This is probably one of our favorite towns in all of Los Angeles. You can spend a whole day just in the downtown area of Manhattan Beach. Here are some things you can do!
Spend the day at the beach!
Manhattan Beach has one of the best beaches in the world! Enjoy the sun, dip your toes in cold water or go surfing! And yes, the shower and bathroom facilities are great!
The sand is wonderful, the view from the pier is pretty and it's really fun to watch folks surfing in the water. You always rent boards or take surf lessons on the beach. This requires advanced planning but these links below may help.
Rent boards
Nikau Kai Waterman Shop, 919 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach
Rent surfboards, body boards, sup boards, wet suits, beach chairs and umbrellas at
Spyder Surf, 1116 Manhattan Ave Manhattan Beach
El Porto Surfboards opens early and is only 771 ft from the beach. It was founded by local surfers. You can rent surfboards, wetsuits, swim fins, bodyboard, speakers, wetsuit booties and beach towels here. It is located in Players Liquor, 3804 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach
Take surf lessons
The Surf Experience is 1.5 hour hour lesson package, great for beginners and novice surfers, all equipment is provided. This is offered by One Wave Surf, other advanced classes are also offered. This company also provides rental contracts for film studios and TV crews looking to film surfing on location.
Play volleyball on the beach
There are also a ton of beach volleyball courts on the beach, so that's another great activity to consider.
Watch the sun set
This town has beautiful sunsets! Park your car at one of the beach parking lots and watch the sunset. Or grab a sundowner at the Strand House!
Go for a bike ride!
Start in Manhattan Beach and explore 22 miles of the Strand bike path right next to the sand from Santa Monica Beach to Torrance Beach. See Map
Manhattan Beach E-Bike Rentals, 3616 Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Cyclery is another place to rent bikes, tandems, bikes for kids, cruisers, scooters, trailers, helmets and locks. Find them near Hermosa Pier, 20 13th St, Hermosa Beach.
Other options include Jeffers Beach Rentals, 39 14th St, Hermosa Beach AND Next Adventure E-Bikes that are delivered to you for 2 hours unto 7 days.
Take a walk on the Strand in the morning
Oh yeah, like the locals! On your walk, you are likely to see folks walking or running on the beach, strolling with their dogs, sharing a laugh over coffee or tea at the local shops in downtown Manhattan Beach. Many of the coffee shops open early. Some of the nice coffee shops near the beach to check out are Good Boy Bob, Two Guns Espresso, Verve and Bluestone Lane. And of course, there is always Starbucks and Peet's. Know that the bike path runs alongside the walking path so for the most part, it is pretty safe for pedestrians. Dogs are allowed on the pedestrian path but not allowed on the sand. There are pretty hefty fines for breaking the rules. The view on your walk is unbelievable! On one side is the Pacific Ocean and the other, multi-million dollar mansions!
Spend the day shopping!
In the downtown area, you will find many fun stores. From Aviator Nation and Hammitt to Free People and smaller cute boutiques, there is something here for everyone. This is a great directory to review.
In addition, the Manhattan Village Mall, right off Sepulveda has some great stores and restaurants. It is newly renovated with a ton of popular brands such as Anthropologie, Tommy Bahamas, Macys etc. The outdoor area is also really nice with places to sit and enjoy the view. Just a short drive from the mall is The Point (which is technically in the neighboring city, El Segundo). It is a modern, outdoor and upscale mall which also has a variety of shopping and dining options.
Scroll down to 1.38 to see the shopping options in downtown Manhattan Beach
Dine in downtown Manhattan Beach
There are many food options in Manhattan Beach. For cocktail hour, chose The Strand House. For upscale Italian, consider Love & Salt. For creative farm-to-table, book Manhattan Beach Post. For some fun beach-side food/drinks, try Simmzy's. For a late-night bite, try The Kettle. Looking for steak, try Arthur J's. For American food and a nice glass of wine, consider Nicks. For seafood, definitely check out Fishing with Dynamite or Fisher. For an amazing vibe and great tequila, consider Esperanza!
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