Welcome to Venice
GET TO KNOW VENICE
Venice, California is a vibrant beach community located in the westside of Los Angeles. Some of the highlights of living in Venice include:
Proximity to the beach: Venice is known for its beautiful beaches, including the iconic Venice Beach and Muscle Beach, which are popular destinations for swimming, surfing, and other beach activities.
Cultural diversity: Venice is a diverse neighborhood with a rich cultural history, featuring a range of international restaurants, art galleries, and other attractions.
Active lifestyle: Venice is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking, and other recreational activities.
Vibrant nightlife: Venice has a thriving nightlife scene, with a range of bars, clubs, and live music venues.
Creative atmosphere: Venice has long been a hub for artists and creatives, and the neighborhood is home to a range of studios, galleries, and other creative spaces.
Overall, Venice is a dynamic and vibrant neighborhood that offers a wide range of attractions and activities for residents.
“The Westside defies LA’s car-centric stigma by offering easily walkable and bikeable neighborhoods with plenty of excellent dining, drinking, entertainment, and shopping options. Spend enough time strolling around either hood, and you’re bound to start recognizing faces and striking up conversations with strangers -- a rarity in a city as big as LA.” (Source: Danny Jensen via Thrillist)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Beach is walking or bike distance
- Trendy shopping and dining on Abbot Kinney Blvd: In a neighborhood where there’s always something going on, the annual Abbot Kinney Festival in Venice is one of the perennial favorites. World-famous Abbot Kinney Boulevard has been called the coolest block in America by GQ Magazine, and it’s easy to soak up its splendor as you peruse eclectic boutiques, dine at artisanal eateries, stop for a spell at the beer gardens and let the kids giggle over carnival rides and games. It takes place every September on the last Sunday of the month.
- Artist and musician’s haven
- The best of organic, vegan living, including the Farmer’s Market
- 20 minutes to LAX
MY FAVORITE PLACES TO GO, FOOD TO EAT, THINGS TO DO
Restaurants
- à côté: Zinqué's new location on Venice's Lincoln Boulevard includes a massive patio, expanded menu, and the addition of full liquor.
- American Beauty (and the Win Dow at American Beauty): American Beauty is a neighborhood steakhouse located on Rose Avenue. Their Window offers classic sandwiches, salads & cheeseburgers all ordered to-go or to dine outside.
- Cafe Gratitude: Locally sourced, organic vegan food & drinks served in a laid-back, spacious cafe.
- Butcher’s Daughter: Bright all-day outpost offering vegetarian & vegan fare, plus juices in a relaxed space.
- Felix Trattoria: Evan Funke’s take on traditional Italian cuisine, with pasta made on sight, right before your eyes.
- Foodshop: Monthly invite-only dinner series.
- Gjusta: Artisanal bakery in a sprawling, warehouselike space offers up special breads baked on-site.
- Gjelina: Head to Gjelina’s in Venice for pizzas, pasta, vegetables, charcuterie, and Mediterranean-influenced meat dishes. Do not leave without trying the rich and buttery mushroom toast, one of the most beloved and uniquely Gjelina items on the menu.
- Great White: New American classics (burgers, sandwiches) get a California treatment (avocado toast, kale salad).
- Zinqué: French-influenced coffeehouse meets bistro & wine bar in an artsy, minimalist atmosphere.
- Superba: Equal parts bakery, cafe and urban park
- Wallflower: Hip little spot for Indonesian porridge & coffee during the day & more elaborate dishes at night.
Bars:
- Bar at American Beauty: The vibey horseshoe bar is equally suited for dropping in for a couple of drinks or enjoying a full meal.
- Gran Blanco: Upscale but relaxed Cal-Ital eats & cocktails from the owners of nearby Great White.
- The Brig: This bustling nightspot with a mid-century modern vibe features live music, billiards & food trucks. Trends toward younger folk.
- The Lincoln: Classic cocktails & other drinks in an industrial-chic bar with a Model T Roadster & auto books.
- The Little Friend: Subterranean bar directly behind Sunny Spot with a diverse cocktail menu & playful touches.
- South End: Wine Bar and Pizza Place
- Old Man Bar: Old Man Bar is where you go when you want to cozy up to a warm fire in a dark room. On the border of Culver and Venice.
- Roosterfish: Long-standing kitschy gay bar for drinks featuring pool tables, jukebox tunes & local artwork.
- Townhouse Venice & The Del Monte Speakeasy: Established in 1915, Townhouse is the oldest saloon in Venice, featuring an original speakeasy, serving unique classic & seasonal cocktails.
Groceries:
- Erewhon: Erewhon Market is a California luxury supermarket chain with eight locations, all in Los Angeles County. Erewhon focuses on niche, locally produced, organic foods catering to a wealthy clientele and offering foods appealing to raw, vegan, keto, kosher, and other alternative diets.
- Venice Farmer’s Market: Open-air market operating 7-11 AM Fridays featuring seasonal produce & assorted local vendors.
- Rainbow Acres: Grocery store specializing in natural, organic & raw produce, personal care items & prepared foods.
Coffee:
- Deus Ex Machina: Coffee shop with motorcycles, Surfboards and gear.
- Window at Superba: Equal parts bakery, cafe and urban park
- Intelligentsia: Intelligentsia is a specialty coffee pioneer on Abbot Kinney.
- Rockenwagner
- Menotti’s: Gathering spot for coffee, espresso & baked goods in a white-walled space with an old-school vibe.
Shopping:
- Aviator Nation: 1970's inspired California lifestyle brand carrying sweats and tees.
- Burro: Artsy store offering a selection of women's apparel, handbags, art books, stationery & gifts.
- General Store: Emporium with an eclectic inventory including books, clothing, artisanal housewares & furniture on Lincoln.
- Gjusta Goods: Goods for cooking, gathering, and living — daily essentials including handmade ceramics, locally-produced linens, favorite homewares, homemade pantry items, cooking staples, vintage clothing, and worldly finds.
- Heist: Airy women's boutique with exposed brick & cement floors carrying high-end designer clothes & shoes on Abbott Kinney.
- Huzzah! Toys: vibrant, friendly, contemporary, well stocked toy store.
- Late Sunday Afternoon: a no-waste business, and creating a conscientious production process.
- Linus Bike Venice Retail Location: Snug storefront stocking the brand's bicycles along with helmets, hats & other related merchandise.
- Merchant Modern: Offers everything you need to show your eclectic tastes with mid-century modern furniture, Vintage Moroccan rugs, home goods, and interior design
- Salt: Extremely well curated shop offering from clothing and accessories to books and gifts. Incredible selection of Italian clothing and local designer brands on Lincoln.
- Simon’s Market & Provisions: Simon's on Lincoln has all the Spirits & Liquor you need for stocking your bar or throwing a dinner party.
- The Great: Emily Current + Meritt Elliott have been business partners for almost two decades. Their journey as entrepreneurs, brand builders, stylists and designers have led them to their most proud achievement to date - a fully realized women's wear collection, aptly called, THE GREAT. Champions of supportive female friendships and the spirit of creative fearlessness, Emily and Meritt are known for their authentic, kind and optimistic approach to both design and life.
- Tortoise General Store: Husband-&-wife-run shop specializing in chic homeware made by Japanese artists, plus books & cards.
Recreation
- Venice Canals: Walking the Venice Canals. The canals are located right off 25th street in Venice Beach, and if you didn’t know they were there, you would easily walk right by them. The area is primarily a neighborhood of houses that line four canals about a quarter-mile long each. Along these channels are sidewalks and bridges you can walk and take in the views of this beautiful area.
A brief History: Abbot Kinney, a tobacco millionaire, founded the beach resort town known as “Venice of America” in 1905. On its opening day, July 4th, Kinney had created several miles of canals inspired by the city of Venice in Italy, in order to drain the marshes and provide a unique living experience for residents. However, in 1924 the city decided to construct more roads and began filling in most of the canals. This decision was met with resistance from residents and ultimately led to a Supreme Court ruling in 1928 stating that it was legal to fill in the canals. By the end of that year, all but a few of the canals had been filled in.
- Love Yoga: Love Yoga’s teachings are steeped in the Taoist theory and Sacred Geometry of Katonah Yoga
- Venice Beach: The Venice Beach strand is a lively two-and-a-half-mile promenade featuring the famous "muscle beach," street performers, fortune tellers, artists, and vendors. It's a great place for people watching and the monthly Venice Art Crawl, held on the third Thursday of every month, showcases the artistic talent of the area.
- Art on Abbot Kinney: Marvel at the stunning murals that adorn the walls and buildings in the area. With so many vibrant and imaginative murals to choose from, it can be difficult to select a favorite, but the process of exploring and discovering them is an enjoyable experience.
CENTRALITY & TRANSPORTATION
- Far west.
- Very walkable to everything within the Venice area.
- Many locals use bikes to get around.
- Easy access to the 405, 90 and 10.
THE REAL ESTATE MARKET
Median home price is $1.9M
SCHOOLS