The Lobster

A dining room built around 180-degree ocean views has anchored the corner of Ocean Avenue and the Santa Monica Pier since 1923. Chef Govind Armstrong runs a menu built on Maine lobster: a lobster roll, a lobster salad, and truffle-parmesan fries alongside crispy calamari and prawns. Live music plays on the third Thursday of the month, and window tables get claimed first as the sun goes down. The restaurant has picked up Michelin's Plate distinction in 2019 and 2025.