The LA City Guide to Abbot Kinney & Venice, California
Venice is one of our favorite neighborhoods in LA: there's the Venice Beach boardwalk, lots of sand and palm trees, and probably the best street in Los Angeles, Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Everything here is beautiful, bright, and laid back. There's so many great restaurants and boutiques to choose from, so to make it a little easier for you, here are the best places to shop and the best places to eat in Venice, California!
Where to Eat in Venice
If you have to go to one place in Venice, make it The Butcher's Daughter. This plant-based (read: vegan) restaurant and juice bar is not only bright and gorgeous, but it's also delicious! Stop by for a meal, a cocktail, or grab an espresso or juice to go at the cutest takeaway window.
Zinque is another one of our Venice favorites, and definitely one of the prettiest and best places to eat in Venice! It's modern French food, but since it's LA, there's tons of salsads and gluten-free options. Our recommendations: try half a roasted chicken sandwich with a side avocado salad, or "Le Bowl" for the perfect fresh and healthy lunch. Sit outside under the green trellis or chill out and work inside for a bit.
Gjelina is probably the most famous fo the best places to eat in Venice, famed for their incredible pizzas and pastas. The back patio is a hidden gem on Abbot Kinney, but if you can't get a table at Gjelina (or don't want to wait), head next door to Gjelina Takeaway and grab yourself a picnic lunch to take to the beach.
The Tasting Kitchen is a Mediterranean restaurant open for dinner, but it's bustling at weekend brunch for their picture-perfect waffles. Their drink menu is amazing, and it's home to some of the best cocktails in Venice. If you're a seafood lover, Salt Air is a great place to eat in Venice for their minimalist vibes and relaxed atmosphere. A gorgeous full bar and weekend brunch doesn't hurt either!
Gjusta is the local gem of Venice. Located a few blocks away from Abbot Kinney and the Venice Beach boardwalk, it's definitely a locals spot. This cafe and bakery is home to amazing food, whether you eat bread or not. Their patio is so light and comfortable, we would start our mornings here every day if we could!
One thing we love about Abbot Kinney and Venice is that so many of our favorite local shops from around the US also have a presence here! We were so excited to find two of Portland's crown jewels, Blue Star Donuts and Salt and Straw, along the boulevard. Stop by Blue Star Donuts if you want a sweet and gourmet donut (think blueberry-bourbon-basil kind of flavors) or Salt and Straw to cool off with some ice cream. Both shops have vegan options too!
Where to Shop in Venice
The best way to kill time between all the amazing places to eat in Venice is to shop! There are a ton of boutiques along Abbot Kinney, and these are just a few of our local favorites. First, there's the Instagram-famous yellow house that is home to the awesome boutique The Piece Collective. You'll find jewelry, clothing, accessories, and home goods inside (but photos are only allowed outside). The first Cuyana store is on Abbot Kinney as well, and we are so obsessed with our Cuyana bags and cosmetic kits for travelling! Great quality in great colours.
A few blocks from Abbot Kinney is Lincoln Boulevard, which is also home to some great places to shop in Venice. We fell head over heels for LCD, a gorgeous boutique that also has an incredible patio filled with furniture, plants, and a ton of beautiful objects for summer livin'. LCD has a Venice collaboration with Knowlita, you can check out their great posters and "Venice or Nowhere" line here.
A San Francisco love of ours, General Store, is also in Venice! A few blocks down from LCD, you'll find this amazing space filled with home goods, vintage clothing, accessories, and a slew of creative, handmade cards. Plus, a great selfie mirror. ;)
There's a lot of great places to shop in Venice for the guys too. Tradesmen is next door to General Store, and they have a great selection of California casual wear that is so much more than just Venice "surfer bro" attire. Denim on denim on denim!
Stag Provisions from Austin is also in Venice, and their Abbot Kinney shop is a great place to find gifts to bring home for the guy in your life, or to find that perfect men's tee for yourself. Free beer while you shop isn't bad either!
Whether you want to grab a coffee along Lincoln Boulevard, do some men's shopping, or you just really, really love motorcycles, you have to stop in at Deus Ex Machina. We love their brand, and their tees, hoodies, or bomber jackets are great for girls too.
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