10 Best Cafes In Santa Monica, California

cafes in santa monica
Maria Cristina
Maria Cristina 
Published
| 5 min read

There’s more to see than the beaches and beautiful weather in Santa Monica. This laid-back coastal town is just 21 kilometers (13 miles) away from Los Angeles downtown, 13 kilometers (8 miles) from LAX, and close to the famous cities of Southern California such as Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Easy access to car rentals and public transport makes it easy to go around the city without your car. Though Bohemian in lifestyle, Santa Monica has a big city flair. Its eight neighborhoods offer an assortment of dining options, shops, amusement centers, and outdoor activities. When it comes to dining, Santa Monica has the best restaurants, chefs, and resources because of its location, farmers’ markets, and diversity. This compact city has restaurants and cafes located just within the next corner or neighborhood. Check out our list of the best cafes in Santa Monica, California, and try them now.

1. Goodboybob Coffee

coffee
Source: Photo by Flickr user Cheryl Foong used under CC BY 2.0

There’s nothing pretentious on the menu of Goodboybob. They serve only the best and rarest coffee beans sourced locally and internationally. They serve dishes that vegetarians, vegans, and voracious eaters would love, made fresh with organic ingredients from local farmers. The servings are generous and meant for sharing. Bring a friend along and enjoy a lovely brunch. If you’ve had enough caffeine for the day, you can select from their extensive collection of wines and beer to cleanse your palette. Just like their branch in Culver City, you can drop by and dine in, order for delivery, or contact them to book for a private event.

Goodboybob Coffee

Address: 2058 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States

Website: Goodboybob Coffee

Opening hours: 8am - 4pm (daily)

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2. Urth Caffé

Best Cafes In Santa Monica, California
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Motohiro Takayama used under CC BY 3.0

Urth Caffé has branches in Las Vegas, Dubai, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, but the one in Santa Monica is open daily for takeout and delivery only. Since its opening in 1989, Urth Caffé has continued to roast their outstanding coffee beans and hand-picked fine teas to create their exclusive blends from their heirloom recipes. The rich aroma and flavor of Urth’s world-class coffee come only from a few organic and shade-grown coffee beans sourced directly from family-owned farms. Their menu, which covers breakfast to dinner, offers gluten-free, vegan, and organic selections. Their yummy desserts and baked goodies make for a sweet ending to every meal.

Urth Caffé

Address: 2327 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405

Website: Urth Caffé

Opening hours: 7am - 9:30pm (daily)

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3. Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe

Huckleberry Cafe
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ron Dollete used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe serves their guests the best breakfast-inspired dishes made on site with farm-fresh ingredients. Though they are not open for dine-in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they do delivery, curbside pick-up, takeout, catering, and events. Their menu varies depending on the availability of the organic ingredients, produce from the farmers’ market, their supply of Valrhona chocolates, meats, and poultry. Try their signature creations such as Dad’s pancakes and fried egg sandwich along with their famous coffee. The culinary team also surprises its customers with seasonal menus and new dishes based on their creative impulses.

Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe

Address: 1014 Wilshire Blvd Santa Monica CA 90401

Website: Huckleberry Bakery & Cafe

Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)

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4. Cora's Coffee Shoppe

Cora's Coffee Shoppe
Source: Photo by Flickr user Minuk used under CC BY-ND 2.0

To keep up with the new normal, chef and owner, Bruce Marder, has created a superb menu to be enjoyed eaten al fresco under the shade of bougainvillea on the restaurant’s patio. They serve breakfast and lunch, with a Californian menu made with ingredients from the fresh organic proteins and produce of Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. They have added Mexican items to their existing old Cora’s favorites. They extended the hours of their dinner service from Tuesdays to Saturdays so their customers can enjoy the new menu of Capo Cantina. Seating is limited in compliance with the social distancing protocol. Patrons need not worry if they don’t get a seat as the full menu is also offered for takeout. You can still enjoy al fresco dining at the beach, which is just a block away.

Cora's Coffee Shoppe

Address: 1802 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States

Website: Cora’s Coffee Shoppe

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 7am - 3pm (closed on Mon)

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5. Venice Flake

Breakfast Burritos
Source: Photo by Flickr user Ella Olsson used under CC BY 2.0

This family-owned cafe has been serving the community since 2008 with three generations of their delicious dishes that are cooked upon ordering. Their Mexican-inspired menu can be enjoyed from breakfast until lunch. Most of their breakfast sandwiches have scrambled eggs served with either an English muffin or toasted croissant. They do offer healthy options on their menus such as gluten-free banana bread, low-fat yogurt bowl, and sambazon acai bowl. The menu also includes burritos, specialty sandwiches, coffee, tea, and cold beverages. This family-friendly cafe is open daily for dine-in, accepts phone-in and online orders, and available for pick-up.

Venice Flake

Address: 513 Rose Ave Venice, CA 90291

Website: Venice Flake

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 8am - 3pm; Mon - Fri: 8am - 2pm

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6. The OP Cafe

Taco
Source: Photo by Flickr user Karl-Martin Skontorp used under CC BY 2.0

Do you fancy having steak and eggs or a loaded burrito slathered in cheese sauce with chips on the side for breakfast? Visit The OP Cafe and have these tummy-filling dishes for breakfast. Their all-American menu has a Southern Californian twist with gluten-free options that are best taken with a cup of warm coffee or cold brew coffee. You can drop by to dine in for lunch and breakfast. They are also available for catering, delivery, and takeout. The vintage cottage-sized cafe has a covered patio dining at the front and back of the restaurant. Serving since 1996, the cafe is loved by the locals for its friendly atmosphere and service with a beach-town charisma that pays tribute to the Santa Monica Lifeguard Service.

The OP Cafe

Address: 3117 Ocean Park Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405

Website: The OP Cafe

Opening hours: 7am - 3pm (daily)

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7. Back on the Beach Cafe

Back on the Beach Cafe
Source: Photo by Flickr user The Lamb Family used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Back on the Beach Cafe serves their seasonal and local dishes with jaw-dropping views of Catalina Island, the sea, mountains, and the pier with sand tickling your toes. There are indoor and outdoor seating areas available, making it ideal for all types of events. Though Santa Monica has a strict “no dogs on the beach” policy that the cafe follows, they do allow guests to dine in with their service dogs.

Back on the Beach Cafe

Address: 445 CA-1, Santa Monica, CA 90402, United States

Website: Back on the Beach Cafe

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm (closed from Mon - Fri)

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8. Jinky's Cafe

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes
Source: Photo by Flickr user Meal Makeover Moms used under CC BY-ND 2.0

Jinky’s Cafe serves a diverse and delicious breakfast and lunch menu and a family special package. The establishment has earned a loyal following that includes social influencers and prestigious VIPs. They use only top-class ingredients to create their savory dishes their brand is well-known for. Their pancakes, Belgian waffles, salads, and sandwiches are the crowd favorites. They have several restaurants spread all over California, but their branch in Santa Monica, Studio City, and Sherman Oaks are temporarily closed until further notice.

Jinky's Cafe

Address: 1447 2ND ST. Santa Monica, CA 90401

Website: Jinky’s Cafe

Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)

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9. Blue Daisy Cafe

Lumberjack Breakfast
Source: Photo by Flickr user Clemens v. Vogelsang used under CC BY 2.0

Blue Daisy became popular for their delicious savory crepes and organic breakfast menu. All these are made from fresh organic meats and ingredients topped with homemade dressings and sauces. In 2016, they added seafood dishes to their dinner menu. Eventually, they moved to a bigger location to serve their patrons better with healthier food options. Enjoy al fresco dining on the two lovely outdoor patios exclusive for walk-in customers. They serve breakfast, dinner, lunch, and a light snack paired with Lavazza coffee. Try their handcrafted cocktails and choose from their collection of wines. They take orders for takeout and curbside pick-up, and they collaborated with Postmates, Grubhub, Doordash, and Ubereats for deliveries.

Blue Daisy Cafe

Address: 609 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States

Website: Blue Daisy Cafe

Opening hours: 8am - 4pm (daily)

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10. Le Pain Quotidien

Le Pain Quotidien
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user angela n. used under CC BY 2.0

Le Pain Quotidien makes breakfast and eating healthy fun. They serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and their famous baked goodies and desserts. Not only are their meals delicious, but they are also made from fresh and organic ingredients. Their combinations are colorful and appetizing. If you are not a fan of salad for breakfast, you soon can be once you try theirs. Though all their meals and desserts are made with organic ingredients, they cannot guarantee they will be allergen-free. They have 50 outlets spread over New York, Washington, Florida, Connecticut, and California.

Le Pain Quotidien

Address: 9630 S Santa Monica Blvd Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Website: Le Pain Quotidien

Opening hours: 8am - 3pm (daily)

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Visit a cafe in Santa Monica

Start a great day with a happy tummy by going to a cafe. You can choose from an extensive breakfast menu that you can enjoy eating until lunchtime. Try one of the best cafes in Santa Monica, California, whenever you are in town.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Tina is a free-spirited writer and traveler. She likes to experience unfamiliar places, cuisines, and scenery. She prefers beaches to mountains though as she is afraid of heights. Visiting museums,...Read more

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