santa monica shopping guide

Why Shop in Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is known as a laid-back beachside city, but its shopping options rival cosmopolitan destinations like Manhattan, nearby Beverly Hills and other shopping spots in LA. From unique artwork and eco-inspired homewares to iconic skater labels and runway styles, there’s more to explore in this walkable, 8.3 square-mile area.

Best of all, Santa Monica’s shops have a distinctly easygoing vibe. Step out in faded jeans and a tee or a polished maxi dress–you’ll feel at home either way.

Find the Perfect Gift

Start downtown at Santa Monica Place. This luxury shopping area houses world-renowned anchor stores like Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton, Nike and Tiffany & Co. Plus, with Santa Monica Place’s same-day delivery service, you’re free to buy as much as you want—without worrying about how to haul it back to your hotel.

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Unique Styles

Find cool gifts and cute dresses at the Brat Store, plus clothing and accessories with an international flair at Kathmandu Boutique.

Green Products

South of Pico Boulevard near the beach, Main Street is home to several indie, eco-friendly stores–possibly inspired by Santa Monica’s outdoor culture.

Vintage Media

Love vintage media? Bookworms and vinyl nerds should hit up Angel City Books for a curated and eclectic selection of vinyl records and used books.

People walking on promenade during day; Third Street Promenade
Famous Shopping Spots

Well-Known Shops

Just a block north of Santa Monica Place, in the heart of Downtown Santa Monica, is Third Street Promenade which runs from Wilshire down to Broadway. It was closed to cars in 1965, creating a pedestrian-friendly shopping haven. Though it’s mostly lined with more mainstream clothing stores such as Gap, Anthropologie, Adidas and Sephora, it maintains a distinctly Southern California vibe.

As you relax on a bench surrounded by palm trees and beautiful planted flowers, you can take in the talents of various street performers who flock to the three-block stretch. If you diverge off the Promenade to Second or Fourth Street, you’ll find smaller, individually-owned Santa Monica shops for unique gifts.

Pop into the Vans store across from Santa Monica Place, one of the company’s earliest retail locations, to check out the latest editions of the brand’s signature deck shoes, which became popular with Southern California skateboarders in the late 1960s.

Only in Santa Monica

From Lincoln to 17th Street, Montana Avenue is dotted with upscale Santa Monica shopping and womenswear boutiques for brands usually only found in bigger stores.

Labels like Splendid, Jill Roberts and Margaret O’Leary have their own dedicated spaces here, offering larger and more varied selections.

Be sure to leave time for uniquely California shops like Accents Jewelry Design, an accessory boutique devoted to local designers.

only in santa monica shopping
Cashier smiling and handing bag to customer; hats located on wall behind
Blogs

Shop, Don’t Drop

With a widespread public transportation system and plenty of dedicated bike lanes, it’s incredibly easy to get around—and shop around—Santa Monica.

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