Overview
Manhattan Beach is in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County in Southern California, USA. With its expensive homes, fancy restaurants, and wealthy residents, Manhattan Beach is like Beverly Hills-by-the-sea. It is also site of an important beach volleyball tournament, the Manhattan Beach Open.
2 sights · 5 things to do · 6 places to eat · 3 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach Pier
Perhaps one of the more picturesque piers in the South Bay Area, second only to Santa Monica Pier in size. The pier is 928 ft long and located at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. An octagonal Mediterranean-style bui…
Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
The Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden (2/3 acre) is a botanical garden located within Polliwog Park. The garden was first envisioned in 1992, with garden construction starting in 1994. In 1997 the garden became a nonprofi…
Sand Dune Park
Sand Dune Park is small park that features a tall, steep sand dune that is extremely popular for use as a fitness area. On any given day dozens of people can be found walking and running up the sandy hillside, with parti…
Bruce's Beach
Park and vista point on the site of the first African-American-friendly beach in the area
Manhattan Beach Grand Prix
The second oldest Pro-Am cycling race in America. Held during June or July. Circuit runs along Valley and Manhattan Beach Blvd.
AVP Beach Volleyball Championship
Home of legendary beach volleyball tournament. Held in July/August on courts near the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 49°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Hawthorne)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 4 mi away (major hub). Directions
- HHR Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport, Hawthorne — 5 mi away. Directions
5 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Take Interstate 105 and South on the 405 freeway. Exit Rosecrans or Inglewood Avenue or Artesia and head west. Alternately, just take CA-1 (Sepulveda Blvd/Pacific Coast Hwy) south from the Airport.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Manhattan Beach Pier, Bruce's Beach
- Lunch The Kettle
- Afternoon Manhattan Beach Grand Prix, Farmer's Market Tuesdays
- Dinner Local Yolk
- Evening Shellback Tavern
Day 2
- Morning AVP Beach Volleyball Championship, Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
- Lunch Uncle Bill's Pancake House
- Afternoon Sand Dune Park
- Dinner Oceanview Cafe
- Evening Ercole's Bar
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Manhattan Beach is known for its numerous breakfast spots. Many people consider breakfast to be the meal that the town does best. On weekends crowds can be heavy and waits can be long.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane or car
5 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Take Interstate 105 and South on the 405 freeway. Exit Rosecrans or Inglewood Avenue or Artesia and head west. Alternately, just take CA-1 (Sepulveda Blvd/Pacific Coast Hwy) south from the Airport.
By train
Metro K (Pink) Line last stop brings you the Marine Avenue Station. Local buses have routes throughout Manhattan Beach.
By bike
The Strand, officially called the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, begins just north of Santa Monica and runs all the way down the coast to Torrance with a stop in Manhattan Beach along the way. So from any beach in the Los Angeles area, you are able to take the bike path directly in.
Get around
Bicycle, skate, or walk along the Strand, Manhattan Beach's picturesque boardwalk which spans along the Pacific. Multimillion dollar homes, busy sand volleyball courts, and bike paths line the walk. The Veterans Parkway Greenbelt, paved in sawdust, runs between Valley Dr and Ardmore Ave along a former railway route.
See
See Manhattan Beach Pier
Perhaps one of the more picturesque piers in the South Bay Area, second only to Santa Monica Pier in size. The pier is 928 ft long and located at the end of Manhattan Beach Boulevard. An octagonal Mediterranean-style building sits at the end of the pier and houses the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab & Aquarium. Surfers usually can be seen below the pier. The pier includes the "Volleyball Walk of Fame," featuring plaques dedicated to past winners of the Manhattan Beach Open beach volleyball tournament.
See Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden
The Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden (2/3 acre) is a botanical garden located within Polliwog Park. The garden was first envisioned in 1992, with garden construction starting in 1994. In 1997 the garden became a nonprofit organization, and its grand opening was on Earth Day 2001. It consists primarily of plants native to California.
Do
Do Sand Dune Park
Sand Dune Park is small park that features a tall, steep sand dune that is extremely popular for use as a fitness area. On any given day dozens of people can be found walking and running up the sandy hillside, with participants ranging in ability from hobby walkers to professional athletes; NHL players, USC and UCLA football players, volleyball players, boxers, fighters, sprinters and WNBA players have all been known to train at the park.
Do Bruce's Beach
Park and vista point on the site of the first African-American-friendly beach in the area
Buy
- The shops and boutiques along Manhattan Avenue, stretching down to the pier provide the best flavor of this upscale community.
Eat
Breakfast
Manhattan Beach is known for its numerous breakfast spots. Many people consider breakfast to be the meal that the town does best. On weekends crowds can be heavy and waits can be long.
Eat The Kettle
An eatery with lots of local character.
Eat Local Yolk
In El Porto. A surfers breakfast joint with renowned omelets and diner fare.
Eat Uncle Bill's Pancake House
Stop by this diner for great pancakes with an ocean view.
Eat Oceanview Cafe
Situated on a quiet lane, this place is worth a visit for its charm.
Upscale
Eat Petros
#B110 (In Metlox, downtown). Upscale Greek food, named Top New Restaurant in the 2007 Los Angeles Zagat guide.
Eat Love & Salt
Italian bistro with sky dome lights and a distinct twist on pasta incorporating bone marrow. Mmm, who's hungry?
Drink
Drink Ercole's Bar
Oldest extant bar in Manhattan Beach. Cheap beer, burgers and cocktails.
Drink Shellback Tavern
Casual surf shack known for its pizza, fried items and reasonably-priced drinks.
Drink Simmzys
Delicious hamburgers with bleu cheese. Many beers as well but all seem to be American.
Sleep
Go next
- - The city's northern neighbor is mostly an industrial town, although visitors are generally surprised to find a sleepy downtown that is home to numerous restaurants and bars.
Nearby
Hermosa Beach
City / town · 12 listings · 2 mi away
El Segundo
City / town · 15 listings · 2 mi away
Lawndale
City / town · 2 listings · 3 mi away
Redondo Beach
City / town · 22 listings · 3 mi away
Hawthorne
City / town · 9 listings · 4 mi away
Playa del Rey
City / town · 5 listings · 4 mi away
Westchester
City / town · 17 listings · 5 mi away
Torrance
City / town · 21 listings · 5 mi away
My experience
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