BEACH

Los Angeles has plenty of coastline, but living near the beach can mean very different things depending on where you land.

Maybe you want to walk barefoot to the sand. Maybe it’s an early morning surf, a bike ride along the coast or dinner with the ocean somewhere in the background. Some beach neighborhoods are lively and social. Others feel tucked away from the rest of the city.

If being close to the water is part of how you want to live, start here.

Santa Monica ›

The classic Southern California beach lifestyle, with a city attached.

Santa Monica gives you the ocean without asking you to give up restaurants, shopping, coffee shops or everyday convenience. The beach and bike path stretch along the entire city, while neighborhoods like Ocean Park, Downtown and North of Montana each offer a different way to live near the coast.

You can start the morning by the water and still have almost everything you need within a few blocks.

Best for: Beach access, walkability and having plenty to do beyond the sand.

Venice ›

Beach life with considerably more personality.

Venice mixes surf culture, creative energy and one of the most recognizable stretches of coastline in Los Angeles.

The beach is part of everyday life here, whether you’re biking the boardwalk, walking to the sand from the canals or heading out from Abbot Kinney toward the ocean. It’s energetic, eclectic and rarely boring.

Best for: Surf culture, creativity and a beach neighborhood with plenty of character.

Marina del Rey ›

A coastal lifestyle centered around the water.

Marina del Rey feels different from LA’s traditional beach neighborhoods. Here, the marina itself is the centerpiece.

Boats, paddleboards, bike paths and waterfront restaurants shape the rhythm of the neighborhood, while the beach is still close enough for an easy ride or walk depending on where you live.

It feels coastal without necessarily feeling like a beach town.

Best for: Boating, waterfront living and spending as much time around the water as possible.

Playa del Rey ›

A quieter beach town hiding inside Los Angeles.

Playa del Rey has a slower, more residential feel than most of LA’s coastal neighborhoods.

The beach is right there, the streets are generally quieter and the small neighborhood center gives it the feeling of a place people actually live rather than somewhere everyone comes to visit.

It’s one of the easier places to forget you’re still in a city of millions.

Best for: A relaxed beach lifestyle, quieter streets and being close to the sand without the crowds.

Pacific Palisades ›

Where the coast meets the mountains.

Pacific Palisades has always offered a different version of coastal living.

Instead of putting you directly in the middle of the beach scene, the neighborhood sits above the Pacific, surrounded by canyons, trails and dramatic ocean views. The beach is part of the lifestyle, but so are hiking, outdoor space and a stronger sense of separation from the rest of Los Angeles.

Best for: Ocean views, outdoor living and a quieter connection to the coast.

What Does Beach Living Mean to You?

There’s a big difference between wanting to see the ocean, walk to it or build your everyday life around it.

Maybe you want a surfboard by the front door. Maybe you want morning walks on the sand. Maybe you just want to catch the sunset without planning your entire evening around traffic.

The right coastal neighborhood depends on how you actually want the beach to fit into your life.

Explore the neighborhoods above, or tell me what your ideal day by the coast looks like and I’ll help you figure out where to start.