Venice Beach is brimming grit and LA character. This colorful, coastal locale sits in the west side of Los Angeles, and is known for its laid-back, eclectic energy.

You’ll find a distillation of Venice Beach in the street performers, bodybuilders, and beach-goers that congregate at its namesake Beach and Boardwalk. There’s an equally entertaining mix of restaurants, bars, and shops along the boardwalk. You can get your poke and a tattoo all within an afternoon. Even though Venice has retained a lot of its character from the formative Beat Generation that congregated in the neighborhood, there’s plenty of everyday offerings just off the beach. You’ll find premiere local and designer boutiques along Abbot Kinney Blvd, along with food trucks stationed there every first Friday.

There’s a variety of listings here. You’ll find newer, pricier apartments closer to waterfront, with the more characterful listings closer to Lincoln Blvd.