Cindy's Guidebook

Cindy
Cindy's Guidebook

Food scene

Dine with beach views. Great for brunch! (make a reservation)
30 locals recommend
Beachside
14160 Palawan Way
30 locals recommend
Dine with beach views. Great for brunch! (make a reservation)
Delicious smoothies, açaí bowls, salads, bowls! Walk across mothers beach to get here.
6 locals recommend
The Hive - Superfood Eats & Organic Cafe
4242 Vía Marina
6 locals recommend
Delicious smoothies, açaí bowls, salads, bowls! Walk across mothers beach to get here.
A short walk from the apartment, I recommend the lobster roll for brunch. The hotel bar can be nice for a short walk for drinks in the evening.
9 locals recommend
Brizo Bar & Restaurant
4360 Via Marina
9 locals recommend
A short walk from the apartment, I recommend the lobster roll for brunch. The hotel bar can be nice for a short walk for drinks in the evening.
Inventive Italian. Pastas and appetizers were superb!
260 locals recommend
Scopa Italian Roots
2905 Washington Blvd
260 locals recommend
Inventive Italian. Pastas and appetizers were superb!
Amazing Italian dishes and delicious cocktails. Often fully booked - snag a reservation if you can get a chance.
93 locals recommend
Felix
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd
93 locals recommend
Amazing Italian dishes and delicious cocktails. Often fully booked - snag a reservation if you can get a chance.
Dine with Marina views and delicious burgers. Can’t go wrong with Hi Ho burger. If they have the Willie Mae fried chicken sandwich (sometimes theyre out, but that’s my favorite!)
HiHo Cheeseburger | Marina del Rey
4625 Admiralty Way
Dine with Marina views and delicious burgers. Can’t go wrong with Hi Ho burger. If they have the Willie Mae fried chicken sandwich (sometimes theyre out, but that’s my favorite!)
The best hand roll bar! From owners of sugarfish. Get the set which includes the blue crab roll.
KazuNori: The Original Hand Roll Bar
4635 Admiralty Way
The best hand roll bar! From owners of sugarfish. Get the set which includes the blue crab roll.
High quality sushi at a reasonable price. Always consistent each time. Get there early as the wait might take a while
654 locals recommend
SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa
600 W 7th St
654 locals recommend
High quality sushi at a reasonable price. Always consistent each time. Get there early as the wait might take a while
My favorite is xiao long bao (pork) and short rib noodle. Delicious Taiwanese/Chinese food - one of my go to spots
dan modern chinese - playa vista
12775 Millennium Drive
My favorite is xiao long bao (pork) and short rib noodle. Delicious Taiwanese/Chinese food - one of my go to spots
Very good Thai food at cheap prices! The west side is generally pricey but ekkemai keeps prices low. As of last time I checked, take out only.
46 locals recommend
Ekkamai Thai Restaurant
13223 West Washington Boulevard
46 locals recommend
Very good Thai food at cheap prices! The west side is generally pricey but ekkemai keeps prices low. As of last time I checked, take out only.
Has bowls & tacos - another one of my go tos for quick, inexpensive, and quality meal!
36 locals recommend
Loqui
8830 Washington Blvd
36 locals recommend
Has bowls & tacos - another one of my go tos for quick, inexpensive, and quality meal!
On Saturday’s, check on the farmers market right next to Cheesecake Factory. Best times are early and before 1 PM, that’s when they start to close up.
7 locals recommend
Marina Del Rey Farmer's Market
Panay Way
7 locals recommend
On Saturday’s, check on the farmers market right next to Cheesecake Factory. Best times are early and before 1 PM, that’s when they start to close up.
Trendy & hip outdoor food and shopping center. Come browse unique stores, grab food coffee / matcha, ice cream and food. Popular hang out in the daytime - Margot - rooftop has nice vibes (I like their brunch food more than dinner) - Boba guys (try the strawberry matcha latte) - Van luewen ice cream (vegan friendly) - Roberta’s pizza (bee sting is my fav 🍕) -Loqui (bowls/tacos) - Bianca - try their baked goods!
63 locals recommend
Platform LA
8850 Washington Blvd
63 locals recommend
Trendy & hip outdoor food and shopping center. Come browse unique stores, grab food coffee / matcha, ice cream and food. Popular hang out in the daytime - Margot - rooftop has nice vibes (I like their brunch food more than dinner) - Boba guys (try the strawberry matcha latte) - Van luewen ice cream (vegan friendly) - Roberta’s pizza (bee sting is my fav 🍕) -Loqui (bowls/tacos) - Bianca - try their baked goods!
Plenty of food/ drink options! - uzumaki (sushi) - pop’s Bagels (NY style) - bar bohemian 🍸 - citizen public market (food hall)
22 locals recommend
Culver Steps
9300 Culver Blvd
22 locals recommend
Plenty of food/ drink options! - uzumaki (sushi) - pop’s Bagels (NY style) - bar bohemian 🍸 - citizen public market (food hall)
The best sandwiches! (Love the not so fried and pork banh mi)
140 locals recommend
Mendocino Farms
4724 Admiralty Way
140 locals recommend
The best sandwiches! (Love the not so fried and pork banh mi)
Good food & aesthetics! Be prepared to have a wait. Vegan friendly options available
175 locals recommend
The Butcher's Daughter
1205 Abbot Kinney Boulevard
175 locals recommend
Good food & aesthetics! Be prepared to have a wait. Vegan friendly options available
Known for their rotisserie chicken, but I only get their tacos 🤤
27 locals recommend
Bennys Tacos & Chicken Rotisserie LA
7101 W Manchester Ave
27 locals recommend
Known for their rotisserie chicken, but I only get their tacos 🤤
If you hadn’t tried Indonesian food, simpang can be your first. I like their festival rice plate (variety) or Nasi bungkus
Simpang Asia - Venice
705 Lincoln Boulevard
If you hadn’t tried Indonesian food, simpang can be your first. I like their festival rice plate (variety) or Nasi bungkus
Trendy, upscale Indonesian Asian fusion. So good but a little pricey
47 locals recommend
Wallflower
609 Rose Ave
47 locals recommend
Trendy, upscale Indonesian Asian fusion. So good but a little pricey

Sightseeing

A tourist destination
1202 locals recommend
Venice Beach Park
1503 Speedway
1202 locals recommend
A tourist destination
It’s right next to the apartment. Much quieter than Venice
107 locals recommend
Marina Beach
4101 Admiralty Way
107 locals recommend
It’s right next to the apartment. Much quieter than Venice
Light to moderate walk up many steps to get a view of LA. Turn it into a workout by jogging!
31 locals recommend
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
6300 Hetzler Road
31 locals recommend
Light to moderate walk up many steps to get a view of LA. Turn it into a workout by jogging!
Bike over to the park, sit and enjoy the waters. I like to picnic here or read a book
72 locals recommend
Burton Chace Park
13650 Mindanao Way
72 locals recommend
Bike over to the park, sit and enjoy the waters. I like to picnic here or read a book
Enjoy a walk through Venice canals, good photo opp!
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
947 locals recommend
Enjoy a walk through Venice canals, good photo opp!
2744 locals recommend
Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier
2744 locals recommend

Neighborhoods

Known for its bohemian spirit, Venice is a buzzing beach town with upscale commercial and residential pockets. Free-spirited Venice Boardwalk is the site of funky shops, street performers and colorful murals. There’s also a skate park and Muscle Beach outdoor gym. Abbot Kinney Boulevard features foodie hot spots, stylish boutiques and coffee bars. A picturesque enclave of canals is surrounded by modernist homes.
351 locals recommend
Venice
351 locals recommend
Known for its bohemian spirit, Venice is a buzzing beach town with upscale commercial and residential pockets. Free-spirited Venice Boardwalk is the site of funky shops, street performers and colorful murals. There’s also a skate park and Muscle Beach outdoor gym. Abbot Kinney Boulevard features foodie hot spots, stylish boutiques and coffee bars. A picturesque enclave of canals is surrounded by modernist homes.
Visit Santa Monica for the pier, beach, shopping and food. It’s a tourist destination but locals frequent as well. Visit 3rd street promenade or Main Street Santa Monica.
513 locals recommend
Santa Monica
513 locals recommend
Visit Santa Monica for the pier, beach, shopping and food. It’s a tourist destination but locals frequent as well. Visit 3rd street promenade or Main Street Santa Monica.
A new development, usually very clean and quiet. Built for easy-living. The runway has a park, movie theater, Whole Foods, delicious restaurants, and gyms.
54 locals recommend
Playa Vista
54 locals recommend
A new development, usually very clean and quiet. Built for easy-living. The runway has a park, movie theater, Whole Foods, delicious restaurants, and gyms.
Food, shopping, coffee, sweet treats, there’s everything! From higher end stores to small independent one of a kind shops.
1065 locals recommend
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
1065 locals recommend
Food, shopping, coffee, sweet treats, there’s everything! From higher end stores to small independent one of a kind shops.

Workouts

the best kick-ass pilates workout that will leave you shaking and sore the next day. first class $20!
8 locals recommend
The Studio (MDR)
330 W Washington Blvd
8 locals recommend
the best kick-ass pilates workout that will leave you shaking and sore the next day. first class $20!
Cardio & Weights! Tough but bang for your buck type of workout.
Orangetheory Fitness
4250 Via Marina
Cardio & Weights! Tough but bang for your buck type of workout.

Traveler advice

Customs and culture

Got a bike? Be careful!

Be careful with bikes. In LA, especially the beach cities, bikes are often stolen even when locked up. Bike thieves are really good out here!