Welcome to Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a welcoming coastal city to the west of Downtown Los Angeles. Bordered on three sides by the city of Los Angeles, this friendly seaside community has a vibe and character all of its own. The 1909 Santa Monica Pier juts out into the ocean overlooking the sands of Santa Monica State Beach and Venice Beach. The pier hosts frequent events and is home to the famous rides and amusements of Pacific Park, including Santa Monica’s iconic Ferris wheel. Other Santa Monica attractions include art galleries, museums, theaters, and several upscale shopping and dining districts where trendy restaurants offer tasty dining experiences.
Santa Monica’s eclectic real estate includes stunning contemporary oceanfront condominiums with first-class amenities, lavish private compounds designed by master architects such as Frank Gehry, and a variety of attractive modern and historic townhouses and single-family homes.
What to Love
People & Lifestyle
Santa Monica is an inviting community with much to offer. Residents enjoy year-round good weather and a walkable community with great shopping, dining, and recreation. The vibe is laid-back and optimistic, and most feel it’s a place they’ll never want to leave. Niche ranks Santa Monica #1 among Los Angeles suburbs. Explore this enchanting seaside community, and you’ll soon be in agreement.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Covering three car-free blocks running east from Santa Monica Pier,
the Third Street Promenade is the heart of Downtown Santa Monica. Retail destinations here include the three-story open-air shopping complex at
Santa Monica Place, which features a food court, cinema, and high-end brands such as Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co. Other fashion brands along Third Street Promenade include upscale athletic and yoga wear chain
Lululemon,
Anthropologie for boho-chic womenswear, and skincare and cosmetics specialists at
Sephora.
The Downtown area to the north and south of Third Street Promenade features quality restaurants such as
Tar & Roses, a popular spot for globally influenced small plates and shared platters. Santa Monica’s other commercial areas include a 10-block stretch with over 150 businesses on Montana Avenue, eclectic dining and retail on Main Street, and a stretch of great restaurants on Wilshire Boulevard near Mid-City Santa Monica.
Fia is a Wilshire Boulevard standout, serving Californian and Italian-style coastal cuisine in a stylish space with an attractive outdoor patio. Santa Monica’s year-round
farmers’ markets are the best places to pick up fresh produce and other specialty foodstuffs. Farmers’ markets run every Wednesday and Saturday in Downtown Santa Monica, as well as on Saturdays at Virginia Avenue Park and Sundays on Main Street.
Things to Do
Santa Monica Pier is a symbol of the city and has appeared in countless movies, TV shows, music videos, and video games. The amusements of
Pacific Park on the Pier include classic fair rides such as a pirate ship, drop tower, steel roller coaster, and the landmark Ferris wheel.
Twilight on the Pier is a weekly concert series held between August and September with a comedy stage, two live music stages, art installations, food vendors, and lounges and gardens serving drinks.
Other events are scheduled throughout the year on Montana Avenue. More than 60 boutique vendors line this bustling shopping street for the
Montana Avenue Sidewalk Sale in mid-May. Montana Avenue also hosts an
Art Walk in July with music and art displays, as well as a popular
Holiday Walk in December with food, drinks, music performances, and the chance to meet Santa.
Schools
Santa Monica is served by the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Highlights include:
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Franklin Elementary School, Public, K-5
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McKinley Elementary School, Public, K-5
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Grant Elementary School, Public, K-5
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Will Rogers Elementary, Public, K-5
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Roosevelt Elementary School, Public, K-5
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Lincoln Middle School, Public, 6-8
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John Adams Middle School, Public, 6-8
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Santa Monica High School, Public, 9-12
