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Tuna tartare appetizer bites on cucumber slices next to a martini glass with an orange cocktail and a red flower centerpiece in a dimly lit, upscale Santa Monica hotel restaurant.
Dining

Best Santa Monica Hotel Restaurants: Epic Vibes + Great Deals

December 15, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Discover Santa Monica’s best-kept culinary secrets tucked inside luxe hotel lobbies—where coastal cool meets elevated dining.

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Calvados Old Fashioned and Mezcalita D’Ananas cocktails on a wooden high-top table at Massilia restaurant in Santa Monica, featuring an Edison bulb lamp and a decanter of water in a dimly lit, speakeasy-style setting.
Dining

Massilia Santa Monica: French Dining That Will Surprise You

December 9, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

What began as an app-fueled dinner date turned into an eye-opening lesson in how quickly kids can acquire a taste for the finer things.

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Three happy young girls posing with giant Zootopia movie statues in the Cinemark Playa Vista theater lobby
Dining

The Ultimate Family Movie Theater on the Westside

November 25, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Tired of chaotic parking, cramped seats, and meltdown-inducing crowds? Discover the Westside theater that turns family movie night into a stress-free, comfortable outing.

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Couple laughing and sharing a playful pizza bite on a fun dating night out in Los Angeles
Dining

3 Stages of Dating: The Ultimate Pizza Test

November 24, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

In LA, choosing where to eat is a personality quiz — and pizza is the final exam.

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A family of four (mom, dad, two daughters 7 and 10) walks hand-in-hand on the Santa Monica Pier at sunset, with the iconic Ferris wheel and amusement park in the background. The text "CULINARY PASSAGES: EXPLORE, TASTE, LIVE" is subtly overlaid at the bottom.
Discovery

Santa Monica Without a Car: An Easy 3-Day Family Plan

October 16, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

A real 3-day Santa Monica itinerary with no rental car — where to stay, which bus routes to use, and a day-by-day plan for the beach, pier, and Getty Villa.

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ORLA Santa Monica terrace dining with ocean view and overlay text “Oceanfront Mediterranean Dining in Los Angeles
Dining

ORLA in Santa Monica: Our Go-To Oceanfront Dinner

September 7, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

ORLA at the Regent Santa Monica Beach pairs Michael Mina's Mediterranean menu with an oceanfront room that works for date night and kids.

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Couple on a Waymo date night sharing a chimney cone ice cream outside AJA Vineyards Tasting Room in Santa Monica.
Discovery

Waymo Rides, AJA Wine Flights, and a Turn Dough Surprise

September 2, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

A self-driving Waymo ride, a wine flight at AJA Vineyards, and a chimney cake cone at Turn Dough — proof a good date doesn't have to leave the neighborhood.

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The Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, home to FIG restaurant and the FIG at Five happy hour
Dining

FIG at Five: 50% Off Everything at This Santa Monica Happy Hour

July 16, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

FIG at the Fairmont Miramar runs 50% off the entire menu, filet mignon included, Tuesday through Saturday from 5 to 6 p.m. Here's what we order and why.

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The Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, home to Fig restaurant
Dining

Santa Monica: A Real Family Dining Review at Fig

June 22, 2025 - By Ginger Graham

Fig in Santa Monica is our go-to for family dinners — real dishes, real service, and a kids' menu that doesn't feel like an afterthought.

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