✦ Local Guide · Santa Monica

✨ Special Occasion Restaurants in Santa Monica

The best elevated restaurants for celebrations and special occasions in Santa Monica — curated from over 200 LA restaurants.

7 picks

When the occasion calls for something genuinely memorable, Santa Monica delivers. These 7 restaurants are the ones locals reach for when the moment matters — birthdays, anniversaries, promotions, or any night worth marking. Expect polished service, kitchens firing on all cylinders, and rooms that feel like an event. Watch the TikTok reviews before booking to pick the right setting. Leading options: Melisse / Citrin, Seline, Pasjoli.

Santa Monica's dining scene combines ocean-view settings with serious culinary credentials — walkable, diverse, and well worth the westside traffic.

Melisse / Citrin

Modern American · French  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★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

Seline

Contemporary Tasting Menu  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★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  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$$

★★★★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

Fia

Italian · California · Wood-Fired  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★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

Birdie G's

American · Southern-Californian  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 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  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 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  ·  Santa Monica  ·  $$$

★★★★☆ 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

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best restaurant for a special occasion in Santa Monica?

Melisse / Citrin is the top choice — it delivers on every front that matters for a celebration: exceptional food, attentive service, and an atmosphere that feels worthy of the moment.

Where can I celebrate a birthday in Santa Monica?

Fia is excellent for birthdays — the staff go out of their way to make celebrants feel recognized, and the menu has enough range to work for most groups.

How far in advance should I book a special occasion dinner?

For the top spots on this list, book 1–2 weeks ahead — sometimes more for weekend dates. Mention the occasion when reserving; most restaurants will note it and prepare accordingly.