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Places (POIs) visited during this tour

Place #1
Distance: 0.00mi , Attraction : Shopping District, Dining (Recommended selfie spot).
Map Pin
1516 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
POI 1 Tour Image
Chic Montana Avenue
You’re now driving along Montana Avenue, one of Santa Monica’s favorite streets — especially for locals.

While most visitors head straight to the Santa Monica Pier or the Third Street Promenade, Montana Avenue has a much more relaxed neighborhood feel. This ten-block stretch is filled with cafés, bakeries, yoga studios, and small independent boutiques.

Just north of here is the area known as “North of Montana,” one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Some of the city’s most expensive homes sit just a few blocks away, which means it’s not unusual to spot a celebrity quietly grabbing coffee or walking their dog around here.

Unlike the busy tourist zones closer to the beach, Montana Avenue has always been a bit of a locals’ secret — a place where people come for brunch, boutique shopping, and a slower Santa Monica vibe.

If you’re looking for a great place to stop later for coffee or lunch, Montana Avenue is definitely worth coming back to explore on foot.

  https://montanaavenue.com/
Place #2
Distance: 0.54mi
Map Pin
801 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
POI 2 Tour Image
Montana Avenue — A Road That Rose After the Fall
As we continue along Montana Avenue, here’s a little piece of Santa Monica history.

This street didn’t become a major destination until the 1930s, after the nearby Santa Monica Canyon and Palisades areas began attracting wealthy Los Angeles residents looking for cooler ocean air away from the heat of downtown L.A.

Back then, Montana Avenue was mostly a quiet neighborhood road with a few small markets and pharmacies serving the growing residential community. But as more people built homes in the surrounding “North of Montana” neighborhood — which is still one of the most expensive areas in Southern California — the street slowly evolved into the local shopping district.

For decades, Montana Avenue was known for its old-school neighborhood businesses: bakeries, delis, hardware stores, and small family shops. In fact, many longtime residents still remember when kids would ride their bikes here to buy candy or comic books after school.

In the 1980s and 90s, as Santa Monica grew more upscale, the street transformed again — adding the cafés, boutiques, and restaurants you see today — while still keeping its small, walkable neighborhood character.

So while the pier and the Promenade get most of the tourists, Montana Avenue has always been where Santa Monica locals actually go.

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Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour

Map Pin Place 1 Chic Montana Avenue
Map Pin Place 2 Montana Avenue — A Road That Rose After the Fall
Map Pin Place 3 Palisades Park & Camera Obscura
Map Pin Place 4 Annenberg Community Beach House
Map Pin Place 5 Third Street Promenade
Map Pin Place 6 Santa Monica Place
Map Pin Place 7 Tongva Park
Map Pin Place 8 Historic City Hall
Map Pin Place 9 Vibrant Main Street
Map Pin Place 10 South Beach Park
Map Pin Place 11 North Beach Volleyball Courts
Map Pin Place 12 Muscle Beach
Map Pin Place 13 Iconic Santa Monica Pier



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