I used to live around the corner from this cool little shop. I dropped in frequently and Cathy and…read moreBuddy were always kind and helpful. I bought many birthday and Xmas gifts here. Affordable and eclectic. It's been over 20 years since I was there. I'm so glad to see that it is still open and serving the public. Highly recommend!

I went to the drumming meditation circle tonight and I found Russel Buddy Helm very much in his…read morehead and egotistical. At one point he verbally attacked me and became very aggressive without provocation.His partner, Cathy tried to defend me and explain what I was saying. He seems very reactive and by his demeanor, I smelled a Narcissist. I walked out of his group because I felt he was a toxic person. Be forwarned.

This very cute store, just off of the Third Street Promenade, is absolutely the kind of gift shop…read moreto find the perfect present for that special someone. While there are certainly the staples of gift shops here: cards, jewelry, small ceramics and the like, this place is extremely well-curated. And also has some unique features. For example, you can get a custom charm-bracelet made in store. I really enjoyed looking at the assortment of housewares and trinkets. And this was the place that I found the absolutely perfect card for Mother's Day. Prices here were very reasonable and the staff was both friendly and helpful. While I don't live in Santa Monica, the next time I'm there I will most likely swing by.

Super cute store with curated goods from small businesses! Everything from candles to self care…read moreitems and books and unique cards. I've gotten several gifts here, including a bracelet from the adorable custom charm bar. I was advised that they stock new items weekly, so I will definitely be popping in frequently and adding punches to my stamp card.

Sin Barco is awesome...five-star shopping experience...our favorite place for gifts on Montana…read more The owner, Jaime, is so helpful, friendly and interactive, and the store has a dazzling array of all kinds of unusual and high-value gifts. It is an adorable shop, with creative gifts for any age person, and you will love the outstanding service. 5-star experience...worth a visit!

What a whimsical shop! Six year-old Olivia and I truly enjoyed it, albeit for different…read morereasons...hahaha. Jamie the shopkeeper was delightful, kind, patient, friendly and generous with her time and goods. I could have kept talking with her for hours ;) We walked out with a lovely pink headband, two rainbow bows, a bubble gum-scented pen, and thinking putty with sparkles! Olivia said, "Jamie gave us lots of joy!" Thank you‍

A true hidden gem on Montana Avenue. I walked into this olive oil store thinking I'd spend a few…read moreminutes browsing and somehow ended up there for over an hour tasting the most heavenly olive oils and vinegars. Every single flavor was so delicious that choosing what to take home became the hardest part. What made the experience even more special was the owner -- so warm, generous with her time, and incredibly knowledgeable. She patiently explained every flavor, pairing, and use without ever making us feel rushed. You can really feel the passion behind the products. Honestly, this place is therapy. The kind of therapy that feels as satisfying as candle shopping. Just spending time in the store is such a calming and joyful experience, and trust me, you definitely won't leave without a few bottles in your hands. These make such beautiful gifts for friends and family, but honestly you'll want to keep some for yourself too. And the best part? No matter your cooking skill level, a few drops on a salad or dish instantly make you feel like a MasterChef. Healthy, flavorful, and such a fun experience from start to finish.

This is a little gem in Santa Monica that should not be overlooked. Walked in and was able to taste…read moreall the incredible vinegars, oils and other goodies. Left with 2 large bottles of the most aromatic delicious white balsamic vinegars. The owner Tanna is a sweetheart and spends time educating me and walking me through each note. Will definitely be back!

I have been coming here since they opened some 8+ years ago, mainly for the candles and cards…read more I love the candle selection - the stuff I'm looking for is always in stock (Maison Louis Marie and Boy Smells). I love standing in front of the candle selection, smelling my way through the new brands and smells - especially if it's been a minute since I've been there. Personally, I think they have the best candle selection on the west side. What I also love, is how fairly priced the candles are - they are sold at the price you find them online. I expected a mark-up but was really surprised to see there wasn't one. Their card selection is also the best. I can stand in front of that wall for a good half hour reading all of the cards and stocking up for upcoming birthdays, holidays and thank you's. Even when the card wall is looking a little empty there's still a bunch of great options that fit what you're looking for. The customer service has always been good - I recently went in to exchange a candle (within the 14 days) with a half printed receipt (the machine had run out of paper) and I didn't bring my wallet. The girl who helped me with my exchange was really nice and while it took a bit to locate my purchase from that day due to the situation she was super helpful and I was able to finish my exchange without having to come back. I no longer live in the area so I was really grateful to save an extra trip. I'm happy to see the store's phone number is on yelp. It wasn't originally when I was calling to ask about my exchange. I highly recommend this store for fun home things and cards!!! And for what it's worth - I love the kids shop next door. Everything I have purchased for friends with new babies or kid's birthdays has been a hit! It really is the cutest store full of things you won't find anywhere else.

The name says it all! Fun little gift shop. I come in to peruse at least once a week. Great…read moreselection of random goodies-- coffee table books, candles, novelty socks, bath & body products, cards, art, etc. Inventory updates often. Great gift wrapping. Get on the email list for occasional discounts. Staff is a mixed bag-- some are super helpful & attentive, others seem bored.

OK is by far my favorite store in all of Los Angeles -- actually, in all of the world. Everybody…read morewho works here is genuinely lovely, knowledgeable, patient, and kind, and it's truly such an oasis of joy and humor and intellect. The selection of items is so unique and special; I buy all my gifts here and the recipients are always blown away by the creativity of the gifts and also the AMAZING GIFT WRAPPING (I apologize for likely being the source of my paper cuts). OK the Store is a true godsend and we are all so lucky to live in a world where such a gem exists.

Jane was an absolute treasure! She is very knowledgeable about the product and takes time to get to…read moreknow you. This location also has an Inciardi print machine and when I got a double of one of the prints, she happily traded me for another. I would come back to this location just for her!

tl;dr even if charcuterie boards and boutique home goods aren't your thing, don't miss the…read morenot-so-secret farm-to-table sandwich selection Lady & Larder is no stranger to the spotlight. This tiny Santa Monica wine-and-cheese concept debuted in 2016, and their charcuterie boards earned acclaim from Oprah and The New York Times alike. During the pandemic, Lady & Larder ventured into the sandwich game, and the result was a resounding success. Nowadays, the not-so-secret "Secret Lunch" lineup of gourmet sandwiches is among the best in Los Angeles. The tiny Santa Monica shop shares the block with a Sherwin-Williams and a boxing gym. Cross your fingers for metered street parking on the trafficky block of Pico. Outside, red metal patio furniture is shaded by the overhanging storefront. Natural light runs through multicolored windows to the shop within. The mosaic tiled floor is effortlessly chic. The soaring whitewashed walls are minimally decorated, while shelves and refrigerators are carefully curated with wines, cheeses, tinned fish, and candles. The tablet register is set up on a worn kitchen countertop. Soft, instrumental music immediately feels welcoming. I've visited multiple times for early weekend lunch, and our Toast pre-order was ready upon arrival. We grabbed a table outside, and numerous takeout customers popped in and out during our meal. My favorite was the Disco Only. This elevated turkey club featured an impressive depth of flavor, from the sharp alpine cheese to the rich garlic mayo to the tangy pepperoncini vinegar. The thick-cut Bub and Grandma's sesame bread held up admirably well, and the arugula added a welcome fresh factor. The proteins were plentiful but were outshone by the other components. I also loved the Hot Girl Salami. The sweet-and-hot mustard and crispy baguette accentuated the rich, almost buttery salami. Meanwhile, the Venice Cowgirl was like a cheeseboard on a baguette. The sweet peaches and apricot-habanero jam dominated the subtly rich cheese or thin prosciutto, but the sandwich nonetheless proved to be a unique, summery option worth sharing. Lastly, the Yes, Honey elevated the ham-and-cheese with tangy relish, but the other components felt standard and forgettable. The service was friendly and efficient, and sandwiches ran for $15-20 each. Overall, the food tasted like the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on a premium roll, with sandos ranging from good to excellent. They are worth a dedicated visit if you're in the neighborhood, and I can't wait to work my way through more of Lady & Larder's menu.

my boyfriend surprised me on Valentine's Day with these!…read more Everything tasted fresh and delicious. Please support these ladies!!

Sonia provided amazing hospitality and was incredibly friendly throughout my visit. She made the…read morewhole experience welcoming and enjoyable. The store was clean, organized, and full of high-quality items. You can tell they really care about their customers and the products they offer. I'll definitely be coming back!

An older women that works there, I believe her name was Sonia was hovering over us and she didn't…read morelet us enjoy the shopping experience we hoped for. We finally picked a bracelet & and an ankle bracelet and she asked if we wanted her to take it to the check out counter so our hands could be free (as if we were going to steal the items). We decided not to purchase anything else after that. In fact, I didn't want to purchase the bracelets after that. Don't shop there