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    Abbot Kinney

    4.3 (85 reviews)

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    Jo S.

    Great area in Venice Beach! Abbot Kinney is a vibrant boulervard with uniques stores and restaurants, art galleries, with a run down, bohemian chic style. It might not be for everyone, but it is a cool spot in LA to explore and walk around, not far from the beach. Great places to meet friends, grab a coffee at along the way, cool shopping area, with lunch and dinner options. There's a Lemonade location here and an Intelligentsia one. Still need to try the Blue Star Donuts. Too many options! I enjoyed their Abbot Kinney festival in September, I am glad it's back after the pandemic, check their site for updates. Parking- street parking and some lots, just be patient. Once you are out of the car it's a fun spot to explore! Cool, trendy, walkable, interesting part of town!

    Quintin E.

    An everlasting (in feeling) strip of all things Venice (aside from the beach)... A.K. is a collection of shops, small businesses and fun in the sun... You can enjoy walking/strolling at anytime of day as well as day of the week. Abbot Kinney is over a mile long showcasing cuisine, art, and trends! It's VERY close to the water (less than a 15 minute walk or 4 minute drive to Venice Beach). Enjoy the First Friday of every month Food Truck Fridays, annual Abbot Kinney Festivals, other seasonal events, special sales, bike, skate, strut or cruise down these vibrant blocks of beauty. It's definitely more of a treat yourself type of experience as things tend to be on the higher end for certain shops like Dr. Martens, Cuyana(bags, accessories and clothing), Edna King Men (clothing) and so forth. The Butcher's Daughter is my top recommend for sit down and enjoy food (vegetarian vegan bliss with tons of additional options for gluten free, allergies, life essentials or dietary needs + a full bar!!!) Salt & Straw, Pressed Juicery, or Intelligentsia for something lite or pick me upish... Lemonade - Venice is also a solid option as The Butcher's Daughter gets PACKED and reservations are encouraged (on Open Table). Lots to see, do and experience in the infamous local flavor of Venice's Abbot Kinney Boulevard.

    Store on Abbot Kinney
    Seth B.

    I had never been on Abbot Kinney until Friday, when I went with a dear friend. Wow were we impressed! It was absolutely the vibe we wanted, receiving it in abundance! This was right after leaving the airport and we meandered up and down the street. It has every kind of boutique y ok u could want in the shabby chic genre. I appreciated being in a place where I didn't often venture and it made me want to go in many more excursions!!

    Found it!
    Nadine C.

    I first learned about Abbot Kinney when I saw Jennifer N. check in. It's a street - near Venice Beach - known for its unique restaurants and cool boutique shops. A familiar name that caught my eye was Salt & Straw, an ice cream shop. Another place that looked interesting was N'ice Cream. I'll have to return someday when I find a parking space. During this visit, I just drove up and down the street, parked on the side to get a few photos, then drove off... I'll return...

    Glenn A.

    We never knew about Abbot Kinney until we visited Shuhari Matcha cafe. Abbot Kinney is a two mile stretch of shops and restaurants in Venice. It's a great place to walk around if you just want to just hang out and maybe shop. There is free parking along the streets and metered parking on the back of the shops.

    Barry W.

    *** I am a big fan of the Abbott Kinney area. *** Joan S did a great job of chronicaling its history in her 2005 review, but I only know it 2000-2010. The gentrification over the last decade has been rather remarkable ... even better than that of dntn. Abbott Kinney is now "The Place" to be at night if you live within the West L.A. beach communities. And by day ... businesses and restaurants bustle. Noteable events here are First Friday (open house to retailers & galleries during the 1st Fri of each mo) http://www.yelp.com/biz/first-fridays-los-angeles-2 and http://www.yelp.com/biz/abbot-kinney-festival-assoc-venice#query:art%20festival the Ann'l Fest. Check them out, you won't be sorry. *** Parking can be hard but that's b/c it's popular. ***

    Brenda Z.

    I love coming Abbot Kinney! You will find about a two-mile drive/walk full of shops, restaurants, bars, etc. This is perfect for any tourist or even locals to check out, you really get that Venice feel. Abbot Kinney offers many of the top rated restaurants in Los Angeles. So if you're trying to get the best foodies this is definitely the place. Anything from best breakfast, brunch, best lunches, and best dinner, here is where you will find it. also with restaurants they have the best dessert spots such as ice cream. Since these places are very popular and high in demand I would suggest trying to make reservations. Abbot Kinney also offers different bars/lounges, they have the best drinks and selection in music is very diverse. I don't often take advantage of their shops but I have gone in to explore. They have great handmade jewelry available. Plenty of clothing stores are available for anyone: women, men, kids, pets. They have unique clothing options available you won't find anywhere else. They also have miscellaneous stores such as: skate and surf shops, greeting cards, etc. literally anything you need to find you can find right here. I've also notice that Abbot Kinney has cool art around certain building. They change every so often and usually have them on the side or back of the buildings. Parking is a bit complicated. They do offer street parking but make sure to read warning signs to avoid getting cited. They also have somewhat of a parking a lot parallel to abbot Kinney just behind the business to the east. I don't recall it being meter parking (I think it's free). In addition, I've parking in private lots. I know behind lemonade there is a private lot in the alley (not sure how much they charge). Abbot Kinney also have different events throughout the year. Not sure where you can find this information from (google?) but I know every first Friday of the month they have food truck along Abbot Kinney from 6-12pm. And just recently they had a festival which is once a year.

    Adrienne D.

    This is a classic stretch of shops, bars, and eateries that winds its way to Venice Beach- I love going here to wander into boutiques and take pictures of the surroundings. It is definitely becoming more upscale than it used to be, with large company stores coming in- I noticed Hourglass cosmetics was a new addition, there's a TOMS storefront/coffee shop with $9 pressed juices...but there are still shops with more accessible price points that have unique Bohemian-esque finds. I like visiting Ananda, a laidback shop with Buddha trinkets, pretty printed kimonos, relaxed fit tees, delicate necklaces, and other cute giftable items. There are also a few casual places to stop for a quick bite to eat (Lemonade is one) or a fancy coffee (Intelligentsia)- and if you are okay with a short, pleasant walk you can always find parking on the side streets- I love the scent of jasmine wafting in the beach air as I walk to the boulevard! Abbot Kinney has festivals and other year-round activities- stop by if you're in the area.

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    Review Highlights - Abbot Kinney

    It's a street - near Venice Beach - known for its unique restaurants and cool boutique shops.

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    Venice Canals - Beautiful scenery!

    Venice Canals

    4.5(500 reviews)
    1.2 kmVenice

    We had as one of our final destinations, the WALKING PATHS AND CANALS of Venice, CA!!!…read more We are sure glad that we did. It was spectacular!!! It was like stepping into another world, with all of the water ways and bridges. In addition, there were the most amazing houses lining the canals. I know that it was in the movie VALENTINE'S DAY. I felt like Ashton Kutcher, delivering flowers. We walked around for about 30 Minutes, down one walkway, down another. THEN, OVER THE VERY CUTE BRIDGES!!!

    Recently: February 23, 2026 | Venice Beach | The Venice Canals are dreamy, peaceful & filled with…read moregorgeous scenery at every turn or over every bridge taken! It's always fun walking around and exploring the wonderful creativity, as well as vibrant nature simply existing, all around! Fragrant Flowers | Each time I wander around the Venice Canals, I always seem to discover a colorful, new flower, often times quite fragrant, which catches my eye! The Birds of Paradise always makes my day, as it's one of my favorites, standing proudly, in its exotic glory! Connected | It's always fun, walking over the different bridges and taking in the scenery & sights along the way! You may spot people going for a walk, others walking their dogs, some taking photos and are simply enjoying the moment while walking! Personality Plus | It's exciting seeing a variety of colorful homes, with each having a personality of their own! Whether big or small, the details seems to tell a different story, reflective of the owner/renter and how they naturally stand out on their own! Sightings | While out & about, I often see cute little dogs walking around alongside their friendly owners! On some occasions, it makes my day to spot a stroller and the excitement of seeing that there are actually dogs inside! Haha! You may see ducks walking around together along the walkways, or swimming around, peacefully! While the walkways are for pedestrians only, you might even see cars driving over the vehicular bridges! Festive | The Venice Canals definitely know how to ring in the holidays! I'm grateful to experience the festivities inside of some of the homes with friends, as well as attending fun holiday boat parades(open to the public!), and events on the canals! Holiday cheer and neighborly camaraderie seems to flow with good vibes from beginning to end! Flutter By | It always makes my day whenever I see a pretty colorful butterfly flying by during my walk! Note | I usually walk through the canals during the morning/daytime and if at night, during a celebration where there are many people out and about! Overall | I absolutely love walking through Canals! I'm in incredibly grateful that they are nearby, walking distance, and a hop, skip & a jump away! I highly recommend and of course, be respectful of the people living there! Good vibes throughout as well as beautiful scenery keeps me coming back for more!

    Photos
    Venice Canals - June 15, 2026 | Happy Monday!! | Scenery | Gorgeous Flowers! | Morning Walk! |

    June 15, 2026 | Happy Monday!! | Scenery | Gorgeous Flowers! | Morning Walk! |

    Venice Canals - Sign showing where the Venice Canals Walkway is located

    Sign showing where the Venice Canals Walkway is located

    Venice Canals - June 5, 2025 | Love seeing the beautiful flowers while walking through the Canals!!

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    June 5, 2025 | Love seeing the beautiful flowers while walking through the Canals!!

    The Hobbit's House

    The Hobbit's House

    3.9(33 reviews)
    7.0 kmPalms

    The Hobbit's House is just a cute house to see if you are in the area. It is not a must stop. The…read morehouse actually has an owner and there is an apartment there. It was built by a former artist for Disney Studios and the builder, Lawrence Joseph worked on all of it for decades. There are adorable cottages and a view from the street is super. I think some of it may be occupied, I am not sure, so I did not venture far, just the front and back yard and stopped when I saw what looked like an apartment building. It is an LA Historical Landmark and just so cute. It is near Sony pictures. It almost looks like you are walking into a movie set. There is a great garden and a pond and it really does look like a Hobbit house. We were not there long, maybe 15 minutes and did not need to be. So, if you have 15 minutes and want to see a super cool house go take a peek.

    When in LA on a rainy bank holiday (dramatically less traffic) do what Angelenos do! See the…read moresights!! These are people's homes aka the Lawrence and Martha Joseph Residence and Apartments, commonly known as the "Hobbit Houses," located in Culver City, California. The structures were designed and built by Lawrence Joseph, a former artist for Walt Disney Studios, starting in the 1940s and continuing construction for decades. Now surrounded by high rises it is difficult to land a parking spot but worth it to get a closer look. For a moment imagine yourself on a walk through emerald green grass & fields of wildflowers. And then look up & see these enchanting cottages.

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    The Hobbit's House
    The Hobbit's House
    The Hobbit's House

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    Binocular Building - The Binocular Building. Now the Google office in Venice Beach

    Binocular Building

    4.5(20 reviews)
    0.7 kmVenice

    I got a chance to check this place out one day! It is…read moreGoogle's LA office. It is on the smaller side compared to other Google locations. There are two Google buildings and this is one of them. There is a parking garage when you go under the binoculars. You can only get in if you know someone who works at Google. Once inside the building, you check-in and receive a badge. You have to be with your host at all times because host's badge is needed to enter in/out of some places within this facility. Also, you can take pictures inside the building with your host's permission. Honestly, I was really looking forward to free lunch at Google LA because that is the main reason why I drove all the way to Venice, CA. I was very disappointed when I found out that I could not get free lunch (not even snacks) because of the holidays! The place was completely emptied out. This place has a game room, fitness center, shower, bike rentals, mini basketball court, conference rooms, quiet rooms, kitchens, and a nice outdoor space. I hope I can come back to try their free lunch one day! I can't wait to visit other Google locations.

    This is definitely not my favorite Frank Gehry building, but it's still architecturally interesting…read moreand famous. And if you're in Venice, absolutely drive down Main street and see this. It's stunning. As it is now a Google building, if you're taking pictures of this wonder of architecture, security WILL come out to question you. Because, you know, Google cares about privacy. Theirs.

    Photos
    Binocular Building - Outside

    Outside

    Binocular Building - Looking Up  3-27-2019

    Looking Up 3-27-2019

    Binocular Building - Very nice outdoor space.

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    Very nice outdoor space.

    Festival of the Chariots - 8.2.09  the crowd celebrates!

    Festival of the Chariots

    4.8(6 reviews)
    1.1 kmVenice

    Loved everything from the appearance of God. The free feast was delicious as well as the savory…read morebooth!!

    And finally that time of the year, when you can catch the Festival of Chariots parade at the Venice…read moreBeach Boardwalk arrived. Very exciting time for me since this year is my first time at the festival. I've seen great photos of the colorful parade and this year, the timing worked magically.I was able to attend it and eager to do so. The Festival of Chariots (Ratha Yatra) is an ancient Indian celebration dedicated to 3 deities. Hence the 3 chariots (floats) you see at the parade. The first festival in US was held in San Francisco in 1967 (they still organize it in Golden Gate Park). Since '76, Venice Beach hosts another one on the West Coast, a perfect location, in tune with the vibe of the celebration which takes places over 3 days in Santa Monica. In the last day, a parade starts on Main Street in Santa Monica, moves along Ocean till it gets to Venice Beach where booths, tents are set up for more festivities to follow. This is a beautiful event, very colorful, peaceful and unique. Many participants wear Hindu inspired clothing, some pull the chariots ahead by huge ropes (I was told it's good for your karma to do so). Everyone is friendly, they spread their joy, books about their spirituality, vegetarian cooking and yoga. A lady from the parade stopped to talk to us, she gave useful information about the history behind the event, the sister parade in San Francisco and about this cool fest. No one is trying to convert anyone, it's not about pushing anything on you. I'm interested in other cultures and spirituality of various people and I practice yoga, so I don't mind learning more things. The parade starts at 10 am in Santa Monica, it gets around noon in Venice, be there a bit before. It's lively, colorful, like no other. Very joyful. Then, more festivities begin, there's a stage where they have various artists perform, booths where you can learn about the history of the festival and where you can practice yoga. They have a free vegetarian feast (for 20,000 people), the line was moving and I enjoyed the food and the tea they served (Thank you!), it's such a nice, generous gesture. There are more booths where they sell Indian street food, fruits, drinks, smoothies. We tried the coconut water ($4) fresh, from an actual coconut, I'm not a huge fan of coconut water (I know it's trendy), the taste doesn't do it for me, but I enjoyed the experience.Had to try it! There are booths where they sell Indian clothes, home decor, jewelry. I've been to many street fairs and this one has the most reasonable prices for food and merchandise. It is hot, but you're on the beach. Casual, fun event. It's a positive vibe all around, people are nice, that's what this festival is about. Love, tolerance and kindness, which we can have more in our lives nowadays. We can learn from each other and the Festival of Chariots can open your mind and hearts. Hare Krishna, everyone! Love, joy and peace!

    Photos
    Festival of the Chariots - 8.2.09

    8.2.09

    Festival of the Chariots - The chariots are now on the Venice Beach Boardwalk

    The chariots are now on the Venice Beach Boardwalk

    Festival of the Chariots - Festival of the Chariots 2011

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    Festival of the Chariots 2011

    Mar Vista Stairs

    Mar Vista Stairs

    3.8(13 reviews)
    3.8 kmMar Vista

    I think it says a lot about the lack of green space and park infrastructure throughout the…read morecountry-sized city of Los Angeles that people resort to nondescript pedestrian passage-ways between two streets as a public amenity that must be yelped about. The upper entrance is between two houses on Inglewood Street. Seattle is full of passageways like this, more character-ful with beautiful vegetation and not cordoned off by chain link fencing, but few elicit actual Yelp-reviewed status. In green Seattle a stairpath between streets on different sections of a hill can be enchanting, but here it is ...not. There is a Mar Vista Recreation Center not too far from this spot, it's got ball fields. Since we are largely in the flat lands, this stair case provides a little special workout. The view of the valley is interesting from here. It's a staircase with room for two people one going up and one going down. It is enclosed in fencing. Hard to find any more words for these concrete stairs.

    This is a little known location, used by local exercise enthusiasts, in the very nice residential…read moreneighborhood of Mar Vista/Westdale (a hundred yards from our L.A. house). The top of the stairway is on the hilltop of Inglewood Avenue, north of Palms Blvd. The landing is directly across the street from Mar Vista elementary school on Granville Ave. There is good parking available on both Inglewood and Granville. The flight is around a hundred steps. At the top of the stairs, there are great views of downtown L.A. and the San Gabriel Mountains. This location is never too crowded and also has overhead vapor lamp lighting if you want to exercise in the evening.

    Photos
    Mar Vista Stairs - Smaller One a Couple Blocks Down on Beethoven

    Smaller One a Couple Blocks Down on Beethoven

    Mar Vista Stairs - Entrance to stairs

    Entrance to stairs

    Mar Vista Stairs - MV Stairs

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    MV Stairs

    Venice Beach Boardwalk - The coolest kites

    Venice Beach Boardwalk

    3.9(974 reviews)
    1.2 kmVenice
    $$

    My two daughters and I visited the Venice Beach Boardwalk, and we had such a fun time…read more There is so much to see and do on the boardwalk, including shopping, listening to great music, watching street performers do their thing, eating delicious food, getting some exercise, and, of course, working on your tan the entire time. This place is very popular, as evidenced by the many visitors, both native Californians and those from many countries. All-day parking is available for a flat rate of $18.00 in the huge outdoor parking lot at the start of the north end of the Venice Boardwalk. My family and friends are planning numerous visits here in the next several weeks.

    Had a good walk here with my girlfriend over the weekend!! As expected, this is one of the touristy…read moreareas to visit. I feel like it's not how it used to be for me. There is a lot of different people here and it's a very lively beach. There's a lot of events to look at and watch for entertainment also. I was pretty stoked watching the Hoop Bus event and got to sit on the grass and watch some local basketball play between different teams. There was a breeze here even though it was a hot summer day so that was nice, but if you ever need some hats or sunglasses or even some shirts/sweaters memorabilia there's plenty of local souvenir shops along the pathway. You can see muscle beach, have desserts, and shop. Some people here also can approach you, but be aware of people handing you their CDs because once you accept it, they may ask for $5!!! Due to that, I do feel bad because like I mentioned, there are tourists here that just want to have a good time and not be approached by a stranger for monetary payments!!! You will also smell different scents of smoke in the air, so be aware of that too. I think to always just be cautious in general in large public areas. If there's rowdy people, don't stop and watch someone yelling at another person. The public bathrooms here are about as busy as you'd expect. My favorite area is when you reach the quiet zones in neighborhoods... there you can just relax and take in the nature of the beach beside the housing complexes.

    Photos
    Venice Beach Boardwalk - Good night, Venice Beach

    Good night, Venice Beach

    Venice Beach Boardwalk - April 10, 2025 | Thursday afternoon walk | Scenery | Even met the artist of this sign who was sitting nearby!

    April 10, 2025 | Thursday afternoon walk | Scenery | Even met the artist of this sign who was sitting nearby!

    Venice Beach Boardwalk - My daughters and this beast

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    My daughters and this beast

    First Fridays - Best thai food ever, 8E8

    First Fridays

    3.9(110 reviews)
    0.7 kmVenice

    Venice local now, for nearly 4 years and I've only been to first Friday twice. Both amazing…read moreexperiences and now it's a ritual of my friends, neighbors, and family in the area. The last first Friday, I brought mama. We dropped but the food truck 8E8 and bought thai iced teas, spicy drunken noodles, Tofu pad see Ew, and red curry. I literally ate my portion of food for 3 days straight, and it was more delicious every time. How does that work? They ran out of mangos and sticky rice! Next time, hope they are back next month in January 2024. :) There were so many other food trucks, close to 25 lining abbot Kinney all the way to Venice Blvd. such a fun local experience, found my neighbors/friends we hung out and had a great dinner sitting on the side of the road lol. That's Venice for ya, we just wing it bc why not.

    This isn't a "useful" review…read more I got here just before the world changed. We hear about collective sacrifice during World War II and see movies where people are happy to go months out of their way to rescue Matt Damon from space, but reality involves violations of safety protocols, hateful and insane politics and letting cruise ship workers drift for months because apparently it's too dangerous to have the boat drop them off at 2AM. First Fridays is a reminder of a better era. The day of my February visit featured various typical and absurdly trivial dilemmas. Would I make it to the coast in time for sunset and would my phone battery die? And do I have the capacity to eat that delicious-looking fake meat from Original Herbivore after I just enjoyed real meat from Scroggins Smokehouse and various other things? Yeah, it seemed time to go back to the hotel after the amazing ribs, but the picture of the Reuben with faux pastrami was captivating. Little things I enjoyed about First Fridays: the palm trees at dusk are quite cinematic, and it seems more acceptable to talk to strangers here than in NYC, so I had a some Fieri-esque discussions here. It'll be a while before I take a plane again, but I'm thankful that First Fridays, its creative and hard-working vendors and its fusion-craving crowds built a classic California experience.

    Photos
    First Fridays
    First Fridays
    First Fridays

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    Abbot Kinney - localflavor - Updated July 2026

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