Main Street runs for about a mile, from Pico south to the Santa Monica border, and first became trendy in the 80s, after Wolfgang Puck opened a Californian-Asian fusion restaurant. Since then, other neighbourhoods have been growing in popularity, and Main Street slowly fell behind. Now, thanks to an injection of modern 21st century ideas from an eclectic variety of new businesses, OROGOLD believes that Main Street is once again becoming LA’s new mecca of cool, and is an area not to be missed if you find yourself in Santa Monica.
Fresh and Seasonal Food
If you enjoy thoughtfully prepared dishes made from fresh, local ingredients, then Main Street is a great place to go. With over 50 different restaurants, cafes and bars, you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing an establishment to dine at. M Street Kitchen is a popular restaurant, with an open kitchen and a bohemian-chic atmosphere. The restaurant serves modern American cuisine with fresh and seasonal ingredients, as well as a boutique selection of wines and refreshing signature cocktails. From Farm to Fork is another restaurant on Main Street, and has a menu that is constantly evolving based on the different local Santa Monica ingredients that they source. In addition to their homemade pickles, wood fired flatbreads and fresh pastas, they also offer vintage wines from around the world and hand crafted infusions of spirits.
Main Street Farmers Market
The Main Street Farmers Market is held every Sunday in Heritage Square, and features some of the freshest Californian produce that you can find. Local Main Street restaurants also have stalls selling prepared food, giving you the opportunity to sample small dishes from many eateries. As well as the delicious variety of food, you will also find live musical entertainment and plenty of activities for children, from pony rides to a petting farm to face painting.
Shopping
Main Street has a fantastic array of stores, with local boutiques as well as larger international names. Many stores sell exclusive artisan products made by local designers and artists, guaranteeing that your purchase is one-of-a-kind. There are also many interior design stores, gift shops, clothing stores and bookshops, making it easy for you to spend the whole day browsing the different items on sale.
Summer Soulstice Arts Festival
Each summer, Main Street hosts the Summer Soulstice Arts Festival, and this year will be their 15th one. This free festival features five different stages, each showcasing different local musicians. There are also sidewalk sales where you can pick up some great bargains whilst enjoy the buzzing festival atmosphere. For those who like visiting museums and art galleries, Main Street has more than 10 different ones for you to check out. Many of these showcase new emerging artists, and there is a huge range of styles for you to appreciate.
With such a great variety of things to do and places to eat and drink, it is no surprise that Main Street is once again becoming an LA hotspot. For those who want to fully take advantage of all that Main Street has to offer, there are some great hotels nearby, keeping you close to the heart of LA’s new mecca of cool.
Related Posts
