Santa Monica Real Estate | Community Guide

Welcome to Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a trendy beachfront city located between Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. This fun city is full of famous seaside attractions and hip shops and restaurants. Santa Monica Pier’s iconic Ferris wheel and rollercoaster are the backdrop for its long sandy beachfront, while Third Street Promenade is one of California’s premier shopping streets.

Homes in this eclectic community are as diverse as Santa Monica’s attractions. Stylish contemporary condominiums dot the oceanfront and provide luxury amenities mere steps from the beach. Residential neighborhoods in the heart of Santa Monica offer classic Californian bungalows and spacious single-family homes. The quiet hillsides to the northwest feature stunning estates and breathtaking private compounds.

What to Love

Santa Monica Beach and Pier
Eclectic housing options
Trendy shopping and dining
Contemporary art at Bergamot Station

People & Lifestyle

The lifestyle in Santa Monica is hard to beat. There’s plenty of sunshine to enjoy on the beach and Santa Monica Pier offers tons of fun. The city is also one of California’s trendiest shopping and dining hotspots, with exceptional restaurants, buzzing nightlife, and an impeccable choice of brand-name and boutique retailers. For families, this exciting community also boasts many highly-regarded public schools.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Santa Monica’s walkable downtown district centers on Third Street Promenade, a lively stretch of shopping and dining just a few blocks from the beach and Santa Monica Pier. The car-free Third Street Promenade covers three blocks and features diverse dining options at The Gallery Food Hall, happy hour cocktails at The Misfit and West 4th & Jane, and designer brand shopping at Santa Monica Place. This creative community is also home to some of the Greater Los Angeles area’s best music shops. True Tone Music and McCabe’s Guitar Shop have been the go-to stores for serious musicians looking for the finest instruments and equipment for decades. Both boast exceptionally knowledgeable staff with a commitment to helping you find exactly what you’re looking for. McCabe’s doubles as a live music venue with an eclectic lineup of concerts each weekend. The store also offers a range of private and group lessons for just about every instrument imaginable. Wilshire Boulevard runs all the way from Santa Monica State Beach to Downtown Los Angeles. The section of Wilshire Boulevard between Mid-City and Downtown Santa Monica is lined with organic grocery stores such as Erewhon Market and Whole Foods Market, fashion outlets including Great Labels Designer Consignment, and numerous outstanding restaurants. Located close to the beachfront, FIG at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel is a seasonal bistro with flavorful farm-to-table cooking served in an attractive plant-covered poolside setting. Along with delicious meals, FIG offers some of Westside Los Angeles’ best happy hour drink specials, with substantial discounts on its extensive selection of wines, beers, and cocktails.

Things to Do

The oceanfront playground of Santa Monica Beach and Santa Monica Pier are the city’s signature attractions. The beach runs for 3.5 miles, with the pier separating its northern and southern sections. Located at the northern end of the beach, Annenberg Beach House offers great views and amenities that are open for all to use. The Beach House’s amenities include a splash pad, courts and fields for beach sports, and a swimming pool. The North Beach also has a children’s playground, while South Beach is home to the original Muscle Beach outdoor gym area, the luxurious Shutters on the Beach hotel and spa, and the distinctive 1920s Hotel Casa del Mar. Santa Monica Pier juts into the ocean with attractions like Pacific Park’s towering Ferris wheel and rollercoaster. Dozens of street performers line the Pier every day of the week, and other entertainment options include the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Bergamot Station Arts Center is the largest art gallery complex and cultural center in Southern California. Spanning eight acres in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, Bergamot Station is comprised of multiple art galleries and performance spaces showcasing some of today’s most exciting contemporary artists.