A Weekend in Venice Beach
My Top Recommendations for a quick LA trip
LA isn’t my favorite city but every time I return I try to make the most of it and explore a new area. This trip is hands down my favorite. I stopped trying to make LA NYC and just enjoyed what it was.
The trick - I stayed in one place.
In previous trips I’ve covered a lot of ground. I’ve spent hours in Ubers, I’ve had ambitious plans to cover the majority of the city and find the different scenes.
This trip, 100% Venice Beach. I’d repeat it again and again. I highly highly recommend everything below for a wonderful long weekend in Venice Beach.
#1 The Venice V Hotel
5 Westminster Ave, Venice, CA 90291This has to be one of my favorite hotels that I’ve ever stayed in. Quite literally on the beach, I loved all of the details, the staff were so attentive and the location couldn’t be beat. Here’s my full review.
#2 Great White
1604 Pacific Ave, Venice, CA 90291Vibey, friendly, reasonably healthy, and delicious food. Great White was a wonderful food spot in the area. I caught up with a friend here and would have done a few more meals here had I been here for longer. Elevated classics, lots of fresh produce. Exactly what you’re looking for in a restaurant in this area.
#3 Watch the Skating at Venice Breakwater
Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90292Watching the skaters in the bowls at Venice Breakwater is a great use of an afternoon. I’m not much of a skater but following the crowds to watch the skaters freestyle was great. They’re unbelievably talented, the whole thing is very low key and it’s a fun thing to keep you entertained. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and there were about 15 skaters jumping in and out.
#4 Breakfast at Breakaway Cafe
1301 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291This is an insanely delicious breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito. Fast service, standard prices really damn delicious breakfast food. It’s a to-go cafe with some minimal outdoor seating. Since I’ve returned to NYC I’ve been looking for breakfast burritos as this one was so good I’ve been craving them. The perfect breakfast before walking along the boardwalk.
#5 Shop + Walk The Boardwalk
Venice BoardwalkVenice is intense - it is a lot of crazy, a lot of energy, and a lot of variety in a very small space. I really enjoyed the whole boardwalk energy. Outside my hotel room window there was 1 guy who showed up every morning to chalk on a large hopscotch and sit there waiting for people to do it, when they would he’d jump up and cheer. This literally lasted all day and into the evening. Vibes are high. I didn’t buy much but did eventually buy the Dubai Chocolate Fresh Strawberries after walking past a few times.
#6 Explore Erewhon
585 Venice Blvd., Venice, CA 90291I LOVE Erewhon. If you’re vegan, vegetarian or even slightly health inclined you’re going to find something unique here. After years of shopping Whole Foods you get a little familiar with the products, Erewhon has such variety you’ll find a lot of foods you haven’t seen before. The Venice store is a little small but if you’re in town for a few days it will do! Erewhon gets a bad wrap for cost but if you look past the crazy expensive stuff there’s actually some great value items.
No7 Artist and Fleas Venice
1010 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291I stumbled onto this and left with a few items. Good variety of styles, prices and vibes.
No8 Venice Canals
Venice, CA 90291You can’t miss these when in Venice. I wandered these pretty freely and found several people with their front doors open doing mini sales. Some great designer pieces and interesting spots popping up. The canals themselves are incredibly calming and the residents make for interesting people watching.
Now this is very much a tourist’s view of Venice but the combo of the above + the sunrise/sunset and chilling in my hotel room led to a fantastic LA trip. If you’re looking to relax in LA and settle more into your hotel/onto the beach I would highly recommend staying at the Venice V and enjoying the health food + good vibes of Venice Beach.
If it’s your first time in LA run around and see everything! If you’re returning or after a more laid back vibe, try Venice.
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