Viceroy Santa Monica
Local restaurants
Capo (+1 310 394 5550) on Ocean Avenue is a fine Italian with an elegant rustic vibe and delicious lobster risotto. The Lobster (+1 310 458 9294) on Ocean Avenue has fabulous views over the beach and Santa Monica Pier, with food to match. In West LA, The Apple Pan (+1 310 475 3585) on West Pico Boulevard has changed little since the ’50s, and fries up some of the best beef patties in town. In the Fairfax area, AOC (+1 323 653 6359) on West Third Street is a fine French wine bar; nearby, The Little Door Restaurant (+1 323 951 1210) is a hidden gem of a Mediterranean restaurant.
Worth getting out of bed for
The carousels, rollercoasters, fun stalls and twinkly lights of the iconic Santa Monica Pier are a siren call to anyone who's ever been just a tiny bit dismayed when they've visited Brighton's comparatively low-key version. This one is bigger, brighter and – perhaps more to the point – enjoys considerbly more sunshine. Early in the year, you can even spot grey whales from the west end of the pier. The pier also hosts concerts and plays, usually at sunset and often free – visit www.santamonicapier.org for the lastest listings.
