The Best Beachfront Restaurants In Los Angeles

The 75-mile Los Angeles County coastline, stretching from Malibu to Long Beach, is home to some amazing surf spots, stunning oceanfront dining and trendy shops. From beachside landmarks such as Santa Monica’s famous pier, Venice’s iconic Muscle Beach, Malibu’s stunning shorelines, and the Getty Villa, LA offers a variety of beachfront restaurants for those who enjoy eating with the smell of the ocean air and the sound of crashing waves. Here’s our pick of the best.

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The Albright, Santa Monica

The Albright, the longest-running restaurant on Santa Monica Pier, was born from a local family’s love and dedication to the pier and its dynamic beachside community. The relaxed seaside setting is a perfect complement to the delicious menu that reflects a commitment to sustainably caught sea food, locally sourced ingredients, as well as an extensive craft beer and California wine program. Their modern approach to classic dishes include a Salmon Club Sandwich, Seasonal Ceviche and a Raw Bar. Plus they have a massive salt-water tank of live lobsters, crabs and prawns, one of the few places on the Westside to offer this.

Back on the Beach Cafe, Santa Monica

Adjacent to the Annenberg Community Beach House is the popular Back on the Beach Cafe. The menu offers a variety of egg dishes, as well as salads, sandwiches, burgers and fries, with staples like chicken chorizo and eggs, Back on the Beach egg sandwich, and Back on the Beach burger. Seating is first-come, first-served with options of taking a seat inside or at one of the outside tables where you can dig your toes into the sand.

Catch, Santa Monica

Located inside Hotel Casa del Mar, Catch features stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. The modern American menu features fresh sea food and meat options, such as day-boat scallops with a lemon mascarpone risotto and rosemary, homemade black squid ink pasta with mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, and cherry tomatoes, and slow-braised short ribs with roasted baby carrots and creamy polenta.

Coast Beach Cafe & Bar, Santa Monica

Shutters on the Beach invites guests and locals to enjoy the ocean air and tasty delights at its casually elegant restaurant, Coast Beach Cafe & Bar. The relaxed atmosphere, panoramic beach views, and variety of market-fresh menu options attract diners for a bistro-style breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour. Coast offers a menu of finely executed comfort foods and is the perfect casual seaside dining destination for California locals and beachgoers from afar. Paired with the sun or moon-lit sands of the Santa Monica coast and the slight salt air off the Pacific’s crashing waves, guests can enjoy some of the popular dishes, including lobster rolls, fish tacos and a San Francisco-inspired cioppino and a raw bar.

Geoffrey’s Malibu

Perched atop the romantic Malibu hillside, Geoffrey’s Malibu offers exquisite views of the Southern California coastline. The flower-filled patio that overlooks the Pacific offers an ideal spot for a romantic candlelit dinner or a weekend brunch with family and friends. One of the dinner specialties is the sautéed day-boat sea scallops, while a must-have during a weekend brunch is the sautéed crab cake. Offering sweeping ocean views from nearly every seat, the beautiful and luxurious restaurant attracts an elite clientele and makes you feel like you are enjoying a vacation under the beautiful Malibu sun.

Gladstones, Malibu

Gladstones is Southern California’s most iconic beachfront dining destination, with a breathtaking 180-degree view of the Malibu coastline. The menu features generous portions of freshly caught sea food and signature cocktails hand-crafted with fresh ingredients. It is the perfect location for a day of family fun, a romantic date, or to celebrate a special occasion. Some of their most popular menu items include Gladstone’s Clambake, their New England-style clam chowder and Gladstone’s famous Triple Chocolate Mile High Cake.

The Lobster, Santa Monica

The Lobster is an amazing landmark sea food restaurant that sits at the entrance to the famous Santa Monica Pier. The menu is classic American sea food 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 and the breathtaking sunsets. Their happy hour is from 4:30pm to 6:30pm in their bar area, and they also provide a Sunday brunch starting at 11:00am. Go and enjoy favorites like the clam chowder, crab cakes, steamed American lobster and oysters, and get a taste of the essence of Santa Monica.

Malibu Farm

Malibu Farm is a small, locally owned restaurant that is at the forefront of the organic and sustainable food dishes of New American cuisine. They are a farm-to-table restaurant that chooses products from local farmers markets and vendors. Located on the pier in beautiful and iconic Malibu, the restaurant offers exquisite views all year round. Some of their most popular menu items are the fried egg sandwich, the burgers, vegan chopped salad, skirt steak, and the cauliflower crust pizza.

Mastro’s Ocean Club, Malibu

Known as much for its celebrity clientele and white-glove service as for its unparalleled juicy steaks and fresh sea food is Mastro’s Ocean Club in Malibu. The restaurant features the famed Sea food Tower, which guests can customize with Dungeness crab, crab legs, lobster, shrimp and oysters, which are all served with their signature house-made sauces. Other favorites include the bone-in filet and one-of-a-kind warm butter cake. While eating a juicy steak or having one of their delicious sides, diners can enjoy a classic cocktail and nightly live music. Head over to catch the sunset, or early in the evening as the tables are pushed nearly right up to the water allowing diners to see the ocean waves.

Nobu Malibu

Located on a perch right on the Pacific Ocean, Nobu Malibu’s huge space is comprised of a dining room and bar with floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor patio, exterior lounge, and private room. Menu items include sushi, sashimi, skewers, tempura, and toban-yaki. Other signature dishes are the toro tartare with caviar, and monkfish pâté with caviar from the cold dishes, and squid pasta with a light garlic sauce and Japanese Wagyu beef among the hot dishes. Diners also can enjoy a selection of “Malibu Specials” including lobster sweet and sour, albacore with Meyer lemon, and mini tacos. Top your meal off with the bento box of warm chocolate soufflé cake and signature sakes and enjoy the beautiful views surrounding you.

Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, Malibu

Located right on the beach in Malibu, Paradise Cove Beach Cafe is just a short 2.5-mile drive from Point Dume. The location has been seen in countless movies, TV shows, and commercials. The airy cafe has tables and cabanas on the beach, allowing guests to kick back and relax with toes in the sand. The menu features delicious paella, fresh fish, fantastic burgers and salads, and an incredible menu of tropical cocktails. Some of the best-selling items include the crispy calamari, iced sea food platter, Paradise Farms salad bar, beach burger, and the mile-high chocolate cake.

Rock’n Fish, Manhattan Beach

Right near the Manhattan Beach Pier is the family-owned and operated Rock’n Fish. The two-level space – with an enclosed outdoor patio, main dining room and bar, and upstairs loft – is known for fresh sea food, premium steaks, Kona pie dessert, and one of the prettiest back bars in LA. The menu comes courtesy of executive chef Antonio Urbano, who brings flair and a creative touch to enticing farm-to-table specials. While at the bar, don’t forget to try one of their legendary Navy Grog rum cocktails.

SALT at Marina Del Rey Hotel

SALT restaurant & Bar is one of the premier dining destinations in Marina Del Rey, boasting a serene view of the sparkling marina, making it truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The California cuisine restaurant has the freshest sea food fare with dishes including charred octopus, Scottish salmon, lobster pasta, and the shellfish platter created by executive chef Mark Gold. It has an inviting atmosphere, providing an open and airy space that complements the natural elements of each dish. With indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the marina, guests can enjoy the great food and views and come away with a memorable experience.

The Strand House, Manhattan Beach

Step into the Strand House and experience incredible food and sensational views. Chef Greg Hozinsky presents a colorful menu of traditional dishes that favors seasonally inspired and locally grown ingredients. The multi-level restaurant gives guests the option to come for lunch or brunch in their sun-drenched dining room, enjoy hand crafted cocktails and dinner with a breathtaking sunset view, or come to dance the night away at StrandBar. Must-try menu items include hamachi crudo and hand-torn pasta rags as appetizers, the wild boar sausage pizza, branzino, and TSH-glazed donuts.

Psst! If you’re someone who likes to discover a destination through its food, our specially curated food Tour of LA may whet your appetite.

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