Venice, CA Area Guide

Venice was founded in 1905 by Abbot Kinney. He planned a town around the entertainment value of the beach with an amusement pier and miles of residential canals. Today, many of the same structures still remain, and television shows often feature the picturesque area. Abbott Kinney is still known in Venice as the namesake of the area’s central location for dining, shopping and nightlife.

Venice supports an active arts scene. Several galleries, such as L.A. Louver and C.A.V.E. Gallery sit along the Ocean Front Walk and Abbott Kinney Boulevard.

The Venice Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Sign Holiday Lighting and Windward Crawl to celebrate the December holiday season. During the event, the city closes Windward Avenue east of Pacific Avenue to vehicle traffic. The community enjoys live music and festivities, while featuring celebrity guests.

Venice exudes vibrancy and variety in its electric nightlife, most of which is located along its famous beach and Ocean Front Walk. Over 16 million people visit Venice annually to stroll along the 1.5 miles of the Pacific Ocean and to join the festivities on the boardwalk. Hundreds of street vendors line the west side of the walk, including mimes, musicians, fortune-tellers and other artists. Restaurants, pubs and nightclubs line the streets of the boardwalk.

Venice's premier seafood restaurant, The Anchor, sits directly on Main Street. With a goal to serve fresh, sustainable, organic, free-range products, The Anchor is an area favorite. Diners rave about The Anchor Lobster Roll topped with shaved truffles. Weekend happy hour and brunch specials include unlimited mimosas, soju Bloody Mary's and micheladas. Top any meal with a decadent s'mores panna cotta for dessert.

Visit Venice Beach Wines, an intimate wine bar and restaurant on Rose Avenue, for a night out with someone special. Try one of the happy hour food options, such as a mini grilled cheese panini or a cheese and charcuterie plate, or sample from the small plate menu, offering choices such as wild caught sardines and bacon wrapped dates. The bar offers a range of local and organic wines.

As the oldest bar in Venice and one of the establishments that set the tone for the Venice nightlife, the Del Monte Speakeasy gives visitors and locals a taste of Venice. The downstairs bar serves handcrafted drinks from its historical era, such as the Fiery Paloma and the Lady of Light. Patrons enjoy nightly entertainment of live music, comedy and burlesque shows.

Traveling around Venice can be done by riding a bicycle or walking. Pedestrians appreciate the beach and boardwalk areas with wide walkways designed for skating, cycling and walking. Major thoroughfares feature bike lanes, but care should be taken when riding along the streets that provide access for residential parking, as the streets are narrow.

Commuters will need to travel approximately 2 miles north to Santa Monica to access the I-10, which leads to Los Angeles. As an alternative, you can travel 5 miles west to access I-405, which winds around the outlying areas of Los Angeles.

Public transportation is readily available, with stops on all major roads. The stop at Pacific Avenue and Winward Avenue marks the beginning stop for the bus route between Venice and Santa Monica, which in turn heads to Los Angeles. Catching a cab on the street can be a hit or miss situation, so consider calling one of the local cab companies or using your smart phone to request a ride through Uber or Lyft.

Parking can be a challenge in Venice. Several parking areas located near the beach have daily rates ranging from $4 to $15. These areas do fill up quickly, so make sure to plan ahead. On weekends, additional parking can be found at Westminster Elementary School.

Penmar Recreation Center, located on Lake Street, features a full-sized gymnasium with indoor basketball courts and an exercise facility. The recreation complex also houses five lighted baseball diamonds and six tennis courts.

Venice is a dog-friendly area, but dogs are not permitted on Ocean Front Walk. Dogs must remain on leashes when in permitted areas. Westminster Off-Leash Dog Park allows dogs and their owners to socialize together without the confines of a leash.

The city does not host any official annual events in the local parks, so residents head to the Boardwalk for annual festivities, such as the Windward Crawl.

Residents do their everyday shopping along Lincoln Boulevard. Here you can pick up groceries from Ralphs or Whole Foods Market, while prescriptions are available at CVS or McCarthy Pharmacy. The closest Target is in Culver City, and the closest Walmart can be found in Los Angeles.

The Venice Farmers Market has been operating on South Venice Boulevard since 1987. Open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Fridays, the market provides a wide array of fresh produce, coffee and friendly local merchants to chat with.

Tourists and residents head to Abbott Kinney Road for high-end fashion, jewelry, art galleries and gift shops. The mile-long strip was revitalized in the late 1980s by community groups and property owners as a way to add additional commercial properties to the area.

While walking down Abbott Kinney Road, drop by Made in Earth, a shop featuring artistic and fashion forward jewelry designs. Originating in Australia, Bunny Bedi began creating sterling silver designs infused with natural gemstones. You can work with a customer design team to create a one-of-a-kind piece made for your own personal taste.