Neighborhood Series: Spending a Saturday in Venice

More than just the boardwalk and the canals (although we love both), Venice is calling your name for a late summer day by the shore.

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Getting There

• Metro: Take the E (Gold) line to Culver City and transfer to the 1 bus to Pacific Ave / S Venice Blvd. 
• Driving: Park at the public lot at 2100 Ocean Front Walk to park all day for $18.

Morning

• 10:00am: Start your day with a bite to eat and a hot coffee (or cup of tea) at Alana's Coffee Roasters.
• 10:15am: Head one block Northeast to arrive at the lovely Venice Canals. Don your sunglasses and lower your voice to speculate about the multi-million dollar neighborhood homes as you enjoy the waterfront stroll.
• 11:15am: Whenever you’re ready, start heading North. If you need another caffeine fix, we recommend a stop at Kohi by Owa on Abbot Kinney, a tiny one-man coffee stand located inside Owa Japanese restaurant. From there, keep heading North - we recommend taking the walkway route along Nowita Pl. The whole walk from the canals is about 30 minutes.

Afternoon

• 12:00pm: Finally, you’ll arrive at the magical mosaic tile house, created by two artists in residence. Enjoy the stunning unique art and warm welcome by the artists themselves. Just make sure to reserve ($20) in advance!
• 1:00pm: Head back South to Abbot Kinney Blvd and head West. Stop for lunch at Gjelina for a stylish atmosphere and dishes like squash blossom pizza. For more casual (and affordable) dining, head to SoCal Vibes, a tiki bar with notable fish tacos and a wide selection of ciders.
• 2:00pm: After lunch, make your way along Abbot Kinney. With too many cool shops to name, stop in at whatever strikes your fancy. For a special mini getaway, book a private cabana for a sauna and cold plunge ($85-$160/2 people) at Den Mother along the way.
• 4:00pm: Toward the end of Abbot Kinney you’ll find the weekly art, fashion, and vintage market, Artists & Fleas. The market wraps up at 5pm, so make sure you get there in time to enjoy it before vendors start packing up.

Evening

• 5:00pm: Keep heading down Abbot Kinney then along Brooks Ave and you’ll find yourself right on the Venice Boardwalk. Wander the boardwalk, take in the weird of it all - highlights include the skate park, muscle beach, and people watching of course. 
• 7:00pm: When you get hungry make your way to Fabio’s for a stellar dinner of pasta handmade fresh every day. Enjoy your meal al fresco with a view of the beach and watch the sun set over the Pacific.
• 8:00pm: Your last stop of the day is the Del Monte Speakeasy under Townhouse bar. This speakeasy was an actual speakeasy during prohibition, so enjoy the historic feel along with a live performance. If you drove, make sure you get back to your car before the lot closes at 10pm!

Tips

• Total walk time: 1h 40m + strolling through the canals and along the boardwalk at your leisure
• The mosaic tile house and Artists & Fleas are only open on Saturdays. Everything else can be done Wed-Sun, although there may not be live entertainment at the Del Monte every night.
• Reserve your visit to the mosaic tile house, treatment at Den Mother (if you so choose), and ticket for Del Monte in advance.
• Pro tip: If you’re in the mood for a SoCal style self-care day, Venice is a great place for it! Come back for a visit to Likeminded, Spa Sophia, or Open.

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