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