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A night with a view in Santa Monica

Dinner where the view does half the talking.

12 spots · Jump to the list

Dinner with a skyline, a coastline or a sunset in front of it. The view does half the work on a date, which is why the best tables go first — ask for a window or patio seat when you book, and time the reservation for the last hour of daylight.

This guide ranks 12 restaurants with a view in Santa Monica. Editors' picks come first, then the rest by rating, and the plans below build a whole evening around the best of them.

Nights people planned here

Published date nights with a stop on this list.

Make a night of it

Routes around the top spots on the list, with the best-rated places nearby for the rest of the evening.

Around Din Tai Fung Santa Monica

2 stops, all within a short walk

1
0.3 mi
5:30 PMDinner with a view
Din Tai Fung Santa Monica
Din Tai Fung Santa Monica

Restaurant

395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Santa Monica

4.8

2
7:00 PMNightcap
Orla Bar
Orla Bar

Bar

1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Santa Monica

4.8

Around The Penthouse at the Huntley

2 stops, all within a short walk

1
0.7 mi
5:30 PMDinner with a view
The Penthouse at the Huntley
The Penthouse at the Huntley

Restaurant

1111 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA

Santa Monica

4.8

2
7:00 PMNightcap
Father's Office
Father's Office

Bar

1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403

Santa Monica

4.6

Around Ivy at the Shore

2 stops, all within a short walk

1
0.5 mi
5:30 PMDinner with a view
Ivy at the Shore
Ivy at the Shore

Restaurant

1535 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, California, 90401

Santa Monica

4.7

2
7:00 PMNightcap
The Bungalow
The Bungalow

Bar

101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, California, 90401

Santa Monica

4.5

Restaurants with a view in Santa Monica

Editors' picks first, then by rating.

Good to know

What's the best restaurant with a view in Santa Monica for a date?
Our top pick is Din Tai Fung Santa Monica, rated 4.8 out of 5. The Penthouse at the Huntley and Ivy at the Shore round out the top 3.
Are there affordable restaurants with a view in Santa Monica?
Yes — The Cove and Seaside on the Pier are all $$ or under.
Do I need a reservation?
It depends on the spot. Book ahead for Din Tai Fung Santa Monica and Ivy at the Shore.
What should we do before or after?
Make it a night with a view: dinner with a view, then nightcap. The plans on this page pair each top spot with the best-rated places within about a 20-minute walk.

More nights in Santa Monica

Restaurants with a view in other neighborhoods