Venice Beach: From Hippie Hangout To Silicon Beach
Venice Beach is an iconic part of Los Angeles that has had many different reincarnations over the decades. In the 1960s it was home of the hippies, then it became an intimidating gang territory in the early 1990s. It was overtaken by skateboarders in the Noughties, and now? Now, Venice Beach is again transforming before your very eyes into a much more welcoming and affluent part of the city. Now Billionaires hang out in the old hippy haunts and at new developments in silicon beach. Venice Beach has retained much of its character from its colorful history, the Ocean Front Walk boardwalk is still overrun with street entertainers and bongo players, but now there is a Whole Foods store, fine dining restaurants and yoga classes all over.
The Venice canals are just as beautiful as their Italian cousins.
Venice was named for its canals, like those in its Italian predecessor. You can kayak on the canals past brightly colored houses that line the lush waterways. Or you can cycle or skate along the canal side. Rent a bike or skates from one of the many places in Venice Beach, like Venice Bikes & Skates, to get around the area and into Santa Monica. Or you could just drive around in style in a Bentley Flying Spur from L.A Luxury Car Rental. However, the main hub of this neighbourhood is the beach. Droves of eccentrics and sun worshippers head to this seven mile stretch of golden sand, and the seaside park that is full of roller dancers. Ocean Front Walk is a main tourist draw for its incredible people watching. See L.A plastics run shoulders with skateboards and surfers with oddities like stilt-walkers and palm-readers thrown into the exciting mix. It is also a great place to spend the day in the cafes, ice cream parlors, galleries, surf shops, and one off boutiques that line the boardwalk. You will be sure to find some interesting gifts and souvenirs. Check out Venice Beach Bikini to pick out some new designer beachwear for your trip to the ocean.
The pristine white sands of Venice Beach.
For shopping you can’t go wrong with Abbot Kinney, named after the founder of the area, and dubbed by GQ magazine as ‘”the chic-est street in America”. This unique place has stores set in craftsmen houses and quaint beach bungalows, with welcome outdoor seating, which gives the area its communal charm. In the intriguing boutiques like Satine, which has two distinctive giant graffiti bunnies painted on the wall, you will find designer clothes from Alexander Wang next to Roxy wetsuits, which perfectly exemplifies the diverse culture of Venice Beach. Heist was one of the first boutiques to open in Abbot Kinney after its renaissance in 2004. They have a range of clothing designers including Isabel Marant. Pamela Barish is a store opened by a Venice local who wanted to sell ethical locally sourced clothing. Everything in the store comes from within one hundred miles of it. For avant-garde designers check out Guild and Salt, and for incredible designer shoes go to Mona Moore. For unique hand made leather bags and accessories Conrad is the only choice. For stylish home décor head to Altered Space, a cool gallery of interior design in Abbot Kinney. Evolution Salon and Gallery is the place to go for biodegradable cruelty-free natural beauty products. And for the finest perfumes go to the “perfume commune” where two incredible perfume stores sit side by side, Strange Invisible Perfumes and Le Labo. In Abbot Kinney there is the famous pizzeria Gjelina, which is a hot celebrity spot, popular with A-listers. You might just see Beyonce and Jay-Z or Gwyneth Paltrow, or Robert De Niro tucking into some luxury pizza, to name but a few of the big names that have been there recently.
An artistic sculpture on Ocean Front Walk.
After your inevitable shopping spree you might want to check out Penmar Golf Course, or failing that you might just want to sink into a spa. Venice Beach has a variety to choose from. For excellent massages and a legendary eyebrow wax go to Spa Sophia a boutique spa with excellent personal service. Alternatively try Alchemie Spa an exclusive spa retreat that uses organic products. Just outside of Venice Beach in Santa Monica is the renowned One the Spa in the Shutters on the Beach hotel. This separate spa retreat is located just steps away from the beach. You will feel soothed by the nautical themed interior that makes the place look like a luxury yacht. Try the Hammam treatment, or one of the facials, they come highly recommended.
The unique villas of Venice Beach glow as the sun sets.
You will love the choice of luxury restaurants available in Venice Beach. Ado is an exclusive Italian restaurant with a candle-lit historic house, which also has a beautiful outside deck. The fresh pastas give you the true Italian experience. Order several courses and linger over the wine to feel like you are transported into Italy. Joe’s Restaurant offers seasonal Californian cuisine with a French influence. The ingredients come fresh from the market everyday, making the food bursting with flavor. Sunday brunch comes highly recommended, especially the crab scramble and generous bottomless mimosas. For an elevated dining experience unlike anything else in L.A go to the elite and elegant Melisse. Here you will find perfectly prepared, ‘sublime’ seasonal prix fixe menus that give you a taste of America, with all the skill and technique of French cooking.
Watch incredible sunsets from the beach.
After dinner discover the happening nightlife in Venice Beach. Go to the High Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Erwin for an unbelievable panorama of the surrounding city. You can see all the way to Santa Monica Pier and Catalina on a clear day. Head there at sunset for a cocktail with a spectacular light show. Another great place for trendy cocktails is The Otheroom on Abbot Kinney. This is the place to see and be seen in a glamorous crowd of young millionaires and wannabes. For refined wine bar Venice Beach Wine is your best option. The wine selection is eclectic and extensive and the setting is charming.
See the sky fill up with warm liquid light, as the sun melts away.
Stay in the heart of Venice Beach and experience it like a local by renting one of our luxurious Venice Beach vacation rentals. You will be right where the action is, and have every comfort of home.
The Venice canals are just as beautiful as their Italian cousins.
Venice was named for its canals, like those in its Italian predecessor. You can kayak on the canals past brightly colored houses that line the lush waterways. Or you can cycle or skate along the canal side. Rent a bike or skates from one of the many places in Venice Beach, like Venice Bikes & Skates, to get around the area and into Santa Monica. Or you could just drive around in style in a Bentley Flying Spur from L.A Luxury Car Rental. However, the main hub of this neighbourhood is the beach. Droves of eccentrics and sun worshippers head to this seven mile stretch of golden sand, and the seaside park that is full of roller dancers. Ocean Front Walk is a main tourist draw for its incredible people watching. See L.A plastics run shoulders with skateboards and surfers with oddities like stilt-walkers and palm-readers thrown into the exciting mix. It is also a great place to spend the day in the cafes, ice cream parlors, galleries, surf shops, and one off boutiques that line the boardwalk. You will be sure to find some interesting gifts and souvenirs. Check out Venice Beach Bikini to pick out some new designer beachwear for your trip to the ocean.
The pristine white sands of Venice Beach.
For shopping you can’t go wrong with Abbot Kinney, named after the founder of the area, and dubbed by GQ magazine as ‘”the chic-est street in America”. This unique place has stores set in craftsmen houses and quaint beach bungalows, with welcome outdoor seating, which gives the area its communal charm. In the intriguing boutiques like Satine, which has two distinctive giant graffiti bunnies painted on the wall, you will find designer clothes from Alexander Wang next to Roxy wetsuits, which perfectly exemplifies the diverse culture of Venice Beach. Heist was one of the first boutiques to open in Abbot Kinney after its renaissance in 2004. They have a range of clothing designers including Isabel Marant. Pamela Barish is a store opened by a Venice local who wanted to sell ethical locally sourced clothing. Everything in the store comes from within one hundred miles of it. For avant-garde designers check out Guild and Salt, and for incredible designer shoes go to Mona Moore. For unique hand made leather bags and accessories Conrad is the only choice. For stylish home décor head to Altered Space, a cool gallery of interior design in Abbot Kinney. Evolution Salon and Gallery is the place to go for biodegradable cruelty-free natural beauty products. And for the finest perfumes go to the “perfume commune” where two incredible perfume stores sit side by side, Strange Invisible Perfumes and Le Labo. In Abbot Kinney there is the famous pizzeria Gjelina, which is a hot celebrity spot, popular with A-listers. You might just see Beyonce and Jay-Z or Gwyneth Paltrow, or Robert De Niro tucking into some luxury pizza, to name but a few of the big names that have been there recently.
An artistic sculpture on Ocean Front Walk.
After your inevitable shopping spree you might want to check out Penmar Golf Course, or failing that you might just want to sink into a spa. Venice Beach has a variety to choose from. For excellent massages and a legendary eyebrow wax go to Spa Sophia a boutique spa with excellent personal service. Alternatively try Alchemie Spa an exclusive spa retreat that uses organic products. Just outside of Venice Beach in Santa Monica is the renowned One the Spa in the Shutters on the Beach hotel. This separate spa retreat is located just steps away from the beach. You will feel soothed by the nautical themed interior that makes the place look like a luxury yacht. Try the Hammam treatment, or one of the facials, they come highly recommended.
The unique villas of Venice Beach glow as the sun sets.
You will love the choice of luxury restaurants available in Venice Beach. Ado is an exclusive Italian restaurant with a candle-lit historic house, which also has a beautiful outside deck. The fresh pastas give you the true Italian experience. Order several courses and linger over the wine to feel like you are transported into Italy. Joe’s Restaurant offers seasonal Californian cuisine with a French influence. The ingredients come fresh from the market everyday, making the food bursting with flavor. Sunday brunch comes highly recommended, especially the crab scramble and generous bottomless mimosas. For an elevated dining experience unlike anything else in L.A go to the elite and elegant Melisse. Here you will find perfectly prepared, ‘sublime’ seasonal prix fixe menus that give you a taste of America, with all the skill and technique of French cooking.
Watch incredible sunsets from the beach.
After dinner discover the happening nightlife in Venice Beach. Go to the High Rooftop Lounge at the Hotel Erwin for an unbelievable panorama of the surrounding city. You can see all the way to Santa Monica Pier and Catalina on a clear day. Head there at sunset for a cocktail with a spectacular light show. Another great place for trendy cocktails is The Otheroom on Abbot Kinney. This is the place to see and be seen in a glamorous crowd of young millionaires and wannabes. For refined wine bar Venice Beach Wine is your best option. The wine selection is eclectic and extensive and the setting is charming.
See the sky fill up with warm liquid light, as the sun melts away.
Stay in the heart of Venice Beach and experience it like a local by renting one of our luxurious Venice Beach vacation rentals. You will be right where the action is, and have every comfort of home.