10 Essential Restaurants in Venice (That Prove the Westside’s Got Range)
When I first set out to write this piece, I’ll admit, I wasn’t expecting much. Venice, to me, was farmers’ markets and casual smoothies (not that I would have complained). A place where you might stumble into a good bite while biking to the beach, but not somewhere I associated with serious culinary firepower.
But then I started actually paying attention.
Turns out, I was wildly underestimating what’s going on over here. Because Venice isn’t just beachy and laid-back. It’s full of restaurants that are quietly (and not-so-quietly) rewriting what Westside dining looks like. We’re talking handmade pasta temples, sandwich counters with cult-level followings, fish that was caught about an hour ago, and wine bars that double as neighborhood anchors. There’s creativity. There’s range. There’s a surprising amount of depth under all that salty air.
Here are 10 essential spots, a mix of standbys and newer heat, that capture what’s cooking in Venice right now.
1. Gjelina
Abbot Kinney – California Powerhouse With Global Swagger
Gjelina is the restaurant that launched a thousand kale salads. And while it’s long been the poster child of Venice dining, it still holds up, hard. Wood-fired pizzas, perfectly charred vegetables, and market-driven plates that feel effortless but land with precision. It’s not just a scene, it’s a masterclass in longevity.
2. Felix Trattoria
Abbot Kinney – Handmade Pasta Heaven
Evan Funke’s pasta dojo is a lesson in craft. From the glass-walled lab where dough is shaped daily to the wood-fired focaccia that could make you weep, Felix is Italian in philosophy, LA in energy, and deeply satisfying from start to finish. Get a Negroni, order three pastas, don’t look back.
3. Gjusta
Sunset Ave – Deli, Bakery, Bakery, Bakery
Yes, it can be chaotic. Yes, you will have decision fatigue. But there’s a reason people line up for smoked fish platters, chicken schnitzel sandwiches, and olive oil cakes at 8am. Gjusta isn’t just a café, it’s a cultural institution. One that feeds you and redefines what a bakery can be.
4. Si! Mon
Lincoln Blvd – Vibrant Latin American Cooking With Flair
At Si! Mon, the flavors are bold, the plating is gorgeous, and the vibe is dinner party chic. Chef Jose Sosa brings influences from Mexico to Peru to the Caribbean, think wagyu tartare with plantain chips, tender octopus with aji amarillo, and cocktails that deserve their own write-up.
5. Dudley Market
By the Boardwalk – Seafood That Lives Up to the View
If you're within a few blocks of the beach, this is where you go. Dudley Market serves fish so fresh it tastes like the ocean never let it go. Local catch crudo, buttery clam toast, perfect natural wine pairings, it’s the kind of spot where lunch turns into sunset without trying.
6. American Beauty & The Win-Dow
Rose Ave – Two Sides of the Same Delicious Coin
American Beauty is a modern steakhouse that trades stuffiness for sharp edges and buttery edges on a dry-aged ribeye. Whether you're here for a celebratory dinner or just in a “$40 steak and martini” mood, this spot delivers with quiet confidence. On the flip side, quite literally, the alley out back, is The Win-Dow, its scrappy younger sibling that’s serving smashburgers with cult status. Crinkle-cut fries, classic soft serve, and a short menu that gets everything right. Steak night or burger craving? You’re covered either way.
7. Companion
Venice – More Than Just a Café Companion isn’t just a coffee spot — it’s an all-day neighborhood hangout with real kitchen chops. Come for the pastries and espresso, stay for the roasted veggie bowls, standout sandwiches, and thoughtful dinner plates that feel quietly ambitious. It’s casual, yes, but you’ll keep coming back for how much care is in every bite.
8. Ospi Venice
Washington Blvd – Italian, But Beachy
If Felix is the cathedral of pasta, Ospi is its breezy beachside cousin. Crispy provolone “pizzas,” spicy rigatoni, and a cacio e pepe that deserves more press, this place is fun, fast, and unfussy in the best way. Bonus points for actually taking reservations.
10. Gran Blanco
Windward Ave – Mediterranean-California Cool With a Side of Scene
Gran Blanco walks the line between stylish and satisfying. Yes, it’s gorgeous, arched windows, sandy tones, enough linen shirts to clothe a yacht club. But the menu holds up, too. Lamb meatballs, charred broccolini with toum, and cocktails that actually balance brightness with bite. It’s a vibe-forward spot that still remembers why people go out to eat: good food, better lighting, and that one table you hope they’ll seat you at.
10. RVR
Lincoln Blvd – Design-Forward, Produce-Obsessed Dining
RVR is moody in all the right ways. Think candlelight, brushed concrete, and dishes that treat vegetables like main characters. It’s for when you want to impress someone (yourself included) with food that’s thoughtful, stylish, and a little mysterious. Come hungry, leave slightly changed.
Eat Venice, Reconsider Venice
Venice isn’t just a surfer’s breakfast town or a post-yoga smoothie zone. It’s a full-on dining destination, one where quiet cafés and scene-y patios sit side by side, each doing something uniquely great. If you're willing to look past the clichés, what you'll find is a neighborhood that’s earned its culinary stripes, not just with style, but with substance.
