Girls Week In Santa Monica Celebrating 50th BD!

[orangefruitcake]

Myself and 4 girlfriends are traveling to Santa Monica for a week in October from CT to celebrate a 50th birthday. We will be staying at The Shores Apartment complex on Nielson Way and none of us are rich. But we love to eat and play!! Looking for any and all suggestions for reasonably priced, excellent food in the area. Looking to splurge a couple of nights as well. Have car, will travel, too! None of us have been in that part of the world for at least 25 years and can't wait! Thanks in advance for all your suggestions.

[Phurstluv]

You definitely should check out Main St in Santa Monica, which is a block east to where you'll be staying. Lots of decent choices there, ranging in price & taste, from divey bars to nice places.

Chinois on Main is fun; Ado is a new Italian; Urth Caffe is good for breakfast stuff; Salut is a new wine bar & Library Ale house is decent. Bravo pizza is also decent, but don't expect NY-CT style pizza - it's not all CA but just go in with an open mind.

Abbott Kinney is a funky street in Venice, close by, with lots of galleries & shops. Hal's & Gjelina are two decent places on that strip. Joe's of Venice beach has been there forever & has a great lunch special (last time I was there, $18) and excellent food. Good for brunch too. Another decent place with good wines is Primitivo, nice patio.

You may want to check out some hotel lounges on Ocean in Santa Monica, just north of where you'll be for some drinks and views. Casa del Mar has a great lounge, as does Shutters on the Beach, across Pico blvd from Casa.

That should get you started, there are lots of CHers who will have more recs. Have a great time!!

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Chinois
2709 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Primitivo
1025 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291

Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291, USA

Ado
796 Main St, Venice, CA 90291

[westsidegal]

gjelina is one of the hottest restaurants in town. if you plan to go there get your reservations set up early. fantastic food.
i also concur with Phurstluv's recommendation of chinois. terrific food, good portion size and amazing consistency.
haven't tried the other rec's on her list

[yogachik]

Definitely make a reservation at Gjelina, the food is amazing and the prices are reasonable.

There are so many great happy hour spots in Santa Monica, which is a great way to keep costs down (usually 5-7PM). Shutters Hotel (downstairs), Casa del Mar, Chaya Venice, World Cafe, The Yard are but a short list of great happy hour (meaning, great food and selection for almost no money - $5 drinks, $5 food).

For full dinner, check out places like Bar Pinxto, Musha - for inexpensive meals, but great food.

For splurge, I love Chaya Venice, and it's very festive and Chinois (walk from the Shores) . I agree with Primitivo and Ado, too. Cache is great for a drink outside.

[westsidegal]

not only does musha serve excellent food, they will take reservations. they open at 6pm nightly. since they can get crowed, i would make a reservation at least a day before. . ..