Santa Monica

Neighborhoods

Each neighborhood in Santa Monica is unique with it’s own personality. Below is a description of all the different neighborhoods to help decipher which is right for you.  

Santa Monica Canyon

Set between Santa Monica and the Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica Canyon has a personality all of it’s own. Facing out on the  Pacific Ocean, the wooded canyon with winding roads, steep canyon walls and small enclaves is home to musicians, movie stars, and  beach lovers, Santa Monica Canyon is part of the city of Los Angeles, and its Canyon Charter Elementary School is one of the most prestigious elementary schools in the LAUSD. With lots of privacy and many great views, the canyon is definitely a desirable place to live.

North of San Vicente

San Vicente Boulevard is the northernmost major street in Santa Monica. Homes north of San Vicente Blvd are among the most expensive in Los Angeles County and often contain views of the Pacific Ocean or the picturesque Santa Monica Canyon. La Mesa Drive is one of the most expensive and least known in the city, planted with a dense canopy of rare Moreton Bay fig trees the street makes a picturesque walking location. Twenty blocks closer to the ocean the Santa Monica Steps are a set of 189 very steep steps that lead down into the canyon that has become  a popular place to see and be seen when seeking an intense workout.

North of Montana

South of San Vicente and north of Montana Avenue consist of larger family homes and lots. The streets in this portion of Santa Monica are Georgina, Marguerita, Alta, Carlyle, Brentwood Terrace and the "numbered streets" 4th - 26th Street.  This neighborhood is an extremely desirable place to live and among the most expensive in Los Angeles County and the country. Most of the lot sizes are 7,500 square feet (700 m2) on 50' X 150' lots. The Gillette's Regent Square tract,  the lots between 17-26th Street, developed by King Gillette - the razor blade manufacturer, are 60' wide lots. There are many historically significant land marked homes  located here, some which qualify for tax breaks if  designated as such in National Registry. North of Montana is a great family neighborhood served by 2 highly regarded public elementary schools - Franklin School for the residents on 15th through the west side of 26th and Roosevelt for the families on 14th Street down to Ocean Ave. During Halloween, the streets near 16th Street and Georgina Avenue are famous for their prevalence of trick or treaters, parties, and sheer amount of people. Montana Avenue has many great boutiques and restaurant that cater to the local residents.

North of Wilshire

North of Wilshire, but South of Montana Avenue, is a primarily residential neighborhood. Laid out on a consistent grid of numbered streets, there are many mid-sized homes and condominiums. On its westernmost end this neighborhood includes a number of well preserved Victorian duplex houses otherwise unique in the city. Smaller Craftsman era bungalows line the east-west avenues like Idaho, Washington, and California. Lincoln Middle School is on 14th Street and California Ave. At the corner of Washington Avenue and 22nd is the original Gehry House, a deconstructivist masterpiece that signaled a dramatic shift in Frank Gehry's architectural style. Real estate is more affordable in this neighborhood, than the properties North of Montana.

Ocean Avenue

Ocean Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Santa Monica that runs along the Palisades Park, with a view of the Pacific Ocean. Ocean Avenue real estate is highly prized, as many residences have a full view of the beach and Pacific Ocean and are in walking distance to the beach. South of California Ave are several hotels, great restaurants, businesses, and homes. The Santa Monica Pier is located at Ocean Ave and Colorado. Ocean Avenue offers residents the ultimate beach life-style and is walking  & bike riding distance  to many Santa Monica destination such as Montana Avenue & Third Street Promenade.

Midtown Santa Monica

Comprising most of the 90404 zip code Midtown Santa Monica stretches from 14th street to Centinela at its westernmost and easternmost extremities, and Wilshire Boulevard to Olympic Boulevard in its north and south. Midtown Santa Monica was once home to a number of picturesque Craftsman houses and brightly painted Victorians, though only occasional examples of these can still be found. In the early 1940s the first wave of suburbanization overtook this part of the city and many preexisting structures were razed and replaced with tiny square California Bungalows with green lawns and small, private backyards. In the 1960s a large number of these increasingly dilapidated structures were demolished in favor of four and five unit condominium complexes and apartments. The easternmost edge of Midtown Santa Monica, often referred to as the "college streets" where Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Berkeley intersect with Wilshire Boulevard, represents one of the city's primary gateways. More affordable condos and small houses can be found in this part of Santa Monica.

Ocean Park

Located in the southwest corner of Santa Monica is the Ocean Park neighborhood. This neighborhood has a mix of older smaller homes and apartment buildings and condos. Several housing towers are located along the beach. The area has a hip,  eclectic,  funky, artsy feel similar in manner to its neighbor Venice Beach. Many Santa Monica residents come to shop/browse on Main Street, home of many boutiques and restaurants. Main Street also hosts a weekly farmer's market on Sundays. SMASH (an alternative school) and John Muir elementary schools are located in the neighborhood. Olympic High, an alternative high school, and Santa Monica High School are also located in the area. Great neighborhood if you want to live by the beach and be walking distance to Main street.

Sunset Park

Sunset Park is a residential neighborhood located between Pico Boulevard and the southern city limits and Lincoln Boulevard and eastern city limits. It is composed primarily of single-family housing. Most of the homes are small one-story houses built in the 1940s for workers at the Douglas Aircraft Factory. Remodeled or rebuilt homes are upscale.

Sunset Park is part of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Will Rogers and Grant elementary schools and John Adams Middle School are located in the neighborhood as well as  Santa Monica College, a two-year community college. Nice family neighborhood that includes

Clover Park which is a large park in the area with recreation facilities.

Schools

If moving to the area as family, obviously school districts will be an important part your decision. Here is a list of the schools in the area.

Public Schools - Santa Monica

Here is a map of all the school district boundaries in Santa Monica

1. Elementary Schools

1. Franklin Elementary
2. Grant Elementary
3. John Muir Elementary
4. McKinley Elementary

2. Middle Schools

1. John Adams Middle School
2. Lincoln Middle School

3. High Schools

1. Olympic High School
2. Santa Monica High School

Private Schools

1. Garden of Angels  Grades:  Pre-K - 1
2. Santa Monica Montessori Pre K - 7
3. Carlthorp Grades K-6
4. PS #1 Grades: K-6
5. Delphi Academy Grades: K-7
6. St. Anne School Grades: K-8
7. Crossroads Grades: K-12
8. New Roads Grades: K-12
9. St. Monica Grades K-12
10. Light House School Grades: K-12
11. Pacifica Christian High School Grades: 9-12
12. Concord High School Grades: 9-12

Shopping & Entertainment

Santa Monica has many great options for Shopping & Entertainment

Third Street Promenade

The Third Street Promenade is a public entertainment venue in the downtown area of Santa Monica, California. It is considered a premier shopping and dining district on the Westside and draws crowds from all over Los Angeles County. Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean coupled with Los Angeles's mild climate, it is also a popular tourist destination.

The shopping experience includes a large variety of stores. Also a great place to catch a movie with several theater options.  Third Street Promenade also hosts the largest and oldest certified organic farmers' market each Wednesday and Saturday on Arizona Ave. between 2nd and 4th streets. Additionally, street performers and entertainers such as singer-songwriters, classical guitar players, magicians, clowns, hip-hop dancers, lounge singers, session drummers are a frequent sight on the street.

Santa Monica Place 

Rebuilt in 2010, The new Santa Monica Place has it all  – variety of stores, views, tasty food and  a  fresh, open-air design.  Finally, a shopping and dining destination that’s just right for this iconic beach city.  A custom-designed Bloomingdale’s made for the beach-chic lifestyle, a brand new Nordstrom, and a collection of A-list retail names that bring even more star power to world-famous Santa Monica.  It’s all topped by a rooftop Dining Deck with six, chef-driven restaurants and gorgeous views of the city, the mountains and the Pacific.  Continuing on from third Street Promenade, the Santa Monica Place has so many great high-end stores to stroll all while breathing in the ocean air. Dinner on the rooftop at one of the great restaurants is a nice way to end the day all while enjoying the sunset.  

Montana Avenue

Montana Avenue is home to hundreds of upscale stores, two elementary schools, a public library. With no shortage of coffee shops, and great restaurants, including Father’s Office, Cafe Montana, R&D and Locanda Portofino,  this is the place to see and be seen in Santa Monica.  The businesses on this street are generally boutiques with a few grocery stores, real estate firms, banks and is also home to The Aero Theater.  Every December Montana Ave. hosts Night on Montana which includes a neighborhood wide celebration with live music, where stores give holiday discounts, free samples of food & libations. Montana Avenue also hosts Trick or Treating on Halloween for the younger kids who go store to store in their costumes in search of  treats.  

Main Street

Only a block away from the beach, Main Street Santa Monica is an eclectic collection of restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and various services stretching for about a mile from Pico south to the Santa Monica city limit. It is NOT the Mall.  Historic, and going green, the street offers shopping and dining experiences that we’re sure you’ll enjoy.  Additionally, there’s the weekly Farmer’s Market every Sunday at Heritage Square, and there’s the annual Summer SOULstice event and the annual Holiday event.

Santa Monica Pier

The world-famous Santa Monica Pier offers a variety of entertainment and shopping including Pacific Park amusement park; Heal The Bay Aquarium; a historic 1922 Merry-Go-Round (Carousel) plus specialty shops/carts, eateries, an old-fashioned soda fountain, and full-service restaurants.

Fine Dining

There is no lack of great restaurants in Santa Monica, below is a list of some delicious fine dining destinations.  

Melisse From the intriguing season-driven menu to its world-class wine list, Melisse is both a two Michelin Star Award winning restaurant and the recipient of Zagat’s highly coveted number one rated restaurant in Los Angeles since 2003.   Melisse inspires all of the senses with its chic ambiance, superb, contemporary French cuisine and gracious service.

The Lobster Originally built in 1923, "The Lobster" has long been an unofficial historical landmark, nearly as recognizable as the Santa Monica Pier sign. The menu is classic American Seafood featuring whole live Maine lobsters. Guests can sit at any seat in the restaurant or bar area and enjoy 180 degree views of the spectacular Pacific Ocean, accented by it's breathtaking sunsets. Enjoyed by both locals and tourists.

JiRaffe Fueled by a passion for high quality ingredients, fine technique and the seaside lifestyle, JiRaffe offers market directed rustic California/French food with seasonally inspired classic cocktails in a casually chic environment. The service is relaxed yet articulate and as elegant as the coastal community of Santa Monica. JiRaffe was born in 1996 and continues to gain attention and praise from food critics, local diners, and food and wine lovers from around the world.

BOA Steakhouse BOA Steakhouse located on Ocean Avenue is a contemporary steakhouse, serving classic steakhouse fare with a twist. Urbanite modern setting where food and service are top notch and the ambiance is relaxed and fashionable.

Ivy @ the Shore It’s the ocean-front cousin of famed chef Richard Irving`s Beverly Hills Ivy. Coveted front patio seating across from the boardwalk connects to the main dining area, where a tastefully retro Hawaiian theme channels wicker and hues of pink and green. Model ships float in high-arched windows, anchored atop seashell-bordered mirrors which reflect the mismatched china adorning impeccably set tables. The menu includes seasonal stone crabs, healthy salads, and grilled fish.

Chinois  Located on Main Street, the restaurant opened in 1983, where Wolfgang Puck created the first America’s fusion cuisine with his bold menu of Asian dishes created with California’s fresh, accessible products combined with French culinary techniques. With a stunning and timeless design by Barbara Lazaroff, Chinois’ colorful interior and open kitchen has made this restaurant a favorite for over two decades. Featuring Chinois classics and seasonal specialties, the inspiring menu by Chef Rene Mata is served family style in a festive atmosphere that invites the sharing and tasting of a variety of exciting flavors.

Valentino Established in 1972 by owner Piero Selvaggio, Valentino is widely considered the finest Italian restaurant in the nation and “a restaurant classic.” The intimate dining rooms, legendary wine cellar of over 2,500 selections, and the consummate graciousness of owner Piero Selvaggio, set the standard for fine dining excellence. For almost 40 years Valentino has showcased authentic artisanal cooking, using the best of Italy’s traditional and contemporary culinary styles and the finest ingredients, setting the standards of excellence for Italian cuisine in the USA.

Utilities

When you do finally find your dream home, here is the contact info for the local utility companies to help make your move as easy as possible:

1. Los Angeles Department of  Water & Power
   1-800-342-5397
   
2. Southern California Edison
   1-800-655-4555
   
3. Time Warner
   1-888-892-2253
   
4. Verizon
   1-855-406-7062