Hermosa Beach: Guide From A Local
When you think of visiting Southern California beaches, you probably think about visiting iconically known spots like Santa Monica or Malibu. But those famous spots are so touristy and crowded and to be honest, there are a lot of other beach options that are way prettier.
Let me introduce you to one of the best beaches in Southern California — Hermosa Beach! I've lived in Hermosa Beach for 3+ years now, so this guide gives you all of the local tips you need to experience the best of the best. Plus, Hermosa is located in the South Bay right outside of Los Angeles so you can reach it by a short car ride.
If you're visiting Los Angeles or Southern California, don't go to the same beach town that everyone else is going to! Go to Hermosa and I promise you won't be disappointed!
Hotels
H20 Hermosa Hotel
You can't get any closer to the beach than the Beach House! This hotel sits right on the beach and the Strand (a 22-mile paved bike trail). The rooms are studio-style suites and include either a patio or balcony. Upgrades add sunken living rooms, and ocean or beach-level views. They'll also provide you with beach chairs free of charge which is super helpful!
Bonus: every morning they have a free continental breakfast which includes the most amazing locally baked scones you'll ever have!
H2O Hermosa is Hermosa Beach's newest hotel and located just steps away from the beach. This boutique hotel offers complimentary breakfast, a bar, a fitness center, complimentary beach towels and a stunning pool.
This hotel is budget-friendly and one of the more affordable options in Hermosa. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway, you can easily walk to the beach and downtown area of Hermosa within 15-minutes. It is also located right across from a major grocery store, a few restaurants, and a coffee shop. I used to live right next-door to this hotel actually and it is a great little area as long as you don't mind walking up and down some hills to access the beach.
Sea Sprite Hotel is located right on the beach on the south side of Hermosa. A bit on the pricer side but still considered budget-friendly, you'll be right in the heart of Hermosa and a few steps away from the pier. They also have a great sundeck with fire pits at night and a 24/7 mini-mart.
Coffee Shops
Matcha lattes and coffee from Gitana Cafe
Gitana Cafe
This family-owned cafe is highly rated and serves coffee and pastries. They also have the BEST matcha -- highly recommend. They have a cute little patio you can sit on, but I prefer to take my drink to go and walk along the strand, which is right across the street from their location. Definitely make a stop here for some high-quality coffee when you're in Hermosa.
The Java Man
The Java Man is Hermosa's oldest coffee house, with its bungalow-style building originally built in the 1920s. They have everything from coffee, to breakfast burritos, to salads, and baked goods. They pretty much have everything you could ever need at a coffee shop! On the weekends, this little coffee shop has a line out the door extending around the corner, so make sure to check it out. I recommend grabbing your favorite coffee and a breakfast burrito.
BOLT
BOLT is a great place to stop just for a quick coffee or even a drink, but they also serve an amazing breakfast and lunch. I highly recommend checking them out!
Hi-Fi Espresso
Hi-Fi Espresso is a low key, 1970s-vibe coffee shop located on the Pacific Coast Highway. They serve one of the best matcha lattes I've ever had (in fact, I believe my first ever matcha latte was here), and they have an adorable little patio in the back. It is a perfect spot to relax and sip a drink with a friend.
A matcha latte from Hi-Fi Espresso
Where To Eat
A no meat burrito from Baran’s 2239
There are a lot of restaurants and bars right on the Hermosa pier, but to be honest I am not a fan of any of them. The food is mostly just okay, and the drinks are fine, but if you're really looking for good, quality food and the best that Hermosa has to offer, you need to wonder off the pier and expand out a bit.
This list of restaurants highlights the absolute best restaurants in the area and my favorite places that I frequent often as do other locals. You won't be disappointed, and you also can walk to mostly all of them no matter where you are staying in Hermosa!
Baran's 2239
If you eat out ANYWHERE during your time in Hermosa Beach, your #1 stop has to be Baran's 2239. Baran's serves dinner which is amazing and I highly recommend you make a reservation one night, but what they are truly sought after for is their breakfast burritos. Their burritos are amazing and I've said multiple times that on my death bed, the last thing I want to eat is a Baran's burrito.
A quick backstory for those interested: For years Baran's was strictly a fine-dining restaurant but during covid, they needed to find a way to make money and keep the lights on, so they started slinging take-away breakfast burritos. Their small idea which started just as a way to make some income exploded and now they sell more than 1,100 burritos every Friday-Sunday. They sell nearly two burritos a minute, and actually just expanded to selling breakfast burritos out of their sister-restaurant down the street. They are WILDLY popular.
Baran's often times sells out of burritos a day or two in advanced, so you NEED to order your burrito ahead of time and you do it through IG DM. Just DM them a day or so before with what you want and what time you want to pickup at and they'll respond and confirm they've received your order. Don't be the person who just shows up expecting to order a burrito day of because you'll be very sad when they tell you no can do. Make sure you DM in advanced!
Their burritos are only served Friday-Sunday morning and they always have four options: a special (announced on IG a day or so prior to Friday), a no meat burrito, a chorizo burrito, and a bacon burrito.
People don't eat their burritos inside the restaurant, they are strictly takeaway so get your burrito and then take it to the beach for an amazing breakfast, or if you can't wait, eat it right there in your car in the parking lot, which you'll probably see a lot of other people doing.
Martha’s
Martha's is the best breakfast restaurant in Hermosa Beach and a spot that is very near and dear to all the locals hearts (their slogan is 'where the locals go'). I swear I come here once a week with my friends because it is just so good and such a charming little restaurant located steps away from the beach.
Martha's opened up in 1984 and has won numerous awards including Best of Hermosa 2023 "Best Bite", as well as LA Times' 2023 "Best of the Southland: Brunch (Southbay). They offer breakfast and lunch, but I definitely recommend coming for breakfast, which is my favorite. People often times want to sit on their patio but if the wait is longer than you're willing to stand, ask if they have any bar seating available or a table inside. Usually you can get a spot inside fairly quickly as their outdoor space is more sought after.
So if you want to experience the local Hermosa Beach life and a restaurant that isn't touristy, come to Martha's!
The Bottle Inn
The Bottle Inn is located right across from Martha's and is another favorite spot frequented by locals. The Bottle Inn has been serving Hermosa for 50 years and has an amazing patio just steps away from the ocean. This Italian restaurant is known for its wine list and cozy cellar dining room. I recommend making a reservation for their patio at golden hour to enjoy an amazing sunset while you dine.
Barsha
Barsha is a highly-rated restaurant combining the flavors of Tunisian cuisine with a Mediterranean touch. Set back from the beach, Barsha is located in a shopping center and doesn't look like much from the outside, but this hidden gem is an under-the-radar restaurant that is frequented by the locals.
They offer a mix of small plates which are great for sharing, like falafel sliders and roasted cauliflower, alongside larger entrees. And since the owners also run a wine shop nearby, you’ll find a wine list that offers various-sized pours.
I recommend coming here and ordering a bottle of wine and sharing a bunch of small plates so you can try everything.
Fritto Misto
Fritto Misto is a family-owned Italian restaurant with two locations -- one in Hermosa Beach and one in Santa Monica. It is a casual Italian cafe with a wide variety of pasta options including a create-your-own pasta plate option, and many vegetarian dishes. You can also bring your own wine for a small cork fee. If you're looking to eat somewhere budget-friendly that has more of a laid-back vibe, Fritto Misto is your spot!
Granny’s Grocery
Granny's is a hidden gem in Hermosa that you need to check out! They have a cute little grocery store where you'll find snacks, drinks and other little knick-knacks, but they also have a deli where they're slinging some amazing sandwiches! Definitely stop in here for lunch and get a sandwich to-go to bring to the beach.
Mickey’s Italian Delicatessen & Liquor Store
Mickey's is another hidden gem in Hermosa that has been around for 65+ years. Located inside a convenient store, they have a counter where you can order sandwiches, salad and some amazing pizza. If you're looking for a quick and easy lunch or dinner definitely make Mickey's a stop. But be warned! They're so popular so you may have a little bit of a wait.
Slay Hermosa
Slay is one of Hermosa’s newer restaurants but it has already become extremely popular among the locals. Bringing farm-to-beach items, their food and wine is all seasonal and comes from the Slay Estate & Vineyard. They’re also one of the only restaurants in the area that does bottomless mimosas. Plus, they have an amazing rooftop that overlooks the ocean. This is one of my favorite spots in Hermosa!
Cream Boys
Creamy Boys just opened up their first ever storefront in Hermosa Beach and it is so good! Their New Zealand style ice cream is blended with real fruit ranging from mix berries, bananas, and hokey pokey which is a New Zealand staple consisting of honeycomb toffee. Aside from having amazing ice cream, the story of their brand is really fun and their little shop is super cute.
The hokey pokey ice cream at Creamy Boys
What To Do
Pier Ave in Hermosa Beach
There is so much to do in Hermosa Beach, aside from actually enjoying the beach of course! Make sure you definitely plan a day or at least a few hours during your trip to just enjoy the beach and swim. It is one of the nicest, and cleanest beaches in Southern California so spending time on it is a must! Below are some other recommendations of what to explore during your time.
Hermosa Cyclery
Rent a bike from Hermosa Cyclery and go for a ride on the Stand! The strand is 22-miles long and extends all the way up North to Will Rodgers State Beach in the Pacific Palisades. Riding there and bike from Hermosa will take some time and requires a lot of commitment. I recommend either riding North for a bit and turning around whenever you want, or riding South to the start of the Strand which is in Redondo Beach (the next beach town over). Going to the end in Redondo is only a few miles and shouldn't take very long and is a great way to see the surrounding area.
The Comedy & Magic Club
The Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa is such a fun experience, and a lot of top comedians perform here regularly like Jay Leno. Their signature show is "10 Comics" where they have 10 different performers rotate over the course of 2-hours. I recommend buying your tickets online in advanced as they do sell out.
Hermosa Pier
Walk to the end of the Hermosa Pier! So many people visit and don't actually walk to the end but you'll get a beautiful view of the hills and all of Hermosa from the end. Plus at the beginning of the pier, you can see the famous Tim Kelly statue.
Hermosa Beach Friday Farmers Market
If you're in Hermosa on a Friday, check out the farmers market. It is held every Friday from 12-4pm at 1035 Valley Dr. (Valley & 11th) next to Clark Field. Even if you don't buy anything it is fun to just look around but they have some amazing locally sourced produce, food, and other treats.
Hermosa Beach Museum
Established in 1991, the Hermosa museum specializes in preserving and providing the local history of music, arts, and the local beach and surf culture. Museum admission is free, and there is parking available in a public lot behind the Hermosa Beach Community Center.
