Venice Beach has grown up. The skate park, the street performers and the murals are all still here, but these days the neighbourhood is just as much about chef-led dining rooms, design-led boutiques and long lunches under the palms on Abbot Kinney. A weekend is the perfect amount of time to do it properly: canals at golden hour, a rooftop sunset, a table at one of LA’s most talked-about restaurants and a slow Sunday morning on the boulevard.
Updated October 2026: everything below has been checked and refreshed, with new openings added and closed spots removed.
Where to stay in Venice Beach
Venice itself is more boutique than five-star, so choose based on what kind of weekend you’re after: right on the boardwalk, or a short drive up the coast in Santa Monica with all the polish of a grand beach hotel.
Hotel Erwin
The pick for being in the thick of it. Steps from the boardwalk and sand, with the High rooftop lounge upstairs (recently refreshed, and the best spot in Venice for a sunset drink). Book an ocean-view room.
Venice V Hotel
A 1915 landmark on Windward Avenue, right beneath the Venice sign, with exposed brick, a boho-industrial look and Pacific views. Ideal if you want character over a big-brand hotel.
The Venice Beach House
A historic 1911 home turned intimate inn with just nine individually designed rooms, a short stroll from the canals. Quiet, romantic and very Old Venice.
For true luxury: Santa Monica
If you want a five-star stay, base yourself 10 minutes north and dip into Venice by day. Shutters on the Beach (1 Pico Blvd) is the classic beach-cottage icon, right on the sand; Hotel Casa del Mar (1910 Ocean Way) next door is its elegant, Italian Renaissance-style sister with an ocean-view pool deck; and Regent Santa Monica Beach (1700 Ocean Ave) is the newest name on the strip, with generous rooms and highly personal service.
What to see & do in Venice Beach
Venice Canals
Laid out in 1905 by Abbot Kinney to recreate Venice, Italy, the canals are one of LA’s loveliest walks. Wander the footbridges at golden hour, when the light hits the water and the gardens of the canal-side homes are at their best.
Ocean Front Walk & the Skate Park
The boardwalk is still the beating heart of Venice: street performers, artists, Muscle Beach and the famous Venice Skate Park, where you can watch some of the best skaters in the world. It’s at its liveliest in the late afternoon. Go for an hour, soak it up, then escape to Abbot Kinney.
Cycle the beach path
Rent an e-bike or beach cruiser and ride the Marvin Braude Bike Trail along the sand, north to Santa Monica Pier or south to Marina del Rey. It’s the best way to see the coastline in a morning.
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Once called “the coolest block in America”, palm-lined Abbot Kinney is where you’ll spend most of your weekend: independent boutiques, beautiful homewares stores and some of LA’s best restaurants, all within a walkable mile. On the first Friday of every month, First Fridays brings food trucks to the boulevard and shops stay open late.
See the Street Art
Venice is an open-air gallery. Murals cover nearly every side street off Windward Avenue, the boardwalk and Abbot Kinney, so grab a coffee from Intelligentsia on Abbot Kinney (go before 9am to beat the queue) and take a wander.
Sunset on the Rooftop
Don’t miss golden hour in Venice. Watch the sun drop into the Pacific from the High rooftop at Hotel Erwin (reserve a table on Resy for weekends), or head down to the sand with a blanket.
Where to eat in Venice Beach
Gjelina
The restaurant that made Abbot Kinney a dining destination. Order the vegetable dishes and wood-fired pizzas and expect a buzzy, packed room. For breakfast or lunch, its sister Gjusta (320 Sunset Ave) is a cult bakery-deli with a courtyard; don’t miss the pastries.
Felix
Chef Evan Funke’s celebrated pasta house, with a glass-walled pasta lab in the dining room. Book well ahead and order the focaccia and anything hand-rolled.
RVR
The newest hot table on the boulevard: an izakaya from Gjelina’s founding chef Travis Lett. Think clam ramen, pork belly gyoza and a lively crowd. Reservations are hard to come by, so plan ahead.
The Tasting Kitchen
An Abbot Kinney institution, back after a fire closed it in 2023. Moody banquettes, excellent cocktails and Italian-leaning plates like the branzino. Open late, seven nights a week.
San Damian
Elevated Baja-style seafood: rockfish ceviche with uni, shrimp aguachile and kanpachi al pastor. Perfect for a long, sunny lunch.
Si! Mon
Panamanian-inspired cooking on a leafy patio by the beach, and our pick for date night. Try the kanpachi steamed in banana leaves.
Venice Steakhouse
Wood-panelled, candlelit and made for a special-occasion dinner. Order the dry-aged ribeye.
Dudley Market
A relaxed seafood spot a block from the sand with a great natural wine list. The whole fried fish is a must.
Salt & Straw
The Portland ice creamery’s first LA shop, and still worth the queue. Flavours rotate monthly, with vegan options always on the menu.
The Butcher’s Daughter
Plant-based, beautifully designed and made for a healthy brunch or a fresh juice between shops.
Where to shop in Venice Beach
Burro
It’s hard to leave empty-handed. Burro is full of local candles, ceramics, cards and art prints, with an eclectic Californian feel that makes it the best gift shop on the boulevard.
Heist
A beautifully edited boutique of emerging and established designers. Pricey, but this is where to find the piece no one else back home will have.
Huset
Scandinavian-inspired homewares, linen and tableware in a calm, light-filled space.
Tumbleweed & Dandelion
Soft, coastal interiors done perfectly: think vintage-inspired furniture, linen and decor that captures the laid-back California look.
Gorjana
Dainty, layerable gold jewellery from the Laguna Beach brand, in a fresh, beachy space.
Made in Earth
Handmade fine jewellery with an organic, one-of-a-kind feel.
Buck Mason
Elevated American basics with separate men’s and women’s stores on the boulevard: perfect tees, denim and knits.
Our Place
The cult cookware brand’s showroom, home to the Always Pan and a covetable range of tableware.
Good to know
- Getting around: Venice is best on foot or by bike. Parking on Abbot Kinney is tight on weekends, so use your hotel’s valet or a rideshare.
- When to go: September and October bring the warmest, clearest beach days. Early summer can be grey in the mornings (“June Gloom”).
- Book ahead: Felix, RVR and the High rooftop all fill up on weekends.
More tips for Los Angeles
Hey! I’m Sophie, a kiwi fashion & lifestyle photographer based in Los Angeles. When I’m not on the East Side of Los Angeles, you will likely find me navigating my way through an airport, New York City, or a new city living my best Euro life.
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We have never been to Venice Beach because some friends said they didn’t like it, but these pictures are lovely. May have to give it a try.