✦ Neighborhood Guide · Los Angeles

Best Restaurants in Santa Monica

12 curated picks covering every occasion, cuisine, and budget — with real TikTok previews.

12 restaurants

Santa Monica's dining scene pairs ocean views with serious culinary credentials. The Third Street Promenade corridor and Main Street each have distinct personalities — walkable, diverse, and consistently strong across every price point.

These 12 picks are pulled from Forks.LA's database of 230+ LA restaurants, selected for quality, consistency, and the kind of experience worth planning your night around. Top of the list: Melisse / Citrin, Dialogue, Seline.

Melisse / Citrin

Modern American · French  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.9

Santa Monica's refined tasting menu for the most special of occasions

Must-try: Full Tasting Menu ($295), Tomato Salad, Lobster Bolognese

📍 1104 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Dialogue

Dialogue

Californian · Tasting Menu  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.8

Dave Beran's 18-seat Michelin two-star counter in Santa Monica — the most personal tasting menu in Los Angeles

Must-try: Full tasting menu (the only option), Wine pairing, Bread course

📍 1315 3rd Street Promenade, Suite 1000, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Seline

Contemporary Tasting Menu  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.7

Michelin-starred 15–18 course tasting menu in Santa Monica by Chef Dave Beran — one seating per night

Must-try: 15–18 course chef's tasting menu, Seasonal wine pairing

📍 3110 Main St, Ste 132, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Pasjoli

French · Bistro  ·  $$$$

★★★★½ 4.6

Michelin-starred French bistro on Main Street — showstopping pressed duck and casual Parisian soul

Must-try: Canard à la Presse (pressed duck for two), Moules frites, Jambon beurre

📍 2732 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Bay Cities Italian Deli

Italian Deli · Sandwiches  ·  $

★★★★½ 4.6

The Godmother — Santa Monica's legendary Italian sub that has been LA's sandwich benchmark for over fifty years

Must-try: The Godmother sub, Focaccia, Imported cheese and charcuterie

📍 1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Fia

Italian · California · Wood-Fired  ·  $$$

★★★★½ 4.5

Santa Monica's Italian-inspired restaurant where wood-fired cooking and California produce meet in a warm, beautiful room

Must-try: Wood-fired whole fish, Pasta carbonara, Burrata with seasonal accompaniments

📍 2454 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Milo & Olive

Italian · Pizza · Bakery  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Beloved neighborhood wood-fired pizzeria and bakery on Wilshire — always worth the wait

Must-try: Wood-Fired Margherita Pizza, Soft-Boiled Egg Toast with Burrata, Seasonal Galette

📍 2723 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403

Birdie G's

American · Southern-Californian  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Jeremy Fox's Santa Monica American — duck, ribs, and Jewish-Southern cooking that defies category

Must-try: BBQ duck, Gluten-free fried chicken, Pie of the day

📍 2421 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Cassia

Southeast Asian · Singaporean · Californian  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Santa Monica's Southeast Asian brasserie — Bryant Ng's Singapore-inflected cooking in a beautiful room one block from the beach

Must-try: Singapore-style laksa, Kaya toast with coconut jam, Slow-roasted pork shoulder

📍 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Rustic Canyon

Californian · Vegetable-Forward · Wine Bar  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Santa Monica's farmhouse wine room — Jeremy Fox's produce-first cooking and one of the best natural wine lists on the Westside

Must-try: Vegetable plate (seasonal), Whole roasted chicken, Pasta with whatever's at the market

📍 1119 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Tallula's

Mexican · California  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.4

Santa Monica's Mexican garden restaurant — margaritas under string lights, wood-fired dishes, and the most romantic patio on the Westside

Must-try: Carnitas tacos, Mole enchiladas, Spicy margarita

📍 118 Entrada Dr, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Tar & Roses

American · Wood-Fired  ·  $$

★★★★☆ 4.2

Wood-fired small plates, bone marrow, and a buzzy cocktail bar on the east end of Santa Monica

Must-try: Wood-Roasted Bone Marrow, Tagliatelle with Braised Rabbit, Crispy Pork Belly

📍 602 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best restaurant in Santa Monica?

Melisse / Citrin is consistently the top-rated restaurant in Santa Monica — exceptional food, a memorable atmosphere, and the kind of place worth booking ahead for. Other standouts include Dialogue and Seline.

What are the most popular restaurants in Santa Monica right now?

The most talked-about restaurants in Santa Monica right now are Melisse / Citrin, Dialogue, Seline. All three are booking out quickly — reservations are recommended for weekend visits.

Where can I eat cheaply in Santa Monica?

Bay Cities Italian Deli is one of the best value options in Santa Monica — quality food without the special-occasion price tag. Several spots on this list are wallet-friendly without sacrificing on what's on the plate.

Do restaurants in Santa Monica require reservations?

The top spots in Santa Monica fill up fast, especially on weekends. Book Melisse / Citrin and similar picks 3–7 days ahead on Resy or OpenTable. Several spots on this list are walk-in friendly on weeknights.