The Misfit Restaurant + Bar is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

1. The Misfit Restaurant + Bar

8.8
225 Santa Monica Blvd (at 2nd St), Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 349 tips and reviews

Maria E.Maria Essig: Great place - stylish and casual. The bar choice is wide. I had an Ahi burger and really loved it. Recommend both for lunch and drinks.

Morgane C.Morgane Cattin: Trendy place and great cocktails

Dëva H.Dëva Holik: Trendy spot in Santa Monica, make sure you save room for the cookies at the end. Great vegetarian food and cocktails - opt for the burgers on toast.

Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

2. Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar

8.7
1610 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA
Italian Restaurant · Wilshire-Montana · 29 tips and reviews

Westside R.Westside Real Estate: Trendy and delicious.

Olya K.Olya Khilobok: Sweet people, almost empty at Tuesday morning, amazing cheese and bread.

Melanie M.Melanie Martin: Mushroom tortellini, filet mignon tartar

Farmshop is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

3. Farmshop

8.7
225 26th St, Santa Monica, CA
American Restaurant · Brentwood · 69 tips and reviews

Amber J.Amber Jamal: Love their retail area, and their dinner menu is fresh & hip. Decent wine selection, nice for a date or dinner with a friend.

Lizzie N.Lizzie Nodell: What a fantastic dinner! Chicken liver mousse is a must.

LA WeeklyLA Weekly: "Farmshop's French Fries are what Fries should be." - Jonathan Gold

Dogtown Coffee is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

4. Dogtown Coffee

8.4
2003 Main St (at Bay St), Santa Monica, CA
Café · Ocean Park · 99 tips and reviews

Eric H.Eric Hinman: Yerba matte latte. Wow. Hip spot with outdoor seating.

Jessica P.Jessica Placencia: The perfect breakfast. Trendy

Siddhi D.Siddhi Dhavale: Love the concept and the coffee. Super pet friendly

SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

5. SUGARFISH by sushi nozawa

9.2
1345 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA
Sushi Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 180 tips and reviews

CasimirCasimir: Excellent sushi with great variety in a trendy setting.

Ernie S.Ernie Sahapatanavana: Get the Trust Me, trust me!

Edlin C.Edlin Choi: Perhaps the freshest and most amazing sushi I've had. Fresh wasabi. Perfect rice. Incredibly fresh fish. Even more amazing is the price - $30 for a Trust Me tasting menu (4 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more.

Sweetfin Poké is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

6. Sweetfin Poké

9.0
829 Broadway (at Lincoln Ct), Santa Monica, CA
Poke Restaurant · 35 tips and reviews

Natalie K.Natalie K: Amazing for lunch. Pretty healthy & fish is very fresh

Dylan B.Dylan Boyd: Can't get enough of this poke.

GQ MagazineGQ Magazine: This year’s poke-splosion in L.A. happened without explanation, practically overnight, yet we’re amazed it took this long. Sweetfin Poké goes the Cali-cuisine route, like a snapper bowl with kale. Read more.

R+D Kitchen is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

7. R+D Kitchen

8.3
1323 Montana Ave (at 14th St), Santa Monica, CA
Gastropub · North of Montana · 115 tips and reviews

Mike F.Mike Ferguson: If the wait is more than 20 minutes, there are significantly better (albeit less hip) places within two blocks

Meg F.Meg Farmer: More for the scene than the food, though it's not bad. Draws a trendy crowd, love the open windows to the street in the front. This place is always overflowing.

Chinarut R.Chinarut Ruangchotvit: veggie burger is made fresh & to die for!

Rustic Canyon is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

8. Rustic Canyon

8.3
1119 Wilshire Blvd (at 11th Ct.), Santa Monica, CA
Wine Bar · Wilshire-Montana · 86 tips and reviews

Vanity Fair AgendaVanity Fair Agenda: The hip L.A. version of Chez Panisse, this is one of the best spots in Santa Monica offering small plates and seasonal ingredients.

T M.T Man: The food was ok. Service is good and timely not intrusive and not lacking. My personal opinion is that they are trying too hard to be trendy. The tables are on top of each other.

Lisa L.Lisa Lafrance: Although it's called a wine bar, try their cocktails too, which are very creative and very good!

Mercado is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

9. Mercado

8.3
1416 4th St (at Santa Monica Blvd), Santa Monica, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 82 tips and reviews

Terry A.Terry Adams: Good food. Good Tequilas and Mezcal. Hip and cool vibe.

KayKay: cant get enough .. the fish tacos is delicious

Alexandra E.Alexandra E.: ...Eh... I've had better

Cassia is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

10. Cassia

9.0
1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA
Asian Restaurant · 62 tips and reviews

albert o.albert ocampo: White pepper crab and charcuterie fried rice are amazing

Vivian D.Vivian Doan: Loved their green papaya salad (the spiced walnuts give it a kick!) and clay oven bread with chickpea curry! Can't wait to go back again and enjoy their patio

Simple F.Simple Foodie: Charcuterie Platter, Kaya Toast, Whole Grilled Sea Bass, Charcuterie Fried Rice, Chopped Escargot, Spicy Lamb is spicy.

Blue Plate Oysterette is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

11. Blue Plate Oysterette

9.0
1355 Ocean Ave (btwn Santa Monica Blvd & Arizona Ave), Santa Monica, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 149 tips and reviews

LIVESTRONG_COMLIVESTRONG_COM: This fresh seafood spot is super chic and super Southern California. The low cal ceviches are a sure winner.

shaaz a.shaaz abdul: Yumi seafood 🦞 👅 The key lime pie so delicious 😋

Bon Appetit MagazineBon Appetit Magazine: The LA area has arguably the most diverse food scene in the country. Exemplary lobster roll - served on top a split brioche roll with a side of house-made sweet potato chips. Read more.

Bardonna is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

12. Bardonna

8.0
1601 Montana Ave (at 16th St), Santa Monica, CA
Coffee Shop · North of Montana · 29 tips and reviews

Alexa W.Alexa Whiteside: OMG! The french toast was amazing!!! Not to mention the sidewalk seating was perfect for people watching. Loved this trendy little spot

Isaac C.Isaac Cruz: Trendy. Feels pretentious. Coffee is still great tasting. Prefer the Main Street location

Maddie H.Maddie Humphrey: The truffle shuffle with burrata is amazing

Kreation Kafe is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

13. Kreation Kafe

8.4
1023 Montana Ave (at 11th St), Santa Monica, CA
Juice Bar · North of Montana · 52 tips and reviews

Sadie H.Sadie Hawkins: Absolutely delicious Persian food in a trendy restaurant. Prices are also under 20 for the most part.

Jerry K.Jerry Katell: Eggs with Scottish salmon. Terrific.

Anneke J.Anneke Jong: ground beef kebab with quinoa. don't even try to not order the hummus, it's perfection pureed.

Hillstone is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

14. Hillstone

8.8
202 Wilshire Blvd (at 2nd St), Santa Monica, CA
New American Restaurant · Downtown Santa Monica · 112 tips and reviews

Ozge S.Ozge Savci: Excellent decoration, very chic, friendly waiters and delicious menu

Carolyn W.Carolyn Wilkerson: Salmon, sushi, kale salad, apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.

Charles E.Charles Edge: The salmon is great!

Basement Tavern is one of The 15 Best Trendy Places in Santa Monica.

15. Basement Tavern

7.8
2640 Main St (at Ocean Park Blvd.), Santa Monica, CA
Speakeasy · Ocean Park · 62 tips and reviews

Joe J.Joe Johnson: The best part is... It feels like a high end Chicago speakeasy from 1918 once inside...except for the enclosed chic game room. Great food from the parent restaurant, the Victorian.

Meg F.Meg Farmer: Trendy late night spot. Attracts a good crowd, but also tends to have a wait to get in. Hit up another Main Street bar if that's the case.

Ryan W.Ryan W: One of my favorite places to grab a drink. Well-crafted cocktails and a decent beer selection. Great atmosphere. Your phone won't work downstairs.