There is so much to explore in southern California and Venice is one of the gems to see when in the area. Abbot Kinney blends the surf, sun and skate culture of the 60s and 70s with the 21st century Erewhon-obsessed and trendy Californian style.
Since I visited Santa Monica for work purposes, I had limited time to see nearby Venice one Saturday morning. Luckily, I had a friend in the area as a wonderful tour guide who took me under her wing for a day strolling along Abbot Kinney, and we packed as much as possible into a mere five hours.
Lunch & Brunch
Obviously the first order of business was to eat- there were so many good options but we went with De Buena Planta and I was beyond thrilled with this decision
This Mexican fusion spot was perfect for brunch (and had tons of gluten free options for me)- it felt as though we were at a resort beach club sitting on stools perched atop sandy floors underneath the shade of a few umbrellas and plants. Because the sun was hot I started off with a cucumber-apple-kale juice. Now, I know what you are thinking. This sounds like the epitome of a basic chick at a brunch restaurant (which I am not denying I am), but this isn't typically my go-to. In a moment of panic I ordered it but was so happy with my decision as I found it to be extremely refreshing. My friend went with an iced coffee which she was happy with. I ultimately had the breakfast burrito (10/10) after wavering between that and the orange pancakes (which I must try at some point) and my friend, Sofie, had the desayuno plate. We both were super impressed with the meal.
If I had more time, I would have loved to check this place out. I had gone inside and watched someone get a delicious milkshake-esque smoothie but simply did not have the time to try anything there or sit down. I have heard wonderful things about it and we were unable to get a reservation, so I would say this is a must if you are visiting! It seems like the perfect spot for a classic avocado toast by the sea.
Of course, it doesn't get any more basic than this, but I can't deny that I took a peak into the spot when strolling by (I also may have used their restroom just to check it out). The food looked fabulous and the atmosphere was just great, even better that the NYC location I must say. The area was large and is a great space to hit if you are in need of a solid bowl, salad, or of course avocado toast and latte moment.
What To Do
The good news about the overwhelming places to see and things to do along Abbot Kinney is that they are all centrally located along one long road. I would recommend starting on Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Books Avenue right by Plant Food + Wine and walking Southeast towards the promised land - Erewhon.
Some spots to hit along the way are the Lululemon popup, Marine Layer, Goodies (home decor), Vardagen, Birkenstock, IRO, Princepessa (our personal favorite boutique where we tried on fluffy matching Selkie dresses among tons of other pieces), Faherty, Zadig & Voltaire, Hoka, Propel Skateboards, Buck Mason, and Grow Venice. Coffee spots were countless but Den Mother stood out to me as a holistic tea shop meets Californian coffee cafe. It had some really interesting little products and supplements too that certainly caught my eye.
There were so many little stores along our stroll that we found ourselves doing three rounds down the boulevard- the first on one side of the road, a second on the opposite side, and a third for good luck, to be sure we hadn't missed anything.
Our favorite store was by far Principessa. It has pieces like For Love & Lemons, Miu Miu, Selkie, while also carrying some more affordable brands. We had a blast playing dressup here. I also loved Goodies. I wish I had some extra room in my suitcase to bring home some little gifts from here for future housewarming parties or birthdays.
We capped off our day with a treat from Erewhon where we tried Sammy Clark's new smoothie. We both liked it but almost choked on the cacao nibs. That would be a good way to go out. Despite this, the taste was worth it.
We also hit the nearby flea market that had a bunch of unique brands and small artists. Overall, I was certainly pleased with our mini day in Venice and wish I had more time and stomach capacity to try more than one restaurant. The shopping was amazing and one of my favorite towns I have been exploring. Of course, the surrounding area can be a little dicey so of course be careful outside the confines of the boulevard.
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