 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Opened in 1983 by Wolfgang Puck, Chinois introduced the world to Asian fusion cuisine during LA’s early fusion era. At the time, it was one of the first restaurants to mix Chinese traditions and fresh California ingredients with contemporary French techniques. It remains a central piece of Santa Monica’s history.
One of the restaurant’s biggest features is its open kitchen, which allows you to hear the sizzle of the woks and see the fast-paced energy of the chefs preparing your food. The menu features historically and culturally important dishes that continue to resonate with today’s guests, such as the famous Chinois chicken salad and the sizzling catfish.
Le Great Outdoor
2525 Michigan Ave., A3, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Located within the Bergamot Station arts center, Le Great Outdoor began as a self-funded project. Co-founders Rudy Beuve and Pedro Mori opened it without outside investors, leaning into what they had instead: a large open-air patio, a serious wood-fired grill, and a menu shaped around fresh ingredients rather than restaurant theatrics.
Chef Rudy trained at Michelin-starred French restaurants before moving to Los Angeles to embrace the coast’s creative, laid-back culture. Because his entire menu — featuring dishes like grilled steak, wild salmon, and mushrooms — is prepared over an open flame on a large outdoor patio, the restaurant offers a more grounded experience than typical oceanfront spots.
Living near Ocean Avenue makes dinner out feel easy, from low-key weeknights to reservations worth planning ahead.
The Georgian Room
1415 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401
Located inside the historic Georgian Hotel, this Santa Monica restaurant right on Ocean Avenue originally opened in 1933 and has been meticulously restored to channel the glamour of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The space features a classic, intimate atmosphere centered around a vintage Steinway grand piano, where late-night jazz and live performances set a nostalgic tone for the evening.
The menu focuses on Tuscan chophouse-inspired fare and classic steakhouse favorites, including New York strip steak, Caesar salad, and Sunday spaghetti (a hearty, slow-cooked meat sauce dish that pays tribute to Italian family dinners). These dishes are paired with a world-class wine program to complete the high-end dining experience.
Forma
1610 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Created by hospitality veterans Executive Chef Piero Topputo and General Manager Mario Sabatini, Forma is a polished Italian spot located on historic Montana Avenue. The restaurant is named after its star ingredient, formaggio (Italian for cheese). They’re famous for a unique cooking style called “Dalla Forma,” where freshly cooked pasta is finished in giant cheese wheels before it’s served to you.
The menu features a diverse selection of contemporary small plates, entrees, and ravioli. Beyond the pasta, the restaurant offers dedicated cheese tasting options paired with a curated selection of wine and beer in a space defined by clean lines, light wood accents, and an upscale, airy feel.
La Monique
849 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Located inside Hotel Oceana, La Monique is a modern French brasserie that emphasizes fresh, local ingredients. The dining room is designed to feel like an intimate jewel box — a small, carefully curated space with deep colors and soft lighting.
The menu focuses on high-quality seafood, steaks, and seasonal produce prepared with careful French precision. You can also find a creative cocktail list and a variety of wines that feature both classic French labels and local California bottles.
Capo
1810 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90401
Just steps from the beach, Capo is located in a beautiful 1928 building that was originally an automobile club. The dining room is warm and elegant, featuring high-beamed ceilings, glowing candles, and a large corner fireplace. The name is short for the Italian word for “chef,” which reflects the kitchen’s focus on the simple, high-quality style of traditional Italian cooking.
The menu is known for handmade pastas and premium meats cooked over a signature wood-fired grill to bring out deep, natural flavors. You should try the wood-fired steaks or fresh seafood dishes, which pair perfectly with their world-class wine collection of over 24,000 bottles.
FIG
101 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401
Located inside the Fairmont Miramar, FIG is a seasonal neighborhood bistro that sources its ingredients through multiple weekly visits to local farmers’ markets. The kitchen also works with specialty foragers to find rare ingredients along the coastline, ensuring the menu always highlights the best produce Southern California has to offer.
While the dishes change often to reflect what’s currently in season, you can always find permanent favorites like the Lobster Cobb and Mary’s Chicken.
Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA, 90291
Named after founder Fran Camaj’s mother, Gjelina has been a neighborhood favorite since it opened in 2008. The restaurant is famous for its farm-to-table approach, working closely with Southern California farmers and fishermen to ensure they’re always well-stocked with the freshest ingredients.
Depending on the season, the tables might feature grilled broccolini with fermented Fresno chile vinaigrette, Japanese sweet potato with jalapeño yogurt, saffron spaghetti with bottarga, or pomodoro pizza finished with confit tomato, oregano, basil, and olive oil.
RVR
1305 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA, 90291
Years after co-founding Gjelina and Gjusta, Chef Travis Lett has returned to the neighborhood with a new focus on Japanese-California cuisine. At RVR, he has created a modern Japanese izakaya with a stylish, simple space, featuring dark wood and a vinyl listening bar that plays records throughout the evening.
Standout dishes include the crispy chicken thigh karaage with a sweet-and-spicy honey sauce and the roasted mushrooms served in a savory miso butter. If you visit for brunch, the golden tamagoyaki-style omelet is a must-try dish.
Barrique
796 Main St., Venice, CA 90291
Located inside a charming building known as the Little Yellow House, Barrique offers a high-end Italian dining experience in the heart of Venice. With roots in Sicily and Parma, Chef Antonio Murè has created a menu that blends different regional flavors into unique, authentic dishes.
Dinner here leans more occasion-worthy than casual drop-in — ideal for a lingering date night, a celebratory meal, or anyone looking for a more refined side of Venice’s dining scene.
FAQs about restaurants in Ocean Avenue
What are the best restaurants near Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, with ocean views?
For true ocean views, look closest to Ocean Avenue, the Santa Monica Pier, and the hotel restaurants facing the coast. Not every standout restaurant in the area has a direct water view, though. The Georgian Room, for example, sits inside The Georgian Hotel on Ocean Avenue and offers a polished, historic dining experience steps from the coast.
What neighborhoods near Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, have strong restaurant access?
Downtown Santa Monica, Wilshire-Montana, and the Montana Avenue area all have great places to eat. Each spot offers a different vibe, ranging from busy tourist areas to quiet streets that locals love.
Can you walk to good restaurants from condos along Ocean Avenue?
Yes, most condos on Ocean Avenue are just a short walk away from excellent food in Downtown Santa Monica or along Wilshire Boulevard. Being able to walk to dinner is one of the best parts of living in this area.
Explore condos in Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
Living here is about more than just the views — it’s about the comfort of having some of Santa Monica’s best restaurants just a few minutes away. When your surroundings offer this kind of comfort and variety, the move to a new home becomes an exciting part of the adventure.
With over 30 years of experience in Santa Monica’s luxury market, I’m here to guide you through every step and share the local knowledge that helps you feel like a regular before you even move in.
If you’re ready to explore homes or condos near Ocean Avenue, I would love to help you find the perfect property that fits your priorities.
Call me, Nili Hudson, at 310.622.7422. You may also send me an email here.