Best Trendy Restaurants in Mar Vista
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Hasi Bread
Naturally leavened sourdough colored with butterfly pea flower and heirloom turmeric, baked with fresh-milled organic flour and Austrian techniques learned from a four-generation baking family.
Worthy Picks
#1
Hasi Bread
7.9
A Mar Vista sourdough bakery built on Austrian technique and fresh-milled organic flour, turning out naturally leavened loaves tinted with butterfly pea flower and heirloom turmeric—bread with real craft behind it. The specialty coffee menu leans into niche pairings like pistachio milk matcha, and the small space rewards weekday morning visits when you can actually hear the soul music over the crowd. Come for the bread program, not the seating—this is a grab-and-go operation that happens to double as a neighborhood gathering point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hasi Original Sourdough, Almond Croissant, Hasi Focaccia
What Makes it Special: Naturally leavened sourdough colored with butterfly pea flower and heirloom turmeric, baked with fresh-milled organic flour and Austrian techniques learned from a four-generation baking family.
7.8
An Italian market-cafe hybrid in Mar Vista where fresh pasta and groceries share space with a sprawling patio that draws neighborhood regulars. The format works for families grabbing carbonara alongside wine and provisions, or couples settling into the outdoor seating for a low-key dinner. Expect a buzzing crowd, especially evenings—it runs on neighborhood energy rather than quiet intimacy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Squash Blossoms, Focaccia, Carbonara
What Makes it Special: Italian market-cafe hybrid where you can grab groceries, fresh pasta, and wine on a sprawling patio
#3
El Chucho
7.7
A drinks-only natural wine dive bar that kept the bones of the former La Potranca cantina — pool table, soccer screenings, cheap beer — and layered in a curated natural wine list and weekend vinyl DJ sets. The bartenders know the wine list cold and pour tastings before you commit, though the $16 four-ounce pours divide opinion between wine-literate regulars and casual drop-ins. Go on a weeknight for conversation at the bar; go on a weekend to sweat through a loud, packed scene that feels transplanted from Silver Lake.
Must-Try Dishes:
Braised Meat Tacos, House Tofu Taco, Seasonal Taco Special
What Makes it Special: Mar Vista's first natural wine dive bar, built inside a former cantina with the original pool table and soccer screenings intact
7.6
An Australian-rooted all-day cafe that channels Westside surf culture into a globally-influenced brunch menu—the breakfast burrito and fried egg sandwich land consistently, while the kitchen's strength tilts toward savory plates over the sweeter options. The bright, patio-forward space with no WiFi by design draws regulars who treat it as a neighborhood living room, though portions run small for the price point and dinner service is still finding its footing compared to the daytime menu.
Must-Try Dishes:
Blueys Burger, Sweet Squash Pancakes, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: Australian-inspired kitchen built around locally sourced produce, creative all-day plates, and some of the best coffee on the Westside.