The best restaurants in Santa Monica in 2026 are Mélisse for a French tasting menu, Giorgio Baldi for celebrity-filled Italian, Water Grill and The Lobster for seafood by the beach and Father's Office for its famous burger. HiHo, Huckleberry and Esters cover quick burgers, breakfast and wine.
Santa Monica's best restaurants are spread between downtown, Main Street and Montana Avenue, so you can walk to dinner from most hotels. See also our best restaurants in LA.
Josiah Citrin's French tasting menu.
Mélisse is an intimate fine-dining room serving a French tasting menu with seasonal produce.
Citrin, in the same building, offers a more casual menu.
Good to know: Book weeks ahead.
1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Celebrity-favorite Italian by the beach.
Giorgio Baldi is a small Italian restaurant near the beach at the mouth of Santa Monica Canyon, known for its pastas and famous diners.
Prices are high and tables are tight.
Good to know: Order the corn agnolotti.
114 W Channel Rd, Santa Monica, CA 90402
Seafood and oysters across from the beach.
Water Grill's Santa Monica restaurant faces Palisades Park and the ocean, with a raw bar and fresh fish.
It is one of the best places near the pier.
Good to know: Ask for a window seat.
1401 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The famous Office Burger and craft beer.
Father's Office serves the Office Burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese, with no substitutions, plus craft beer.
The Montana Avenue bar is 21+.
Good to know: Order at the bar.
1018 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Grass-fed wagyu double cheeseburgers.
HiHo serves a short menu of double cheeseburgers, fries and shakes, a block from the Promenade.
It is fast and consistent.
Good to know: Try the key lime pie.
1320 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
The neighborhood bakery-café for breakfast.
Huckleberry is a busy bakery-café serving breakfast sandwiches, pastries and seasonal plates.
It is a Santa Monica morning ritual.
Good to know: Order at the counter and grab a table.
1014 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Wine and small plates in a shop-meets-bar.
Esters is a wine shop and bar with a broad list by the glass and a menu of cheese, charcuterie and plates.
It is good for a relaxed dinner.
Good to know: Buy a bottle from the shelves to drink there.
1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Lobster and sunset views at the pier.
The Lobster sits at the entrance to the pier with ocean views and a seafood menu.
It is a classic sunset dinner.
Good to know: Book a window table.
1602 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Mélisse is the top fine-dining room; Giorgio Baldi and Water Grill are the classic upscale choices.
Water Grill and The Lobster both face the ocean near the pier.
Huckleberry on Wilshire is the favorite breakfast spot.
Yes for dinner at Mélisse, Giorgio Baldi and Water Grill, especially on weekends.
The city parking structures downtown are cheap after 6 p.m.; most restaurants also offer valet.