If you want to spot a celebrity or soothe your shopping addiction, you may want to take a stroll on Montana Ave. It’s only a few blocks from Downtown Santa Monica’s Palisades Park and is a 10-block area between 7th and 17th street where you can sip a latte, enjoy an international meal, go to an art film, or walk your dog.
Watch my short video walking tour.
The weekends on Montana Avenue are bustling, and the street is alive with activity from morning to late evening. When I’m on that side of town I love to snag a croissant from one of Montana Avenue’s many coffeehouses. For lunch, there is no better sandwich made with freshly baked focaccia bread than from Sogno Toscano Café & Wine Bar which also sells Italian specialty foods. (make a reservation first)
One of the best hamburgers in all of Los Angeles can be had at Father’s Office, which also offers 36 craft beers.
A new and tiny Vietnamese restaurant called Bun & Mi serves amazing Asian Fusion Banh Mi, Noodle bowls, and more and its owner Alvin is super friendly.
But that is only touching the surface. The entire street is a dining bonanza for diehard foodies and shopaholics. There are over 150 shops and cafes. They are mostly high-end and classy.
The Aero Theatre opened in 1940 in a Streamline Moderne design by architect R. M. Woolpert. It was originally owned by the Douglas Aircraft Company, hence its name.
It is now owned by the American Cinematheque and was updated in 2019 with the latest projection and sound equipment. It’s a popular place for special screenings and industry events.
An annual ArtWalk is held on the block in the fall.
Montana Ave is considered to be a top shopping destination in Los Angeles by Frommers.com along with Larchmont Village, Rodeo Drive, and the Sunset Strip.
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