Expressnews
Beyond its laid-back beach vibe, Santa Monica offers a treasure trove of culinary examples that blend the flavours of global notes, local California cuisine, exemplary menus and Michelin-starred spots, reflecting the state’s rich agricultural production. While cafés and restaurants are a great way to sample Santa Monica’s expansive dining scene, the culinary story extends far beyond just tables, resulting in a mixed bag of unique experiences from food tours to picnics, cooking classes to local farmers markets, inviting food lovers from all around the world to indulge in the flavours of Santa Monica’s gastronomic landscape.
Food Tours
Tours are a tasty option for those looking to sample a new destination’s cuisine with the help of expert guides who ensure that every bite will be a delight, while also providing the historical, social and cultural background that makes a meal more than just a dish.
The Six Taste Food Tour is a walking tour of Santa Monica that spans eight blocks and features over seven unique tastings. Partnering with dozens of restaurants, Six Taste Food Tours offers a tasty rotation of trending bites and tried and true favourites. Six Taste’s tours are also scheduled to coincide with the famed Downtown Santa Monica Saturday Farmers Market, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the local, all-organic produce used by many of the eateries they will visit on the tour. The tour lasts approximately four hours, and ticket prices start at $90.
Southern California is famously home to fresh and flavourful Mexican cuisine, and Taco Tour Santa Monica is the perfect way to get a taste for the city’s offerings. Spanning 1.5 miles, this taco tour invites visitors to savour five delicious tacos from local spots throughout Santa Monica, including savoury meats, fresh fish and refreshing margaritas, wines or beers. Each guest even receives gift cards to support local businesses following their tour to keep the celebration of community and culture going throughout their trip. This tour lasts two and a half hours with time slots for brunch or sunset. Tickets start at $139 for adults and $99 for those under 21.
To satisfy a sweet tooth, consider the Underground Donut Tour offering a blend of sweet treats, unique flavours and local history. This two-mile walking tour kicks off at Randy’s Donuts, an LA staple known for its innovative flavours and iconic larger-than-life doughnut signage. From there, you will move to a gourmet doughnut shop where your guide will share the history of Santa Monica’s culinary explosion. Next, enjoy churros and other Mexican-inspired treats at a popular fusion-forward eatery before wrapping up on the Promenade with McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams. This short and sweet foodie tour lasts about two hours, making it an easy, breezy way to see the sights, learn the history and sample some of the finest treats Santa Monica has to offer. Tickets start at $65 for adults and $55 for kids.
Cooking Class
For something more hands-on, consider enrolling in a cooking class at The Gourmandise School. Located atop the Santa Monica Place outdoor mall, The Gourmandise School offers a wide array of classes ranging from an afternoon cooking a 3-course meal and decadent chocolate workshops to classes geared toward young cooks and technical courses for those interested in stepping up their skills in the kitchen. With the help of expert professional chefs guiding guests each step of the way, travellers will enjoy the delicious dishes they created and take home their new recipes as the perfect foodie souvenir from their visit to Santa Monica.
Beach Picnic
A beach picnic is the perfect way to enjoy the best of Santa Monica’s food and weather. Santa Monica Picnic Co. offers beach picnics for parties of all sizes, from a romantic picnic for two to a family hangout on the sand. Each picnic includes tables, pillows, umbrellas and décor in addition to coolers and picnic baskets stocked with beach activities like wireless speakers, paddleball and more. Santa Monica Picnic Co. partners with local businesses for catering, including Rustic Canyon Family restaurants serving seasonally focused menus built around the produce available at the Santa Monica farmers markets. For food made fresh to order with a focus on sustainable ingredients, head to one of Perry’s Café & Beach Rentals’ four Santa Monica open-air café locations and savour a meal in the sunshine with your toes in the sand. Sit back, relax and enjoy SoCal’s most beautiful beaches while feasting on fresh, local flavours.
Farmers Markets
Lastly, go straight to the source by visiting one of Santa Monica’s four weekly farmers markets. These markets are open all year round throughout the city, and with Santa Monica’s public transit options and bike-friendly streets, getting to each is easy, no matter where you are staying in the destination.
The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market, located on 2nd and Arizona Street, is open twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm. It was first opened in 1991, and over the last 34 years, it has cemented its reputation as one of the finest organic markets in the region. Here, travellers will browse the colourful stands of fresh produce alongside residents shopping for groceries and the city’s top chefs selecting the best ingredients to serve in their restaurants each week.
Meanwhile, the Pico Farmers Market is found near the Pico branch of the public library, which lends it a calm, family-friendly vibe. Stop by to hear live music, sample delicious treats and peruse the very same produce used by Santa Monica’s expert chefs. This farmers’ market is open on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm.
Finally, check out the Main Street Farmers Market on Sundays from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. This market is filled with the same fresh, high-quality ingredients you expect at each Santa Monica market, but it is also a hub for local artisans, crafters and makers. Stop to sample prepared foods and find a perfect one-of-a-kind gift to take back home.
