Fine dining scene in Santa Monica

Last updated: 2025-05-06

Best Upscale Restaurants in Santa Monica

Santa Monica’s culinary landscape blends ocean-fresh ingredients with innovative techniques, transforming dining into an extraordinary coastal experience. From beachside elegance to intimate chef-driven spaces, these restaurants capture the vibrant energy of this iconic Southern California destination.

Nestled between Pacific Coast Highway and the bustling Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica’s top restaurants offer everything from sophisticated California cuisine to globally inspired flavors that showcase the region’s remarkable gastronomic diversity and creativity.

Discover Santa Monica’s most delectable dining destinations!

Calabra at Santa Monica Proper

What to Expect

Rooftop Mediterranean-Californian cuisine with sweeping ocean panoramas

Description

Perched atop the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Calabra offers a stunning Mediterranean-California rooftop dining experience with panoramic Pacific Ocean views. The elevated restaurant features a circular bar, sundeck, and indoor lounge where guests can savor seasonal cocktails, boutique wines, and coastal-inspired small plates against a breathtaking oceanfront backdrop.

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Kappo Miyabi Santa Monica

What to Expect

Authentic kappo-style dining with chef-guided omakase experience

Description

An intimate Japanese kappo-style restaurant featuring chef-driven omakase experiences in an elegant Santa Monica setting. Diners enjoy meticulously prepared dishes crafted at a close-quarters counter, with chefs presenting seasonal Japanese cuisine using precise knife techniques and traditional cooking methods.

Restaurant Details

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Massilia

What to Expect

Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with multi-regional culinary influences

Description

A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant blending culinary influences from France, Spain, Italy, and North Africa. The sleek Santa Monica space offers a full craft cocktail bar and a menu featuring dishes like bacalao croquettes and seared yellowfin tuna, served in a vibrant, cosmopolitan dining environment.

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Orto Santa Monica

What to Expect

Northern Italian cuisine with organic, homegrown herb-infused dishes

Description

Nestled in downtown Santa Monica, Orto offers an intimate Italian dining experience featuring seasonally-driven cuisine crafted from locally sourced ingredients. The second-floor restaurant boasts an elegant dining room with artfully plated dishes showcasing Northern Italian culinary traditions, highlighted by house-made pastas, fresh seafood, and an expertly curated wine selection.

Restaurant Details

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Palma at Santa Monica Proper

What to Expect

Local artist Ben Medansky mural at central bar

Description

Nestled within the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Palma offers an intimate dining experience with expansive windows and original art. The restaurant features a monolithic bar adorned with a local artist's mural, serving thoughtfully crafted New American cuisine alongside small-batch spirits and expertly mixed cocktails in a stylishly designed all-day dining space.

Restaurant Details

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Pasjoli

What to Expect

Tableside canard à la presse duck preparation

Description

Pasjoli offers an intimate French bistro experience in Santa Monica, featuring a five-course prix fixe menu with seasonal ingredients and optional tableside duck preparation. The restaurant combines a refined dining room with a secret garden setting, complemented by French-inspired cocktails and curated wine pairings.

Restaurant Details

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Siete at Santa Monica Proper

What to Expect

Open concept kitchen with built-in bar designed by Kelly Wearstler

Description

Siete is a sophisticated 1,600-square-foot event space within Santa Monica Proper Hotel, featuring a state-of-the-art open kitchen and designer bar curated by Kelly Wearstler. The versatile venue accommodates up to 110 guests with seamless access to hotel amenities, offering an elegant setting for private dinners, cocktail events, and creative gatherings.

Restaurant Details

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Tar & Roses

What to Expect

Wood-fired California cuisine with Mediterranean inspirations

Description

Tar & Roses offers an intimate Santa Monica dining experience featuring wood-fired California cuisine with Italian and Mediterranean influences. The rustic-chic space showcases an open kitchen and wood-burning oven, creating a dynamic culinary theater where seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients transform into artfully composed dishes. Signature wood-fired proteins and shareable small plates highlight the restaurant's artisan approach to contemporary dining.

Restaurant Details

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The Penthouse At The Huntley Hotel

What to Expect

Panoramic 18th-floor ocean and city views

Description

Perched 18 stories above Santa Monica's coastline, The Penthouse offers an extraordinary dining experience with sweeping 360-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Malibu Coast, and city skyline. This upscale restaurant delivers coastal-inspired cuisine complemented by craft cocktails in an elegant, high-rise setting with unparalleled oceanfront ambiance.

Restaurant Details

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Xuntos

What to Expect

Craft cocktail bar with precision mixology

Description

Xuntos offers an intimate Santa Monica bar experience with craft cocktails and a sophisticated atmosphere. The space features sleek design with a carefully curated drink menu, emphasizing artisanal spirits and inventive mixology techniques.

Restaurant Details

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