Your Venice Beach Guide:
- Best Hotel by Venice Pier → The Huntley Hotel → Reserve your stay here
- Best Coffee and Bread Pick Me Up Spot → GJusta Grocer → See menu Here
- Best Breakfast Place → The Butcher’s Daughter [vegetarian serving eggs] → See menu here
- Best Dinner Place → The Penthouse at the Rooftop of The Huntley Hotel → Reserve a table here
One of the cool things about living in San Diego is that my husband and I can easily sneak away for a weekend trip. This time, we decided to head to Venice, California, for a couple of days. With Mother’s Day coming up next Sunday, my husband asked how I wanted to celebrate, and I said I wanted to just spend some time in Venice, just the two of us. So that’s what we did! Here’s the lowdown on the hotel, the restaurants we checked out, and our experience on this trip.
Where To Stay in Venice Beach
The Huntley Hotel
Address: 1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Phone: (310) 394-5454
Reserve your stay here
My Husband and I couldn’t be more stunned by The Huntley Hotel. We experience truly California’s relaxed luxury at Huntley Santa Monica Beach. This hotel is just steps from the Pacific shoreline and within walking distance of Santa Monica Pier. Our hotel room was on the 14th floor and had the perfect view of the Pacific Ocean and the Malibu mountains; it was just incredible. One thing to notice is that Venice, California, is frequently overcast, especially in spring and early summer. I just googled it, and apparently it is because the Cold water from the California Current and a temperature inversion (warm air over cold) create a stable, trapped layer of clouds. Despite the overcast weather, Venice is a beautiful place for a getaway.
Where To Eat Dinner at Venice Beach
The Penthouse at The Huntley Hotel
Address: 1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Phone: (310) 394-5454
Reserve your table here
We had dinner at The Huntley Hotel. The restaurant, The Penthouse, is situated on the hotel’s rooftop. The food specializes in American cuisine. The ambiance was very relaxed, and we were seated at a table by the window, allowing us to enjoy a beautiful view of Venice Beach as we watched the sunset. We ordered drinks, appetizers, and oysters, all of which were incredibly delicious, and while we waited for our food, the chef sent us a tuna appetizer.
For dinner, I wasn’t very hungry, so I ordered the tomato soup, which was excellent. My husband ordered the scallops and kept raving about how they were the best he had ever tasted. To wrap up our wonderful evening, I ordered the chocolate soufflé, which was amazing. By the way, it needs to be requested 25 minutes in advance because it is made fresh.
Shopping on Abbot Kinney Blvd
We took a stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard, where you can find a variety of fashion stores such as Everlane, Birkenstock, and Zadig & Voltaire, among others. The stores are spread out over 4 or 5 blocks, making it easy to explore them all on foot. In addition to clothing stores, you can find coffee shops and a few restaurants. During our visit, we stopped by Lavain for a chocolate chip and nut cookie, and then we visited Erewhon. My husband ordered the Tropical Lifeway smoothie, and I tried Hailey Bieber’s favorite smoothie, the Strawberry Glaze.
Quick Stop for Coffee, Tea, and Bread
Gjusta Grocer
Address: 105 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Phone: (310) 853-5088
Hours: Open Daily 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Contact/Info: Gjusta Grocer – Goop
Price Point: $
We visited the Venice sign, and just right there is Gjusta Grocer. This is a Venice-born brand rooted in the spirit of the farmers and producers they work with. I ordered green Tea and a chocolate croissant, and my husband ordered coffee and got a loaf of bread. Everything tasted so fresh and tasty. This Gjusta store is like a mini grocery market, it sells a variety of prepared food to go, wine and of course their baked goods.
Where To Eat Breakfast in Venice
The Butcher’s Daughter (Vegetarian Restaurant)
Address: Venice (1205 Abbot Kinney Blvd
Phone: (310) 981-3004)
Hours: Open daily, with extended hours (8am–10pm) Friday and Saturday
Price Point: $, $$
The next day, we went back to Abbot Kinney Blvd looking for places to eat breakfast. We started walking and found this cute restaurant called The Butcher’s Daughter. This is a vegetarian restaurant; however, it includes eggs on its menu. My husband ordered The Butcher’s Daughter special with over-medium eggs, and I ordered the huevos rancheros. Both plates were very tasty, but the one that got us was the Butcher’s Daughter special because it was served with a house sauce that is just so good.
What to Wear in Venice Beach
We visited Venice Beach in early May. Spring was in full bloom, and the weather was overcast, with temperatures around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. While it was still beautiful, it felt a bit chilly for a California gal like me, so cropped jackets became my best friend. If you plan on walking, I highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes such as sneakers, ballet flats, or heeled sandals. I changed outfits periodically since we were taking pictures for Instagram and the blog. Here are the outfits I wore while strolling along Venice Beach.
My husband and I had a very relaxing getaway, and I definitely plan to return to these same places. Next time, I hope to explore more and experience even more of Venice Beach. I hope you enjoyed this blog and that it helps you on your next visit to Venice Beach. -Yocely
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