The 15 Best Places for People Watching in Santa Monica (2024)

Ray Elkins:Some of the best people watching in town.

Jason Betts:Fun place for lunch and people watching!

Edgar Sarmiento:Great place to shop and people watch.

Emma Goo:People watch; bring a sketchbook or camera. Feel the sand beneath yer feet. Enjoy the immensity of the sea. Stop by a divey hole in the wall; beer it up. Churro. Rent a cruiser. Ferris wheel it. Relax

DubstepFitness.com:Walk to Venice from here and walk back. You'll have a awesome time just people watching and enjoying the beach view. Smile and say hi to everyone and the merchants will give you a discount

David S:Great people watching location and smell of a clean crisp beach!

jenny barker:Fun place to people watch and hang with girlfriends. Great coffee and food too~

Adam Wohlberg:Spanish late extra sweet mild espresso. Yum. I don't love the food here, good people watching tho!

techstudiomacandpcrepair.com:Everything is good here including the people watching

Sylvia Dunbar:Great place to people watch on weekends.

Petra Bos:Great patio for ocean views and... people watching!! Oh, and they have great wines and bites too 😉

Fran Cormack:Historical hotel right on the front. Great place to stay. Great place for evening drinks.

MetroWize:Big Dean’s has a perfect outdoor patio designed for people watching, pitcher drinking. Order food from their grill and wash down your worries with a cold brew. Read more.

Jonathan Correa:One of the few remaining original Santa Monica spots. They’ve done a good job preserving its soul and local appeal. Great for people watching, a cold beer, and good bar food! Exceptional staff!

Kathy Shapiro:The captain’s platter, the cheeseburgers, everything is great here. The atmosphere is eclectic and the drinks are great! Absolutely love this place.

Larry Liang:Once you find parking, the walk is very nice and depending on what time of the day, great for people watching.

ᴡ Espino:Great place to go for a walk if you live in the area. Quite the contrast from the busy and touristy vibe near 3rd street and Santa Monica pier.

House Of Fundamentals:Best time go 5:30 am

JW Najarian:Great Bar, food and great place to people watch as people strut the Santa Monica Boardwalk.This is a favorite of mine for business lunches. I have not tried 1 Pico dinner restaurant upstairs.

Zara Khan:Fantastic views of the sunset. Also an interesting spot for people watching and a really cute, clean restaurant on the beach.

Maia Wailana:it's right on the water.. great for a quick weekend getaway.. fabulous for brunch.. amazing for meet-ups!!

Sara W.:Fun people watching not sure these people look in the mirror before they leave their houses tho.

Christine Yoo:Very lively and beautiful. Lots of higher end stores and beautiful outdoor seating. Great place to enjoy shopping, good weather and people watching!

@Jonathan360:Don't overlook Level 3's THE MARKET! Everything from Curious Palate, Groundworks and even a Gourmandise School. Beautiful environment and outdoor area!

Larisa Grollemond:Beautiful views, nice place to hang out and people watch.

Stacey S:It's a great place to take your dog for a walk. Beautiful views and nice people (usually).

Heather Wetzler:great spot for an outdoor workout - - run or walk with a great view--watch the dolphins commute to Santa Barbara in the morning-

Michael Lee:Great place to people watch

Monera A:The best sunset is here and some of the performers are great.

Laura Deltoro-lopez:Best funnel cakes... And they have dippin-dots!!!

Ryan Palmer:This place is a lot of fun. Great for people watching, eating food and going on rides!

JL:Lovely place to have a great Santa Monica view. Pretty quick ride so you better hurry when taking pictures. 😜

Alina S.:Scoops ice cream. Nuff said!)

Joanna Peters:Read, people watch, laze.

Jody Thomas:Beautiful, clean park with a huge playground.

Betty:Good place to lazy around.

Sidney Nugent:great people watching & great selection of fruits & veggies!!

Justin Ordoveza:This one of the best farmers markets. They have meat, seafood, fruits, nuts, vegetables including some Asian vegetables. They also have nice plants. Some vendors take cards.

Bravo:Wednesdays - I get all my fresh produce here - you get to speak with all the farmers & vendors to keep up to date with what's fresh & the best quality and their recommendations. -Alex Reznik, Top Chef

Delicious B.:Amazing grilled cheese and great people watching if you dig white people and hipsters!! I recommend the Brie melt.

Robert Lacki:Hands down the best sandwich you will ever have!!! It's worth the wait if there is a line and the price

30 Minutes Or Less:Grilled cheese is the American take on Italian cheese pizza. Toss that around to impress others. #DontBlowIt

Ron Jeramiah:Cool spot to sit outside, people watch and enjoy a good breakfast. The pancakes are on point - fluffy and tasty. Pass on any specialty coffee.

Nicole Lingner:Delicious Brian's Wrap - breakfast, lunch or dinner!! Pancakes are also oustanding and I love the Weisswurst Plate : ))

Rachelle Roh:The Nellish that I ordered I'm so exciting :)