Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
- Ally
- First Reviewer
- 3 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 5
- Reviews
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4
- Photos
Editor Pick
Best Christmas Shopping in the City...
- November 22, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
Regardless of what time of year that you visit, Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade are one of the nicest, and one of my very favorite bits of Los Angeles.
And for me, this is even better at Christmas time.
You really couldn’t ask for more pleasant December weather to enjoy walking the promenade and beach in - with a cool breeze blowing across the city which anyone not from a warm coastal place would find extremely pleasant - though the locals do tend to reach for their coats and shudder as they pop into shops.
The sun and light are beautiful in Santa Monica, and for me this was the prettiest part of LA that I visited (though I am sure this is an arguable point, as everyone has their favorite part of the city...)
Santa Monica is well laid out and beautifully constructed. It does still have a lot of the 1950's art deco feel that seems to vein through the buildings in LA - but here I found it to be a little bit fresher and though not eradicated, it seemed to be a little more modern in its feel.
There are some great buildings in the area and simply walking around and enjoying the sights is the best way to enjoy Santa Monica and the promenade.
Third Street itself is fantastic, especially in the holiday season. Filled with performers, artists and musicians (though on the several occasions I was there, none of them were too pushy or intrusive) this is a great place to get in the holiday spirit. And once you are, you can simply take your pick of fantastic shops up and down the street to indulge in that cheer.
Some of the best shopping I came across in Los Angeles was in Santa Monica, and though my budget at the end of my trip didn't allow for getting much in these ritzy shops, I thoroughly enjoyed browsing them.
The street is also lit and very tastefully decorated for Christmas, and even walking around later in the evenings I found it to be a very pleasant atmosphere.
There are quite a few parking garages in the area, though they can be costly - but you can at least often find parking in them. And once you have parked you can walk to most of the attractions, restaurants and shops near by.
There are too many excellent restaurants in the area to count, and as many great cafes and eateries.
The Santa Monica beach and pier are just a few minutes walk away as well - and I highly urge you to make the few minutes stroll along the coast and check them both out.
The locals do talk a lot about the number of homeless in Santa Monica - and I can agree that there was a phenomenal amount of homeless in the area. Still though, for my part they were the most pleasant, relaxed and easy going group of un-homed people I have ever come across in my life. And with the year long pleasant weather and sunny coast, who can blame them?
Walking along the pathway towards the pier you will likely pass dozens and dozens of homeless napping with their bags of belongings on the grass - but to tell the truth I found them completely inoffensive and it didn't tarnish the atmosphere at all. I have heard other locals complain that they are constantly asking you for money, and maybe it's just coming from Britain where being asked often on most street corners for change is nothing new, but I don't remember being asked more than once or twice - and even then it was in a polite and unharrasing way.
This is a great place to walk, and an even better place to enjoy the holiday season. I highly recommend you pop into the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to get a hot chocolate, and then stroll through the dusk of the Promenade and listen to the buskers play Christmas carols that drift out on the coastal breeze...
From journal Sunny Santa Monica, Beautiful to Visit Any Time of Year
Editor Pick
Beautifully Dressed for Coastal Christmas celebrations...
- November 22, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Red Mezz from Inverness, Scotland
Regardless of what time of year that you visit, Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade are one of the nicest, and one of my very favorite bits of Los Angeles.
And for me, this is even better at Christmas time.
You really couldn’t ask for more pleasant December weather to enjoy walking the promenade and beach in - with a cool breeze blowing across the city which anyone not from a warm coastal place would find extremely pleasant - though the locals do tend to reach for their coats and shudder as they pop into shops.
The sun and light are beautiful in Santa Monica, and for me this was the prettiest part of LA that I visited (though I am sure this is an arguable point, as everyone has their favorite part of the city...)
Santa Monica is well laid out and beautifully constructed. It does still have a lot of the 1950's art deco feel that seems to vein through the buildings in LA - but here I found it to be a little bit fresher and though not eradicated, it seemed to be a little more modern in its feel.
There are some great buildings in the area and simply walking around and enjoying the sights is the best way to enjoy Santa Monica and the promenade.
Third Street itself is fantastic, especially in the holiday season. Filled with performers, artists and musicians (though on the several occasions I was there, none of them were too pushy or intrusive) this is a great place to get in the holiday spirit. And once you are, you can simply take your pick of fantastic shops up and down the street to indulge in that cheer.
Some of the best shopping I came across in Los Angeles was in Santa Monica, and though my budget at the end of my trip didn't allow for getting much in these ritzy shops, I thoroughly enjoyed browsing them.
The street is also lit and very tastefully decorated for Christmas, and even walking around later in the evenings I found it to be a very pleasant atmosphere.
There are quite a few parking garages in the area, though they can be costly - but you can at least often find parking in them. And once you have parked you can walk to most of the attractions, restaurants and shops near by.
There are too many excellent restaurants in the area to count, and as many great cafes and eateries.
The Santa Monica beach and pier are just a few minutes walk away as well - and I highly urge you to make the few minutes stroll along the coast and check them both out.
The locals do talk a lot about the number of homeless in Santa Monica - and I can agree that there was a phenomenal amount of homeless in the area. Still though, for my part they were the most pleasant, relaxed and easy going group of un-homed people I have ever come across in my life. And with the year long pleasant weather and sunny coast, who can blame them?
Walking along the pathway towards the pier you will likely pass dozens and dozens of homeless napping with their bags of belongings on the grass - but to tell the truth I found them completely inoffensive and it didn't tarnish the atmosphere at all. I have heard other locals complain that they are constantly asking you for money, and maybe it's just coming from Britain where being asked often on most street corners for change is nothing new, but I don't remember being asked more than once or twice - and even then it was in a polite and unharrasing way.
This is a great place to walk, and an even better place to enjoy the holiday season. I highly recommend you pop into the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to get a hot chocolate, and then stroll through the dusk of the Promenade and listen to the buskers play Christmas carols that drift out on the coastal breeze...
From journal California Coast and the PCH...
Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
- April 6, 2005
- Rated 2 of 5 by
ongkenyong from Stamford, Connecticut
This could be a romantic spot I suppose, with the right person at the right moment, but it wasn't for me. Cloudy skies plus strong winds made it a forgettable experience. There are nearby beaches that look promising, but we weren't able to check them out. It is a worthwhile stop if you're in this neck of the woods or heading to the beach. However, I wouldn't sit through 2 hours of traffic on the notorious L.A. freeways just to come here.
From journal 4 days in Los Angeles
Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
- February 12, 2003
- Rated 2 of 5 by
dalefried from Medford, New York
It was nice to walk around the Promenade and browse the shops. My coworker, the shopaholic, had a great time here. There was entertainment on the street, but of course she didn't care about that. There was a mall with retail stores. I expected to see more funky shops there, but there weren't. It was nice to walk around, though.
From journal Be A Star in L.A.
Editor Pick
Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade
- July 8, 2000
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Ally from New York City, New York, Afghanistan
The quintessential feel of LA can be found at Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. Here, you may find movie stars, UCLA students, tourists, beach lovers, skaters, and everyone else in-between. Located just a few blocks from Santa Monica Beach/Pier, these few blocks of shops and restaurants is a pleasant area to dine, shop, and enjoy the sunny Southern California weather.
While there is a large, traditional shopping mall on one end of the Promenade, the shops along 3rd Street are more unique and eclectic. From grungy music shops to trendy fashions to ethnic arts, there isn’t much that you won’t find here. Yes, this is where infamous Heidi Fleiss owned a lingerie shop, though I’ve heard she is now bankrupt!
The varied restaurants around here generally serve up fair to good meals; appropriate for meeting up with friends and family in a casual-nice setting. Besides the sit-down, semi-trendy restaurants like Trilussa or Yangstze, there are also fast-food type restaurants, including Benita Frites and Johnny Rockets.
From journal Life amidst the glamour of Hollywood