Bars & Restaurants

OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Felix

Felix has everything of an Italian trattoria. A green wallpaper completes the warm decor of a nonna’s home, friendly service with an excellent pronunciation of Italian dishes, a Tuscan grill and a wood-fired oven. At the heart of the dining room, you’ll find the highlight of the show: a temperature-controlled pasta laboratory where you can admire Evan Funke and his chefs work the pasta dough by hand. You’ll want to order: the well-oiled sfincione focaccia to moisturize your fingers before even looking at the menu, pesto trofie from Cinque Terre, zucchini flowers stuffed with unctuous fior di latte mozzarella, cacio e pepe tonnarelli and parmesan-covered polpette, swimming in a delicious salsa verde.

Category: Italian
Vibe: Hip
Budget: $$$
Website: felixla.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 5pm-11pm
Address: 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (424) 387 8622

Gjelina

The delicacy of their mozzarella and orange-tinted cherry tomatoes pizza, its refined decor, the necessity to book ahead in order to avoid the line on a Saturday lunch, their gnocchi with brown butter and truffle honey, the staff’s hotness despite their lack of friendliness, their ricotta pancakes which sell out faster than a Rolling Stones concert…

Category: Modern Californian Cuisine
Vibe: Hip
Budget: $$$
Website: gjelina.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 11am-11pm
Address: 1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 450 1429

The Butcher’s Daughter

As the name does not suggest, The Butcher’s Daughter is a vegan canteen. From their first shop in Nolita, they kept the most popular dishes: spicy kale Caesar, black bean burger and the famous smashed avocado toast — there’s even an entire section of the menu dedicated to said toast. The large communal table right off Abbott Kinney is also welcoming new dishes: wood-fired pizzas, cauliflower steak frites, hand-made pasta with milk-free mozzarella. A former baker from Bouchon takes care of pastries, including a vegan croissant. Delicious sacrilege.

Category: Vegan
Vibe: Hip
Budget: $$
Website: thebutchersdaughter.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 8am-10pm
Address: 1205 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 981 3004

The Tasting Kitchen

Hip, inventive Mediterranean option known for its creative plates, cocktails & bustling brunch.

Category: Modern Californian
Vibe: Hip
Budget : $$$
Website: thetastingkitchen.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri, 5pm-2am;  Sat-Sun, 10:30am-2am
Address: 1633 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291 
Phone Number: (310) 981 3004

Gjusta

If the early bird catches the best waves, they would certainly catch Gjusta’s baklava croissant as well. A perfect puffer, a buttery taste which cannot compare, crushed pistachios and powder sugar which will stick to your fingers…These little wonders were imagined by Nicole Rucker (also seen at Cofax). If you happen to be a late riser, take the raspberry rhubarb galette, which has big chunks of fruits covered in brown sugar grains. The whipped burrata needs to be devoured from the jar, with the homemade bread. If the small rickety tables on the patio intimidate you, Gjusta also excels on take-away, Lower East Side deli style: traditional cheese, cured fish and meat… Everything at Gjusta is incredibly good, the most difficult task is to choose. And to wait in line.

Category: Californian, Deli
Vibe: Hip
Budget: $$
Website: gjusta.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 7am-9pm
Address: 320 Sunset Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 314 0320

The Win~Dow at American Beauty

You might not go for the decor — it’s just a walk-up window on a parking lot. The seating area kind of feels like a school yard, with its colorful plastic stools arranged in irregular circles all around the corner. It’s informal and friendly, inviting you to come as you are. The burger itself is a beautifully simple, perfectly balanced, melt-in-yourmouth cheeseburger. The patty is smashed on the flat-top grill to maximize flavor, cooked with caramelized onions until crisp, covered in American cheese, then carefully arranged in the freshest, softest brioche bun on a bed of house sauce and pickles. The meat to bread ratio feels ideal: it’s honestly as perfect as the place is unpretentious. The Beyond version of the cheeseburger is also available.

Category: Burger Joint
Vibe: Street Food
Budget: $
Website: thewin-dow.la 
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 6pm-10pm
Address: 425 Rose Ave, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 412 0075

Hatchet Hall

Hatchet Hall is a masterpiece of the Dada movement. In this surprisingly gigantic space (300 seats converted to 120), taxidermy is queen. There’s a charming patio with olive trees, a room for private dinners, and the Old Man’s Bar, a speakeasy hidden at the end of the corridor. The wine list is impenetrable, a weird crossword with fantastic biodynamic wines. The key is to let go, listen to the somm and order small plates of very rich food by chef Brian Dunsmoor. Chicken livers on toast, benne yeast rolls with honey butter … There’s a whole lot of bread on the menu and in the kitchen. Do not miss, for any reason, the two dishes that go beyond everything else: chermoula carrots (with labneh and honey) and the pork ribs from Peads & Barnetts, the best pig farm in Southern California.

Category: New Californian
Vibe: Casual chic
Budget: $$
Website: hatchethallla.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 6pm-10pm
Address: 12517 W. Washington Blvd. Los Angeles, CA, 90066
Phone Number: (310) 391 4222

Scopa Italian Roots

Roomy brick-walled gastropub dishing up hot & cold antipasti, pastas & other Italian specialties.

Category: Italian
Vibe: Casual chic
Budget: $$
Website: scopaitalianroots.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 5pm-1am
Address: 2905 Washington Blvd. Venice, CA 90292
Phone Number: (310) 821 1100

OUR FAVORITE BARS

Roosterfish

As one of the original bars along Mr. Kinney’s boulevard, is a part of a rare collective of original restaurants along Abbot Kinney, embracing the openness that makes Venice, CA as unique and special as it is! Roosterfish was one of the first progressive bars for the community and the new owners have kept its namesake in respect to the history Roosterfish has undergone.

Category: Cocktail bar
Vibe: Hipster
Budget: $$
Website: roosterfishla.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 4pm-2am
Address: 1302 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (424) 387 8221

The Waterfront

Indoor/outdoor beach spot offering Swiss & American eats, beer, wine & happy hour.

Category: Californian beer garden
Vibe: Casual
Budget: $
Website: thewaterfrontvenice.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 11am-12pm
Address: 205 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (424) 309 5333

The Lincoln

Classic cocktails & other drinks in an industrial-chic bar with a Model T Roadster & auto books.

Category: Cocktail bar + music venue
Vibe: Hipster
Budget: $
Website: thelincolnvenice.com
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sun, 5pm-2am
Address: 2536 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Phone Number: (310) 822 1715