Bikes and Brews in Manhattan Beach, LA

Marine View Management

Hotel | "Self Catering in Style"

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With a bounty of great restaurants and a wide open beach, renting an apartment or house in Manhattan Beach makes perfect sense if you plan on staying for a week or more. It is probably one of the most attractive areas of Los Angeles and is located fairly close to LAX airport. We were in LA for a family event and as we were a large group, ending up renting not only a three bedroom house, but also a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan Beach for a week. While I didn’t have anything to do with the arrangements, I was fortunate enough to stay for a week in the larger house with some family over the New Year period. Manhattan Beach is an affluent area. It’s compact, walkable and embra...Read More

With a bounty of great restaurants and a wide open beach, renting an apartment or house in Manhattan Beach makes perfect sense if you plan on staying for a week or more. It is probably one of the most attractive areas of Los Angeles and is located fairly close to LAX airport.

We were in LA for a family event and as we were a large group, ending up renting not only a three bedroom house, but also a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan Beach for a week. While I didn’t have anything to do with the arrangements, I was fortunate enough to stay for a week in the larger house with some family over the New Year period.

Manhattan Beach is an affluent area. It’s compact, walkable and embraces the outdoor and beach culture. A farmers market is in town once a week and there are plenty of bars and restaurants to keep even the fussiest of eaters happy for a week or more.

The house we stayed in was about a ten minute walk to the centre of Manhattan Beach but only a two minute walk down a pedestrian-only path to the beach itself. In fact from the upper balcony of the house, we could not only see the waves crashing onto the beach, we could hear them.

We arrived late on a Monday night and found the house to be easy to access and practically spotlessly clean. There was a late December chill in the air but after about a five minute blast of heating, all three floors of the house were suddenly toasty warm. The welcome was made all the warmer I’m sure by the large box of See’s Candies in the kitchen, drawing our attention to a thin ringbinder full of handy hints and do’s and don’ts while staying in the house.

The house had a double garage and utility room, which housed rubbish and recycling bins and two beach cruiser bikes. On entering the house from the garage we found the novelty elevator, which serviced all three floors of the house. We actually got quite a bit of use out of the elevator, sending up loads of groceries to the kitchen on the first floor and large suitcases to the main bedroom on the very top floor.

Each bedroom had its own en suite bathroom. The top floor bedroom was the grandest, with its own balcony and a walk-in wardrobe that was almost the same size as the shower cubicle in the bathroom. Also on the top floor was a large living room with flat screen television, fireplace, large balcony and a small study / bar area complete with wine cooler. Downstairs on the first floor was another bedroom and the kitchen and dining area. The kitchen was impressively equipped with not one but two ovens and pretty much every cooking utensil you could ever need. There was also a washing machine and tumble dryer, which came in handy when someone spilt beer on me on our first night out!

The third bedroom was on the ground floor and outside the front door was a small patio area with large barbecue that plugged into the gas mains, eliminating the need to change hefty gas canisters.

The house was plainly decorated, with warm yellow walls and few ornaments or pictures. Not that it needed any as the main feature was the view downhill to the beach. At night it was possible to see the fairy-light outline of Manhattan Beach pier hovering over the black sea.

I don’t know how other similarly sized Marine View Management properties compare but the house we stayed in was impressive. It’s not cheap, but the place had everything that we needed or could ask for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The price also included cleaning so all we were obliged to do was to empty the rubbish and to put the bins outside on the collection days. And as far as locations go, I imagine that Manhattan Beach is one of the more relaxing places to stay in LA. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Marine View Management
1640 S. Pacific Coast Highway
Redondo Beach, California
310 373 3599

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Cycling from Manhattan Beach to Santa Monica and Redondo Beach

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Cycle Path Photo - Manhattan Beach, California

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Although we were fortunate enough to have bicycles available to use at our accommodation we rather foolishly didn’t spot a) the bicycle pump or b) the two really nice beach cruisers at the second rental place until a couple of days after we had decided to rent bikes for our first foray out to Venice Beach. So my first suggestion (if you’re renting an apartment or house in the area) would be to do a thorough search in the garage for bikes and a device to blow up the tyres before you resort to renting from Fun Bunns. The name might be amusing, but the state of some their bikes is not. We walked into Fun Bunns (1116 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tel: 310 372 8500) and picked up two...Read More

Although we were fortunate enough to have bicycles available to use at our accommodation we rather foolishly didn’t spot a) the bicycle pump or b) the two really nice beach cruisers at the second rental place until a couple of days after we had decided to rent bikes for our first foray out to Venice Beach. So my first suggestion (if you’re renting an apartment or house in the area) would be to do a thorough search in the garage for bikes and a device to blow up the tyres before you resort to renting from Fun Bunns. The name might be amusing, but the state of some their bikes is not.

We walked into Fun Bunns (1116 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Tel: 310 372 8500) and picked up two beach cruisers fairly easily, although not after discounting one specimen with a well rusted chain. They rent by the hour, or by the day the cost is $20 per person.

The Strand is a paved path that stretches from Redondo Beach in the south to Santa Monica pier and beyond. For the most part, there is one path that runs alongside the beachfront homes for pedestrians and a second, lower path dedicated to cyclists that winds through the flat sands. With the exception of a short stretch of road riding near Marina Del Rey (just before Venice Beach), the ride is completely off road, very safe and affords almost uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean waves and horizon.

Starting at Manhattan Beach, it is about 12 miles (one way) to Santa Monica pier. However, it is a very flat and each journey. The only effort required of any rider is around Marina del Rey. The path splits from its ocean side route and heads inland and around the marina. The paths are well sign posted so reaching Venice Beach on the other side was very easy. In fact the trip was almost too easy. I was convinced that at some point I was going to plough headfirst into the sand or miss a key turning. I was enjoying myself so much, basking in the still warm rays of the December sun and exerting such minimal effort that I had to remind myself more than once to keep my eyes on the path that unfurled in front of me without end.

The other joy about this bike ride is that the path is peppered with toilets and water fountains, so it doesn’t even matter if you forget a water bottle or get caught short. About the only think you do have to be mindful of is where the trail crosses a road or pedestrian path.

We took our time and arrived in Venice Beach after a couple of hours. It’s worth dismounting and walking through the colourful strip of shops, cafes and curiousities. It is quite crowded here so you have to be a bit more mindful of fellow cyclists and other wheeled folk.

We stopped in Venice Beach for an iced yogurt (coconut is a good option) and to check out the crowded bars and variety of dogs being walked. This is a good area to stop and eat if you need to. We had already filled up on a Noah bagel in Manhattan Beach and the heat kept our hunger at bay.

We continued up the path a little further until we reach Santa Monica pier. We dismounted again and wheeled the bikes to the end of the wooden pier, passing a few fairground rides, shops, cafes, bizarre street entertainers (one was a guy wearing a gorilla head and doing some weak dance moves to some old techno tunes). I’m not sure if I would recommend stopping here to eat, unless you’re particularly into fairground style food.

If you have the time, Santa Monica has an attractive, pedestrianised shopping area. We didn’t venture into it on this trip but did on a later day but without the bikes. Instead we turned back and pedaled back to Marina del Rey. The stretch between Marina del Rey and Manhattan Beach is quite quiet and passes under the flight path of jets taking off from Los Angeles International Airport. Asides from the plane noise, this part of the trail was the quietest we experienced. There are fewer riders and it is a much more relaxing path to ride. The row of big (and mostly bad taste) homes stretch out at the top of the beach as the waves of the Pacific crash away on the deserted sand plateau below.

On another day we ventured south to Redondo Beach. Just over three miles from Manhattan, the ride to Hermosa and Redondo Beaches is perhaps less relaxing than that to Venice Beach. The path is a lot busier and much of it is shared with pedestrians. However it is a much shorter and easier trail and perhaps a good one to start out on if you only have an hour or two to spare (to Venice Beach and back you will want to allow at least 4-5 hours).

The ride to Hermosa Beach takes very little time. If you’re looking for a livelier and younger crowd, Hermosa is the place to come. The bars were packed along the main strip and while most people were seated inside the bars, their voices carried in noise clouds up and down Pier Avenue.

After lunch at La Playita, we continued on to Redondo Beach. We probably could have rejoined the beach point somewhere but instead we stopped at the marina before heading back. Here we were rewarded with a sighting of dolphins arcing in between the waves. We watched them for a while before heading back to Manhattan Beach to watch the sun set with a cold beer. Read Less

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Stroll along Venice Beach and Santa Monica Pier

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Venice Beach Photo - Los Angeles, California

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Our bike ride from Manhattan Beach had taken us around Marina del Rey and deposited us into the midst of the action on Venice Beach. Possibly LA’s best known beach area, I had expected to see all types of bizarre characters but in fact things seemed fairly tame. Perhaps the most striking sight was that of the medical marijuana shops. Bright green eye catching stalls with a couple of girls out front dressed not unlike cheerleaders. The famed muscle beach body builders must have been taking a day off, as we didn’t see them. The skateboard park was busy though and had attracted a decent number of spectators. We took our bikes off the bike paths and walked along the boardwalk, admi...Read More

Our bike ride from Manhattan Beach had taken us around Marina del Rey and deposited us into the midst of the action on Venice Beach. Possibly LA’s best known beach area, I had expected to see all types of bizarre characters but in fact things seemed fairly tame. Perhaps the most striking sight was that of the medical marijuana shops. Bright green eye catching stalls with a couple of girls out front dressed not unlike cheerleaders.

The famed muscle beach body builders must have been taking a day off, as we didn’t see them. The skateboard park was busy though and had attracted a decent number of spectators.

We took our bikes off the bike paths and walked along the boardwalk, admiring the colourful mix of shops, fortune-tellers, souvenirs and artwork. To me, most was pretty bad. Even the majority of the clothing shops were pretty tacky, but the walkway certainly didn’t lack character. We took our bikes off the boardwalk and wheeled them into a long narrow courtyard with a cafe at the end. We stopped for a frozen yogurt and enjoyed being away from the crowds for a short while.

We then continued on towards Santa Monica. The Santa Monica pier was no less busy than Venice Beach. We were able to push our bikes onto the rough wooden boards of the pier and walk around the perimeter. The pier seems to have it all: restaurants, entertainers, a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, a trapeze school and an aquarium. It is even part of Route 66. We walked to the far end, where a row of anglers went about the serious business of casting lines out into the quiet swells of the Pacific. Their pursuit was a far cry from the noisy leisure pursuits of most people who visit the pier.

Back along the pier we observed an entertainer in puzzlement. He wore a shabby tracksuit with a gorilla mask and danced, not very well, to a string of old pop songs. He made us laugh if nothing else.

We passed the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant, apparently owned by the production company responsible for making ‘Forest Gump’ and continued towards the pier entrance. After over 100 years of operation, the pier shows no sign of losing its appeal.

We wanted to explore further but it was time to turn back. We cycled back along the winding Venice Beach path, competing with pedestrians and roller-bladers for space. The skate park and the boardwalk were still busy. It isn’t until you reach the edge of Marine del Rey that the crowds disappear and the quieter side of LA beach life returns. Read Less

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BrewCo-Manhattan Beach Brewing Company

Restaurant | "Impressive Beer List with Food to Match"

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The Brew Co at Manhattan Beach is a large and lively bar that serves surprisingly good food. While you would expect the beer selection to be extensive and interesting, their food menu is the same. The place is set with bar stools and tables with a row of booths down one side of the restaurant. Screens play a variety of sports behind the bar and above the booths but the sound is muted so it doesn’t distract your attention too much. They also cater to a younger crowd, with a menu for children and colouring crayons and paper to keep kids occupied. In spite of the name, Brew Co doesn’t brew on site. They do a couple of locally made beers though along with many others from near and ...Read More

The Brew Co at Manhattan Beach is a large and lively bar that serves surprisingly good food. While you would expect the beer selection to be extensive and interesting, their food menu is the same.

The place is set with bar stools and tables with a row of booths down one side of the restaurant. Screens play a variety of sports behind the bar and above the booths but the sound is muted so it doesn’t distract your attention too much. They also cater to a younger crowd, with a menu for children and colouring crayons and paper to keep kids occupied.

In spite of the name, Brew Co doesn’t brew on site. They do a couple of locally made beers though along with many others from near and far. The beer list is ordered with the lightest beers at the top and runs all the way through to Guinness, the darkest, at the bottom of the list. There is a good description of each, enabling you to make an informed decision on anything unfamiliar.

The food portions, like many establishments in town, are large. On our second visit we ordered appetizers but these, in fact, are more the size of what I would consider a main meal. On our first visit I tried the skinny ahi wraps. The ‘skinny’ being that they came in a lettuce leaf rather than tortilla wrap. However this was just as well as the sides of rice and beans were filling on their own. The seared ahi also came with avocado, pico de gallo and was delicately balanced in a mini metal trough.

The appetizers we tried on our second visit included a bowl of clam chowder and the pork sliders. The thick chowder was good but incredibly filling but the pork sliders were amazing. The smoky barbecue flavour infused the meat contained within three not-so-small bread buns and was so delicious we lamented the fact that we hadn’t ordered them the first time round. They came with a crunchy coleslaw, large pickled gherkin and some thin French fries.

The Brew Co is not a place to go for a quiet night out but it is perfect for groups or to try a few different types of beer in one place. The tables by the front are placed under a bright, punchy piece of ceiling artwork, seemingly influenced by Communist-era designs. The logo – a hand holding aloft a frothy pint – definitely harks back to the bold red and black Soviet propaganda posters. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

BrewCo-Manhattan Beach Brewing Company
124 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, California
(310) 798-2744

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Fusion Sushi

Restaurant | "A Sunday Night Sushi Surprise"

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We arrived at Fusion Sushi quite late on a Sunday night. I had been determined to have sushi in LA but with the techno music playing quite loud and the neon shining bright, I have to admit that I didn’t hold high hopes for the food at Fusion. However it was the only sushi place that appeared to be open that night and as I was leaving LA the following day, it appeared to be the only option. When we arrived around 9pm, the place was not particularly full but the loud music somehow gave the impression that it was busier than it actually was. Long rows of tables accommodated a few large and a couple of smaller groups. We had a quick look at the menu and decided to share a few plate...Read More

We arrived at Fusion Sushi quite late on a Sunday night. I had been determined to have sushi in LA but with the techno music playing quite loud and the neon shining bright, I have to admit that I didn’t hold high hopes for the food at Fusion. However it was the only sushi place that appeared to be open that night and as I was leaving LA the following day, it appeared to be the only option.

When we arrived around 9pm, the place was not particularly full but the loud music somehow gave the impression that it was busier than it actually was. Long rows of tables accommodated a few large and a couple of smaller groups.

We had a quick look at the menu and decided to share a few plates. We ordered a sushi and sashimi combination plate, a tuna roll. A bowl of miso was brought out almost immediately, as was our order of edamame. We assumed that the miso was complimentary but had to ask for a second bowl as bizarrely, they only brought out one bowl for the two of us.

The edamame was satisfyingly sprinkled with large grains of sea salt and the miso was warm and flavourful. The sushi also arrived quite swiftly and in spite of my initial reservations, it was delicious. The plate included tuna, salmon, yellow tuna, albacore and white tuna. On the side were a tall pile of sharp ginger slices and a healthy dollop of pea green wasabi paste.

Had it not been so late (and had a not, yet again, eaten so many of the chips at Mucho Mexican restaurant) I could have quite happily ordered one or two more sushi plates. The fish was a moist and tender and the ginger highly addictive.

The staff was fast and cordial but not overly friendly. One server in particular didn’t seem to understand or speak much English so our interaction was limited to pointing at the menu items we wished to order. That said, we stayed until closing and even with all the tables around us empty and clean, they patiently waited until we had finished our drinks and didn’t hurry us out the door.

As well as the guarantee of great sushi, it Fusion also delivers a high level of kitsch. A room at the back of the restaurant appears to be set aside for karaoke parties and the wall ‘art’, if you can call it that, has to be seen to be believed.

They also do take out so if the sights and sounds of Fusion are too much to bear, I can highly recommend getting sushi to go. The food is good and unlike many sushi places, it’s not priced too high. Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Fusion Sushi
1150 Morningside Dr
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
310-802-1160

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La Playita Mexican Cafe

Restaurant | "The Quieter Side of Hermosa"

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Less than two miles from Manhattan Beach is the livelier centre of Hermosa Beach. It only takes ten minutes by bike down The Strand and not too much longer on foot. The centre of Hermosa Beach is a loud and lively stretch but away from the crowds is the quieter corner of 14th Street, home to La Playita Mexican restaurant. We pulled up on our bikes for a late lunch on New Years Day and were advised we had about a half hour wait for a table for five. In reality, we probably ended up waiting closer to forty minutes, but the steady stream of locals coming in and out, and also waiting patiently for a table, convinced us that our lunch would be worth the wait. A bike rack is handily ...Read More

Less than two miles from Manhattan Beach is the livelier centre of Hermosa Beach. It only takes ten minutes by bike down The Strand and not too much longer on foot. The centre of Hermosa Beach is a loud and lively stretch but away from the crowds is the quieter corner of 14th Street, home to La Playita Mexican restaurant.

We pulled up on our bikes for a late lunch on New Years Day and were advised we had about a half hour wait for a table for five. In reality, we probably ended up waiting closer to forty minutes, but the steady stream of locals coming in and out, and also waiting patiently for a table, convinced us that our lunch would be worth the wait.

A bike rack is handily located in front of La Playita so we locked up our bikes and were eventually called in to our table. La Playita is quite small. There is an outdoor courtyard area that accommodates about as many tables as there are inside. It was a nice day so many people were angling for the outside seating but the indoor area has large sliding windows and good views out to The Strand and the ocean.

La Playita has a lived in feel. The bright tangerine and sky blue exterior is complemented by a simple, no frills interior. Glass table tops and laminated menus may set quality alarm bells ringing for some, but the basic quality of this restaurant is its forte. Thick, crispy chips and wholesome salsa were delivered quickly and there was immediate praise for the rich, tomatoey salsa. It was basic, but very good.

The menu covers most Mexican staples but there is also a decent list of American breakfast and lunch items, including French toast, omelettes and pancakes. I decided on the chicken fajitas with black beans although the omelettes looked pretty good.

The tables around us were vacated just long enough to be wiped down before the next round of customers came through and even when we left there seemed no sign of a lull.

I wasn’t too surprised that the portions at La Playita were, once again, very generous. My fajitas were loaded with grilled chicken, shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, guacamole, sour cream and a generous spoonful of black beans and Mexican rice. It wasn’t at all spicy and had we been cycling a little further than Redondo and back I would have felt a bit less guilty about eating so much for lunch, although I wasn’t able to clear my plate. My husband had the fish tacos and was impressed with the fact that the fish wasn’t deep fried or battered, which is quite often the case.

From our table I could see into the kitchen and wondered how the chefs were managing to keep their cool, on New Years Day of all days. They seemed to be taking it in their stride though. Some of the staff looked as if they had been working at La Playita for some years but when you’re working a stone’s throw from the beach, maybe it’s hard to leave. Read Less

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

La Playita Mexican Cafe
37 14th Street
Hermosa Beach, California 90254
(310) 376-2148

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Mucho Ultima Mexicana

Restaurant | "The Ultimate in Manhattan Beach Mexican Dining"

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Mucho Mexican restaurant came recommended to us by a local so it seemed wise to check it out. We decided to book a table for our group of six and while the host who took our reservation seemed to think it wouldn’t be necessary on a week day, Mucho is a popular place and filled up faster than even we had anticipated. In spite of the low lit interior, Mucho is quite a lively place, especially during happy hour (5-6.30pm every day) when margharita, mojito and red and white sangria cocktails are heavily discounted. They also offer a range of happy hour appetisers for $6 each and this is a great way to try a wide range of very, very good quality Mexican food.We actually ended up goi...Read More

Mucho Mexican restaurant came recommended to us by a local so it seemed wise to check it out. We decided to book a table for our group of six and while the host who took our reservation seemed to think it wouldn’t be necessary on a week day, Mucho is a popular place and filled up faster than even we had anticipated.

In spite of the low lit interior, Mucho is quite a lively place, especially during happy hour (5-6.30pm every day) when margharita, mojito and red and white sangria cocktails are heavily discounted. They also offer a range of happy hour appetisers for $6 each and this is a great way to try a wide range of very, very good quality Mexican food.

We actually ended up going to Mucho on three different occasions within the space of a week. I have to say that the big draw was their chips and salsa. The warm, crunchy chips are carefully seasoned with cumin, cinnamon and lime, a perfect pairing for the mild, well balanced salsa dip. The danger is that when you finish one round of chips and salsa, the staff is usually quite quick to refill both, so before you know it you’ve polished off three rounds and you’re too full to eat anything else.

I made this mistake on our first visit. I overloaded on chips and salsa and could only eat half of the delicious enchiladas suiza that I had ordered. The stuffed tortillas were creamy but not too rich, drenched in a green tomatillo sauce. Mucho offers a choice of two side dishes with most meals. I chose the subtly smoky chipotle macaroni cheese and some sautéed vegetables. Everything was excellent and it was one of the few times I have felt disappointed at not being able to finish everything on my plate.

On our second visit we went for the happy hour cocktails. I had a couple of hand-muddled mojitos. The bartender crushes fresh mint leaves, sugar, and ice before adding rum, lime and a skinny baton of fresh sugar cane. I can also recommend their margharitas, although these are worth ordering by the pitcher for two or more people.

The main bar is loaded from floor to ceiling with spirits with tequila being the main feature. It is softly backlit, bathing the back wall in a deep orange glow and lending a somewhat classy look to the bar. Booths line the restaurant perimeter. Seating beside the bar is by way of low, lounge furniture, meaning that the bar and all of its bottled treasures are fully visible to everyone in the restaurant. No accident I’m sure.

On our third and final visit we sat beside the bar and had appetisers. Our large group shared some chicken quesadillas, carnitas sliders and a dessert of giant, hot fluffy churros with hot chocolate and caramel sauces. All were divine. The quesadilla was inspired with its addition of red pepper coulis, basil and crumbly Mexican cheese and the sliders are a must and barely what I would consider ‘appetiser’ size. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on January 29, 2025

Mucho Ultima Mexicana
903 Manhattan Avenue
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
(310) 374-4422

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