Very quaint and vibing downtown of Manhattan Beach. My eldest daughter and I got a chance to walk through most of downtown in route to Caffe Luxxe and Manhattan Beach. What a fun stroll on Manhattan Ave! Love seeing the local small businesses thriving together. We saw some beautiful homes, too. Area is so clean. We didn't stay too long, hence, we did not get to visit many more shops and eateries. I have a few biz that I would love to support the next time I'm back here such as Manhattan Beach Creamery, Caffe Luxxe, Pages Bookstore, and other shops that cross my path. Several public parking lots are located close by. These include the Upper Pier Lots, Lower Pier Lots, and Lot 2. Street parking is also available. If you're lucky, you may get a parking spot. Come early! read more

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Hi. I live here and it is beautiful watching the sunset go down with the waves crashing. Amazing local shops that sell jellycats and amazing merch. Great amazing restraints that are nowhere else like the kettle, or Manhattan beach creamery. If you came for vacation, I would be jealous of you because you are seeing all this beautiful stuff for the first time. Skechers headquarters and the ceo both live here too. Five stars. read more

Wow this is one of the biggest, nicest and cleanest beach towns i've seen! One a Tuesday night my sister and bro-in-law took me here for an evening stroll followed by a great seafood dinner. There's tons of surfing, beach volleyball, and plenty of paved areas just to walk and smell that fresh air. The area was also super clean and seemed safe. I have not visited Venice Beach in over a decade but folks tell me its gone downhill. Manhattan Beach also has tons of shops, bars, and restaurants mixed in with residences overlooking the beach. You can also see Chevron's El Segundo Refinery along this beach. The workers there must be among the happiest since they can just decompress at the beach after work! read more

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Very clean beach ! Got here at 9am had a girls day with my cousin ! We tanned and were here for about 6hrs! Only thing to look out for is the seagulls! Water was actually clear! Definitely recommend coming here if you haven't already ! read more

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Many of the area beaches are nice and of course they all have their pluses and minuses but Manhattan Beach has a nice location south of Malibu and a much different feel. In comparison, this area is more condensed and has wonder restaurants all within walking distance of the beach for breakfast or a nice lunch. Malibu on the other hand is of course spread out for miles so it means a drive many times. I used to head to Sharkeys for lunch on occasion but now I move around when in town. Variety is the spice of life. read more

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Saturday, 10/9/2021 - Checked out Manhatten Beach for the 1st time. We absolutely love it!!! It wasn't packed, smelled like ocean, no loitering everywhere, clean, people friendly, beach soft, volleyball area, bathroom, life guards, helicopter flying over, just beautiful! Upon arrival: Pros: 1) very clean, beautiful beach. 2) people biking, jogging, walking, and skating. 3) soft sand. 4) bathrooms are available. 5) life guards 6) great atmosphere 7) people were very nice. Cons: 1) street, meter parking only. 2) $2.00 per hours worth a max at 3 hours. 3) was so hard to find parking. Lots of 24 minutes parking spots open. Conclusion: We absolutely love this beach and this area! Definitely recommend this area! We will come here again next time we visit. Only 25 minutes-ish from LAX Airport. read more

A very nice area. A local beach and pier and people are really friendly. Parking is hard to find. Some hotels may offer a free shuttle to here though. Dog friendly beach and people are very polite and courteous. Masks are worn indoors too. read more

It's clean, it's sunny, it's the best way to wait for a flight at LAX! It gets five stars for being so close to the airport. You can watch surfers, walk on the beach, go out on the pier, or go into shops. On the shops portion: there's lots of unique stuff (not just made-in-China-tourist-junk). As a bonus: you'll also get to see what 7-digit homes look like in California. read more

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i will forever love this beach, one of my favs. BUT, the lifeguard I have experienced is super unprofessional. My mother and niece were swept by a huge wave and struggled getting up. I don't have the force to pick them both up as I am a young adult. The lifeguard did nothing which angered me ! Thankfully my family was ok but we had to buy them brand now clothes at your little expensive shops. Please hire lifeguards that will actually pay attention to their surroundings and do their jobs. read more

What used to be a little beach town is now a grown up destination. In a good way. I've lived here for a while. so I have a different view of it and here's what I love. The strand...grab a bike or just walk and people watch. It never gets old and the best part of it is when you get farther away from the pier. Go early or late if you can and catch the sunset. We have a ton of benches and just chill. Get a coffee of bring a beverage (no red solo cups please, go opaque and be local) and breathe. The food, it's now a destination. Uncle Bills to Simony's...its all great. Hit Ercoles or Shellbacks for a true local vibe. Drink up and talk to folks. Shopping is good and again, try and get off the main streets. The pier is my favorite and a great spot to just sit and watch the water. No jumping! We also have this thing called the ocean that is as clean and pretty as anywhere. That you CAN jump into. Go nuts, its free. Free tip, park at the top of the structure off 12th and Highland on the third floor. 10 hours and so cheap. See ya here! read more

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This is one of my favorite beaches in So Cal, and I make it a point to come here on every trip to the area, whether personal or business. The vibe is very relaxed and casual and there are plenty of eateries to suit every taste and budget. A favorite family activity is walking along the pier and people watching or spreading a picnic blanket on the beach and watching the surfers. We usually spend a couple of hours playing on the beach, which is the max allowed on most of the parking meters, so it works out just right. Parking can be tricky but I usually find a spot on Highland or Manhattan Avenue (if I'm lucky). One can always park a few blocks away along Manhattan Beach Boulevard and walk a bit. Go well before noon, especially on weekends, for the best experience without the crowds. If you bundle up, going late evening after 9 pm is also an excellent option. I heart you MB - can't wait to come back. read more

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Ah, Manhattan Beach. Located in South Bay Los Angeles, you get a good bang for your buck if you're visiting. For those of you local to MB, you're a lucky bastard. Swung by here recently to get some fresh air as I am working on a weekend DevOps project at home. Home is in Fullerton, so when I want to get away, I just take the 91 freeway west until I hit the ocean, then follow it up the 105 freeway til I hit the El Segundo area. From there, it's side streets to MB. Once in MB, the power of Google Maps really shines. Where at some other beaches (I'm looking at you, San Diego), I run into calibration issues, here in Manhattan Beach I get perfect T-Mobile reception and can navigate safely and quickly to the nearest parking lot. Speaking of parking, there's tons of it around here! Flick around on Google Maps and you'll see plenty of parking structures around here. Makes you wish Downtown LA had this many parking structures to help with the people-congestion problem. Finally, when it comes to the cost of parking: They take cards here, not just quarters like in the 1990's. Insert your card, press the PLUS and MINUS keys and hit OK when you're done and you're all set! As far as the beach itself, I love that they split up the roadways, one for pedestrians a level up and one for the bike lane. Don't be the douche that walks in the bike lane, if you have no idea what I'm talking about, go on YouTube and search up "Star Wars Bike Lane" to see what I mean (would post link directly, but Yelp apparently doesn't like external links going into user submitted reviews). The beach is very clean whenever I go, especially this most recent trip. There are not just trash cans, but recycling cans too that tell you explicitly what you can put in, like plastic bottles, cans, that sort of thing. Finally, while this beach isn't as progressive as others like in Vancouver BC where you can literally use your cell phone to do NFC-based payments for parking, Manhattan Beach at least tries to be innovative within the confines of US culture. All in all, I like it here. Good cell signal, decent pathways to have a Sunday morning stroll, plenty of parking, decent payment options. I forgot to mention there are public restroom (washroom) buildings every few blocks which is useful if you have to go frequently and don't want to feel like you need to double back just to get some bathroom relief. So check out MB sometime! read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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I will go along with the full 5 stars saying that I also love Manhatten Beach! So close to LA, yet such a different vibe! Love the downtown, the pier, the food, all around great vibes going on here. It is super clean, plenty of parking (all meters). Easy to walk everywhere, just a pretty little beach town right at the airport, though you feel miles away from the buzz going on all around you, love coming here every time! read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Downtown Manhattan is a really neat town located next to manhattan beach. You can spend a whole day in the area and find plenty of things to do. Summer are a nice time to go hang out at the beach for a nice tan. Take a stroll for dessert or boutique shopping in the area. I would recommend grabbing fresh gelato and having dinner at katsuya. Warning: This place gets crazy busy on the weekend. It can be hard finding parking. So I strongly advise to get to the beach early before the crowd or you're gonna be driving in circles going crazy. read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Love this Beach! The pier with the aquarium at the end is Awesome. Even though it was closed when was there. Great beach even though the waves aren't huge here for surfing. read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Downtown Manhattan Beach is located just a few miles from LAX, which is perfect for visiting if you have a long layover. I love the ocean, especially the Pacific Ocean. There's just something calming about the waves crashing against the shore. We arrived right before sunset and the views were gorgeous. Parking at Downtown Manhattan Beach must be ridiculous during the day. We visited during the evening and still had to park a few blocks away. The pier is cool and busy with tourist, skateboarders, homeless, and peeps attempting to catch some fish. read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I'm from Colorado and was looking for a beach to check out for the day before I headed home with my 13 year old. Manhattan Beach was close to our hotel so we thought we would give it a try. We were pleasantly surprised! It was a beautiful beach area with a small town feel. The aquarium on the pier was small but full of interesting creatures to learn about. We found an amazing restaurant Rock N' Fish that had wonderful seafood and a salad for me! We fell in love with this area and know why so many people want to live in Southern California! We also checked out the darling library, cute shops and treat shops. This day at the beach made our quick trip to California and we are so glad we found it! read more

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Downtown Manhattan Beach is such a relaxing area to be on the weekends if you don't want to a big crowd of people around you. I've noticed if you try going there around 2-3, there's actually less people, There are a few great brunches in the area, which I freaking LOVE! And yes, you can bring your dogs out. It is dog friendly at most restaurants. Brunches - Ocean View - http://www.yelp.com/biz/ocean-view-caf%C3%A9-manhattan-beach-2 Fishbar- http://www.yelp.com/biz/fishbar-manhattan-beach-2 Sloopy's - http://www.yelp.com/biz/sloopys-manhattan-beach Haven't tried dinner in MB yet, but when I do, I'll update you all. :) Another perfect place to take your family and your significant other. Make sure to wear something warm, bring coins for certain meters, blankets and sandles if you are planning to stay at the beach to play. read more

I would kill for a block that had Manhattan Beach Post, Fishing with Dynamite, Little Sister. Manhattan Beach Creamery, and a Coffee Bean. Add all the eye candy walking around I could just hang out all day. The problem is parking isnt that easy and even if you're lucky you may just score a 3 hour spot which just isnt nearly long enough read more

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Best beach, by far in LA. Clean sand, showers for after beach, very clean overall especially surprisingly near the pier. The food selection is very good on the board walk. Parking was cheap and easy. Overall : BEST read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Beautiful Pier! I could watch the sunset from here every night (and often have) as it's so gorgeous. Prices in the area are obviously going to be on the higher end of the scale, but that's normal for a nice beach town. The food choices are plenty and tasty. The shopping varies from $$ to $$$$ depending on which shop you enter. It can get pretty crowded during special events like 6 Man Volleyball Tournament. However, it's really nice and relaxing on a regular weekday or weekend. read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - Shopping time - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Definitely a beautiful beach. Lots of space to park (paid meter or free up the hill) and tons of space on the sand. I loved the swings on the beach, too. The water is perfect and warm, as it should be in SoCal. I also love that it's less crowded here than other LA beaches so that I can actually feel like I'm here alone/with just my party instead of the whole world. My only gripe was that there didn't seem to be a public bathroom nearby, but I also didn't look too far. I will return! read more

Downtown Manhattan Beach - So beautiful - Beaches Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Probably one of my favorite places in all of SoCal!! I mean, what's not to love about Manhattan Beach?!!! The vibe here is great! There is good shopping, good food, the parking is relatively easy (if you know what you're doing and where you're going). Walking around and see the architecture of the houses is always fun because they're all so different. (Side Note: I want to own a home here!!) The beach is great!! Even when it's crowded I love it. I love the pier and the way the water breaks. It makes for great photos if that's your thing. There are so many family and engagement photos taken here on the regular basis. If volleyball is your sport then this is the place to come, not just to play but also to watch if you like being a spectator to the competitions. Playing is a great way to meet new people, just start a game and invite people to join. I come here solo or with friends, I spend all day here or just a few hours to watch the sunset. It's my escape when I need to get away but don't have time to get on a plane and really get away. It's great! read more

I love this part of Manhattan Beach! I always look forward to coming here whenever I get a chance to enjoy a bite to eat or a grab a cup of coffee. It's a quaint little area full of boutiques, shops, and eateries all in less than a square mile. It's got a great vibe to it especially since you have a view of the ocean and the pier since Manhattan Beach Blvd. inclines down toward the beach giving you a really breathtaking view as you meander the streets visiting its many stores. One of my favorite places to visit in the beach cities. read more

Great place to check out! Parking is very close and restrooms are close to the parking too. Big waves and very calm! There's also a free aquarium on the pier which is pretty cool! read more

Great pier, great shops, good food Prices are high living here but the food and environment are worth it. Beach is a block away and the strand for scenic walks or runs. read more

I LOVE exploring downtown Manhattan Beach! It's one of my favorite places ever! I live nearby, and it's so nice to be able to take a short drive over to this area and feel like I'm on vacation. Lots of great shops and locally owned businesses and restaurants. Despite the challenge to find parking, it's worth it. Sometimes I go over there and just drive for a while till I find a spot that's free if I have some extra time. read more

We used to visit California all the time but now dread it and try to avoid anything California because the once nice must see attractions (including the beaches) are deteriorating and turning into toilet holes (sorry but it's true!) But Manhattan Beach area is still indeed a nice place to visit. The beach and small downtown area is clean, safe and pleasant. We enjoyed the shops/restaurants/bars along Manhattan Beach Blvd about 10 minute walk from beach. Please know walking up from the beach is all uphill and may not be feasible for some. The area is nicely diverse with people of all ages. Please Note: Parking is extremely difficult to find, not sure if this is a daily problem or only on certain days and times but reading other reviews it sounds like it's an issue. Parking is all metered and strictly enforced. As we sat having lunch we watched parking enforcement stop and check EVERY car writing tickets (gotta pay for all the bs somehow so why not target the tourists so they never return...real brilliant Cali!) Also be aware some meters are for only 24 minutes (not a typo "24 minutes" lol!) You think you were sooo lucky to find a spot and then realize its only for 24 minutes hopefully you didn't put your money in yet! What a great money making trap for the unaware tourist. And the other meters have time limits too most we saw were 2 hour parking limit so please be aware and check the meter before inserting your hard earned money. You could probably find free parking on the outskirts of town. read more

A very nice clean beach. I had a blast here. There were people, but it's not quite as crowded as, say Santa Monica or Venice Beach. If you desire a game, there are volleyball nets all over the place. There's also a small aquarium located on the pier. The downtown area also has a nice seaside resort town feel to it. One annoyance: parking. Very limited spaces and metered parking lots everywhere (so don't expect your trip to the beach to be an all-day thing.) Maybe a shuttle service that could take beachgoers to designated parking lots could help? Also, maybe I missed them, but some kind of nearby "beach essentials" shop would really clean up there, for people who need to purchase last-minute towels and bikinis. read more

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Beautiful place , you can enjoy half a day or a full day there. Walking between many shops, eating lunch, going to a yoga class , enjoying the clean beach , riding a bike alone the beach... Recommended! read more

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if your staying near the area hotels where the Ocean Express stops it's a good Idea to pick up a ticket and hop on. Stop at Manhattan to browse , shop , eat and take a nice walk down to the beach area. read more

This was my favorite beach of the three that I visited during my time here. Definitely did have more that I would've enjoyed going to, but this still was very clean and not over populated. We also, stopped by just before the sunset and it's a beautiful view and vibe to experience. Hope to come back soon! read more

I love spending time in Downtown Manhattan Beach. Lots of good eats, a lively atmosphere, and a large beach that isn't too packed and is pretty clean. Came here with a friend, trying to catch some sun, but unfortunately the gods hid away the sun under a cloudy sky. Our spirits unaffected, we bolted for the chilly waters for a bit of wave bobbing (yup...) The sand isn't too coarse, and insulates heat pretty well. We covered our legs in the sand, as we watched people surf, body board, play with their kids, and take wedding/family photos. Oh boy, is this the spot for photos. Lots of white clothing, lots of families with numerous kids, and a Santa. Good stuff. There are a lot of sporting events and activities hosted here, such as a pier-to-pier swim event and the occasional volleyball gathering. Can't wait to return for more fun in the sun! read more

If I had $5-20 million dollars to spend on a beachfront home in Manhattan Beach I would in a heartbeat. During my week long stay near the LAX airport I had the pleasure of visiting Manhattan Beach to exercise and take in some sunny vitamin D. The separate bike and pedestrian pathways are in excellent condition for for a casual or intensive stroll. I loved running along the pedestrian path admiring all the old and modern beachfront homes wishing I had a home here to look out onto the beautiful Pacific Ocean and to walk seconds onto the smooth yellow sanded beach. $1.25 parking is available right by the beach and near side streets but if you park at a 2hr max or 8hour max city owned parking lot your hourly rate is $0.75 per hour. Coming from Chicago where he sold our parking souls to the devil for the 99 years (no joke, our former mayor King Richard II signed a lease jacking up street parking to fund our poorly managed govt). Anyway back to Manhattan, a must visit if you're in the area. There are plenty of local shops and restaurants in downtown Manhattan Beach that will keep you engaged if relaxing in the beach and sun or playing volleyball isn't your thing. read more

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Beautiful area to walk around. Amazing multimillion dollar housing neighborhood, quiet area and the beach/pier was incredible at sunset. Four stars because five stars I feel should be reserved for someplace that has something to do also? It's a great place for a walk though! read more

What a great place to relax and enjoy the beach vibe. I was in transit at LAX and I hopped into a $10 Uber and I was there. I found everything I needed to enjoy the beach. I bought a pair of swim shorts, flip-flops and headed to the beach. After a great time in the beach and in the water I picked up some pizza and drinks before heading back to the airport. read more

A lot of beaches have awful parking because their is so much shopping everywhere and food places

The beach was very beautiful and clean, quite a lot of swimmers waiting on strong waves, there wasn't a lot of interesting restaurants though, however, it's more tranquil than the busy venice beach read more

Loves it here! A beautiful pier. Wonderful restaurants. Fun bars. Exceptional scenery. Always great weather. What more can you ask for?

One of the prettiest beaches I've ever been to. I love the atmosphere around it also!