Best Trendy Restaurants in Santa Monica
28 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
MUSE Santa Monica
Gallery-like French dining where fine art and tasting menus meet.
Essential Picks
9
An intimate, art-filled modern French dining room from chef-owner Fardad Khayami, MUSE turns Channel Road into a destination for multi-course date nights. Tasting-style plates, a serious wine program, and candlelit Art Déco interiors make it one of the most romantic rooms on the Westside.
Must-Try Dishes:
Veal bonbons with sauce verte, Lobster with pommes soufflées and caviar, Vanilla St. Honoré
What Makes it Special: Gallery-like French dining where fine art and tasting menus meet.
Notable Picks
Family-run for over three decades, Giorgio Baldi is a celebrity-beloved Italian hideaway known for rich pastas and coastal romance just off PCH. Dim lighting, white tablecloths, and tightly packed tables create an old-world date-night feel that still draws Hollywood regulars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sweet corn agnolotti in white truffle sauce, Spaghetti bottarga, Langostine grigliate
What Makes it Special: Classic coastal Italian with decades of star-studded regulars.
8.8
This world-renowned Taiwanese dumpling empire delivers its signature 18-pleat soup dumplings with breathtaking ocean views from the third floor of Santa Monica Place. Every xiao long bao arrives expertly folded and piping hot, while the bamboo steamer-shaped booths and turf-lined patio create an unexpectedly playful atmosphere for such precise culinary craftsmanship.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork Xiao Long Bao, Crab & Kurobuta Pork Soup Dumplings, Garlic String Beans
What Makes it Special: Ocean-view patio meets world-class soup dumpling precision
#4
Birdie G's
8.8
Michelin-recognized restaurant from Rustic Canyon's Jeremy Fox blending Eastern European heritage with California produce in an airy Bergamot Station space. The Early Birdie happy hour (5-6pm daily) showcases refined small plates like corned beef tongue and Vernors-baked ham.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Frites with Montreal Spice, Matzo Ball Soup, Jello Pie
What Makes it Special: Michelin Guide restaurant with one-hour happy hour featuring chef-driven snacks
#5
Élephante
8.8
This buzzy rooftop Mediterranean hotspot channels coastal Italian vibes with its cactus garden, ocean views, and wood-fired dishes. Since 2018, it's been the see-and-be-seen destination for whipped eggplant spread, handmade pastas, and scene-y weekend brunches.
Must-Try Dishes:
Whipped Eggplant with Puccia Bread, Wood-Fired Pizza, Vodka Rigatoni
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized rooftop with unbeatable ocean views and scene
#6
Farmshop
8.8
Farmshop turns breakfast into a polished, market-driven affair, with dishes built around pristine California produce and a serious in-house bakery. Locals come for shirred eggs, buttermilk biscuits, and excellent coffee before wandering the Brentwood Country Mart’s boutiques.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shirred Eggs with lamb merguez, dates & yogurt, Buttermilk Biscuit with fra’mani ham & sunny-side egg, Brioche French Toast with strawberries & mascarpone
What Makes it Special: A chef-driven breakfast with bakery-level pastries in a chic market setting.
8.7
Hand-rolled sourdough bagels blend Montreal and New York styles with a West Coast twist, served open-faced and piled high with seasonal farmers market produce. Founded by Tartine and Gjusta alum Sergio Espana, this counter-service spot draws lines for its crusty-outside, pillowy-inside bagels featuring creative toppings like seasonal fruit with honey.
Must-Try Dishes:
The Pre-Jam (seasonal fruit with cream cheese and honey), The Laika (smoked salmon with herb cream cheese), The Scarlett (heirloom tomato with lemon zest and chili flakes)
What Makes it Special: Sourdough bagels with levain for easier digestion and seasonal farmers market toppings
#8
Bread Head
8.6
From Michelin-starred chefs Alex Williams and Jordan Snyder comes this elevated sandwich shop featuring house-baked focaccia-ciabatta hybrid bread. Named LA's Next Great Sandwich Shop by the LA Times, they craft perfect versions of classic sandwiches with premium ingredients.
Must-Try Dishes:
Muffuletta Sandwich, Turkey Pesto, Grinder
What Makes it Special: Michelin-star chefs making extraordinary sandwiches
8.6
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Luxury Dining Elite
Wolfgang Puck's 1983 Asian-French fusion pioneer still delivers the dishes that launched Pacific Rim cuisine, from Shanghai lobster to Mongolian lamb. The open kitchen and family-style service create theater in the fuchsia and celadon dining room that influenced a generation of restaurants.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shanghai Lobster, Whole Sizzling Catfish, Chinois Chicken Salad
What Makes it Special: 40-year institution that invented Asian fusion and remains definitive despite countless imitators
#10
Heavy Handed
8.6
This walk-up smashburger spot uses ground short rib for patties with molten American cheese, house-made bread-and-butter pickles, and tangy Heavy sauce on potato rolls. Lines snake out the bright orange building onto Main Street for burgers that deliver both tender richness and crispy caramelized edges.
Must-Try Dishes:
Double Smashburger, Beef Tallow Fries, Triple Stack
What Makes it Special: Ground short rib patties create uniquely tender and beefy smashburgers
8.6
Van Leeuwen brings artisanal French ice cream techniques to Montana Avenue with cult-favorite honeycomb and vegan selections made from scratch. Their signature Earl Grey and brown butter sage caramel showcase sophisticated flavor profiles that balance nostalgia with innovation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Honeycomb Ice Cream, Earl Grey Tea Ice Cream, Vegan Cookies & Cream
What Makes it Special: French-style ice cream with unique flavors and exceptional vegan options
#12
Umami Burger
8.5
Pioneering the umami-bomb burger movement since 2009, this flagship serves 6-ounce Wagyu beef patties with parmesan crisps and shiitake mushrooms until midnight weekends. The late-night happy hour from 10:30 PM features two-for-one cocktails.
Must-Try Dishes:
Original Umami Burger, Truffle Burger, Impossible Burger
What Makes it Special: Invented the gourmet umami burger category
#13
Fitoor
8.5
From the team behind Michelin-recognized ROOH, Fitoor brings contemporary Indian coastal cuisine with theatrical cocktails and weekend fire dancers. The avocado chaat with burrata and pan-seared Hokkaido scallops showcase California-Indian fusion at its most refined.
Must-Try Dishes:
Avocado Chaat with Burrata, Maryland Soft Shell Crab, Pulled Butter Chicken Kulcha
What Makes it Special: Fire-based cooking meets craft cocktails inspired by the five natural elements.
#14
Caffé Delfini
8.4
Since 1990, this narrow Italian dining room has delivered cozy, candlelit plates of pasta and seafood to locals who treat it like their weekly canteen. The space is intimate and slightly old-school, but the cooking is warm, generous, and quietly romantic.
Must-Try Dishes:
Zuppa di pesce in guazzetto, Fettuccine Bolognese, Veal Milanese
What Makes it Special: A long-running, snug Italian spot where regulars swear by the pastas and seafood.
8.4
Vibes:
Brewery & Beer Garden Republic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Detroit-style pizza specialists with crispy frico crust and creative toppings, housed inside Santa Monica Brew Works. The NYC-bred concept brings square pies with signature sauce stripes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza, Le Big Matt Burger, Caesar Salad
What Makes it Special: West Coast debut of acclaimed NYC Detroit-style pizza with award-winning burgers
8.4
James Beard Award-winning chefs Nancy Silverton and Matt Molina bring Roman-style pizza with creative seasonal toppings to Santa Monica's Main Street. Rectangular slices feature inventive combinations like pastrami pickle with calabrian chiles or roasted corn esquite with cotija and tajín, plus traditional, vegan, and gluten-free options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Acorn Squash Pizza, Roasted Corn Esquite, Pepperoni
What Makes it Special: James Beard pedigree meets Roman technique with California seasonal ingredients
8.3
Named after Tokyo's legendary fish market, this Main Street spot commits to sustainable seafood and daily hand-selection from four suppliers since 2012. The chutoro, engawa, and simaaji show off pristine quality in an environment that transports regulars to Japan with each beautifully plated course.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chutoro, Engawa Sushi, Planet Earth Roll
What Makes it Special: Maintained an A health rating since 2012 with daily fish selection
8.3
Listed in the 2025 Michelin Guide, Tumbi elevates street food to haute cuisine in an industrial-chic setting. Clay tandoor proteins and unique desserts like Nutella dosa make this a locals' favorite away from the tourist crowds.
Must-Try Dishes:
Masala Dosa, Pani Puri Shooters, Deconstructed Carrot Halwa
What Makes it Special: Michelin-recognized modern Indian combining street food with haute cuisine.
#19
North Italia
8.3
Handcrafted Italian with daily chef's choice pizzas and fresh pasta made from scratch, offering sophisticated late-night dining until 11pm on weekends. The open kitchen and ocean breeze create an energetic atmosphere perfect for Santa Monica nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
White Truffle Pizza, The Pig Pizza, Daily Chef's Special Pizza
What Makes it Special: Daily rotating chef's pizza with seasonal ingredients
#20
Via Veneto
8.3
Since 2001, Fabrizio Bianconi's intimate 40-seat trattoria features homemade pastas and locally-sourced organic ingredients with celebrity following. The candlelit narrow space with chandeliers creates authentic Italian ambiance, while dishes like tuna tartare and sampling ravioli platters showcase refined technique.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tuna Tartare, Ravioli Sampler, Rigatoni with Truffle Meat Sauce
What Makes it Special: Owner Fabrizio's Rome-to-California journey creates fine dining without austere atmosphere beloved by celebrities
#21
Wexler's Deli
8.2
This modern Jewish deli handcrafts pastrami and house-smokes salmon daily over applewood, serving them on organic bagels from Wake and Late. The meticulous attention to traditional deli methods paired with California-fresh ingredients creates an elevated bagel experience that locals line up for.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bagel with House-Smoked Lox, Pastrami Egg & Cheese Bagel, MacArthur Park Sandwich
What Makes it Special: House-smoked fish and hand-sliced pastrami on organic bagels
#22
Tocaya
8.2
Modern Mexican concept emphasizing organic produce and hormone-free proteins in customizable burritos and bowls. Founded in Venice 2016, they hand-press tortillas to order and offer extensive vegan and gluten-free options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrito Mexicano, Fajita Del Rey Bowl Burrito-Style, Vegan Cilantro Lime Chicken Burrito
What Makes it Special: Extensive vegan menu with innovative plant-based proteins
Worthy Picks
#23
Trejo's Tacos
7.9
Danny Trejo's celebrity-backed taqueria brings creative fusion tacos with bold flavors and quality ingredients to downtown Santa Monica. The menu features innovative combinations like Korean BBQ and vegan cauliflower options alongside traditional preparations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Asada, Blackened Salmon Taco, Cauliflower Taco
What Makes it Special: Celebrity chef Danny Trejo's creative fusion tacos
#24
Interstellar
7.9
Chef Angie Kim's modern all-day cafe blends Asian fusion with brunch classics in a sleek, minimalist space. The katsu curry rivals any Japanese restaurant while French toast gets elevated with blueberry ricotta, creating a menu that bridges continents with confident execution and specialty coffee drinks.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Katsu Curry, Blueberry Ricotta French Toast, Branzino Ochazuke
What Makes it Special: Asian-fusion breakfast dishes you won't find elsewhere
#25
Cosetta
7.8
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Outdoor Dining Oasis
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Chef Zach Pollack's Westside Italian restaurant features California-inflected cooking with wood-fired pizzas and market-driven dishes. The plant-filled patio welcomes families with crayons and sippy cups while maintaining appeal for adult diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Smoked Mozzarella Sticks, Margherita Pizza, Chocolate Peanut Butter Budino
What Makes it Special: One of few spots successfully balancing toddler-friendly touches with grown-up culinary ambition
7.8
Vibes:
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Sixth location of this LA institution brings 50+ taco varieties and premium mezcal to downtown Santa Monica. Opened November 2024 with full liquor bar and the famous 'Alcapone' taco grande.
Must-Try Dishes:
Alcapone Taco Grande, Mas Buscados Tacos, No Seas Naca Margarita
What Makes it Special: 50+ taco varieties and premium mezcal selection
#27
JINYA Ramen Bar
7.7
Contemporary ramen chain serving 20-hour simmered tonkotsu broths with handcrafted noodles in sleek modern space. The heated outdoor patio with firepit creates lively atmosphere for customizable bowls and crispy fried chicken.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tonkotsu Black Ramen, JINYA Bun, Japanese Fried Chicken
What Makes it Special: Firepit-centered patio creates social ramen experience near beach
#28
Chelsea
7.6
Inspired by London's Chelsea district, this moody New American restaurant blends global influences from India and East Africa into its contemporary menu. The dramatic interior features tasseled chandeliers and crescent booths, creating an atmospheric backdrop for Earl Grey-infused cocktails and internationally-inspired dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Harissa Lamb Tartare, Sweet Corn Ravioli, Tikka Masala Fried Chicken
What Makes it Special: London-inspired ambiance with global fusion flavors