When should you visit?

Because of LA’s generally moderate climate, the Venice Canals are open all year. Even in the hottest months of the year, the beach community’s closeness to the water and the marine layer overhead keep it several degrees cooler than its inland neighbors.

The best time to visit is in the spring when the flora is in full bloom and the young ducks are numerous. A rubber duck race and a wind-powered “boat” regatta are frequently held on the July 4th weekend.  Christmas is also a lovely time to stroll the pathways, as many of the homeowners go all out with their holiday decorations.

In December, residents, many of whom are artists and creatives, go all out with house and bridge decorating contests, as well as an almost 40-year-old annual holiday boat parade in which costumed captains navigate the waterways in tricked-out canoes, paddleboards, rafts, kayaks, and dinghies, while bands perform from floating decks.

Regardless of when you visit, always remember to take your trash with you when you leave. The canals are maintained by volunteers and donations. There are garbage cans located throughout the area, or you can take your trash home

How to get to the Venice Canals in LA 

The Venice Canals are located in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The best way to get there is by car. There is street parking available, as well as a number of public parking lots. You can also take the bus or the train, but keep in mind that the area is not very walkable.

If you’re coming from out of town, the best way to get to the Venice Canals is by flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and renting a car. From there, it’s about a 30-minute drive to the canals.

Once you’re in the area, you can pick up a map at the Venice Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, which is located at 330 Washington Boulevard. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to noon and Saturday from 11 a.m. to

Activities you can do in Venice Canals LA

There are a number of activities you can enjoy while visiting the Venice Canals.

Strolling along the pathways is a great way to take in the scenery and get some fresh air. You can also go birdwatching, as the Venice Canals are home to a variety of birds including herons, egrets, coots, and pelicans.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can launch a non-motorized vessel from the public boat launch and explore the canals by water. And be sure to check out the Venice Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center for maps and more information about the area.

If you’re looking to cool off, you can take a dip in the ocean at Venice Beach. Or, if you want to stay on dry land, you can play tennis or basketball at one of the public courts located nearby.

And finally, don’t forget to check out the Venice Canals Walkway and Bridge Lighting Ceremony, which is held every December. This event is a great way to see the canals in all their holiday glory!

Top 5 Restaurants in Venice Beach 

1. Felix Trattoria 

Felix’s Evan Funke creates some of the greatest pasta on the West Coast, forget about being the best pasta in Venice. The chef and his staff provide dinner and a show in this little bungalow restaurant, rolling, cutting, and creating noodles behind a pane of glass. 

The emphasis here is on handcrafted pasta, but Funke’s aim to bring exquisite Italian gastronomy to L.A. is also on display. It also includes the incredible sfincione focaccia, blistered-crust pizzas, and antipasti so exquisite you’ll be tempted to eat them all. 

It’s still full after all these years, so make a reservation or take a chance on the snug bar stools at the door.

2. American Beauty 

This top-rated Rose Avenue steakhouse serves high-quality, reasonably priced burgers at its Window during the day and a variety of wood-fired meat and fish selections, as well as globally-inspired appetizers and sides, at night. 

The wood-grilled flatbread with smoked honey and labneh is out of this world, and the rosti-like packed hash browns (which arrive in the form of a huge potato pancake) go great with any of their simply finished steaks. The grilled prawns are a must-order for seafood fans.   

You can’t go wrong with any of their burgers, but the American Beauty (topped with avocado, bacon, cheddar, tomato, and crispy onion strings) is a real standout. The cocktails are also excellent – try the El Diablo or the Bee’s Knees. 

Make a reservation if you can, as this place gets packed, especially on weekends. walk-ins are welcome at the bar.

3. Gjelina 

Whatever way you look at it, chef-owner Travis Lett’s full-service Abbot Kinney flagship is most likely the restaurant that kicked off the street’s full-fledged gentrification and subsequent widespread cultural relevance. 

Gjelina‘s seasonally themed food, enjoyed by a mix of visitors, residents, and influencers, can’t help but bring the sun in, even in the dead of winter. Get dishes to share—the veggies and pizzas made in the wood-burning oven are delicious—or order the smoked-fish platter all to yourself.  Top it all off with a slice of Gjelina’s world-famous olive oil cake. 

While the wait for a table can be long (up to two hours), there are plenty of bars and boutiques to explore in the meantime. Or you can try your luck at snagging one of the few first-come, first-serve tables on the patio.

4. The Butcher’s Daughter 

The Butcher’s Daughter is a plant-based restaurant, café, juice bar, and “vegetable slaughterhouse” located in the heart of Venice.

The Butcher’s Daughter, unlike other migrants roaming around Venice, blends in on Abbot Kinney, where its white-washed, sun-lit room caters to the throngs of tourists looking for brunch on weekends. 

Founded by Heather Thomas and Nicci St. George in 2012, The Butcher’s Daughter has become one of the most popular places to eat in Venice, thanks to its healthy, delicious, and affordable food.

The Butcher’s Daughter’s menu is 100% plant-based, and the restaurant offers a variety of juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, and bowls. One of our favorite items on the menu is the “Nourish Bowl,” which includes quinoa, roasted sweet potato, avocado, kale, and hummus. The “Soothe Bowl,” with its turmeric-coconut sauce, is also a must-try.

The Butcher’s Daughter is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a healthy meal that won’t break the bank. And even if you’re not looking for a healthy meal, the food is so good that you won’t even miss the meat.

Its curbside patio set-up changes into an unusually romantic en plein air eating experience at night when numerous couples of diners sit precariously on stools. During the day, the Butcher’s Daughter acai bowl, which includes housemade buckwheat-coconut granola and honey amaranth almond butter, is one of the best in the city.

5. De Buena Planta 

This outdoor Abbot Kinney pop-up, just down the street from Butcher’s Daughter, is brought to you by Heather Tierney, the founder of the adjacent Butcher’s Daughter. It specializes in margaritas and plant-based Mexican food. 

De Buena Planta, which is located in a converted parking lot, manages to transform what was once asphalt into a joyful, Tulum vacation-like ambiance suitable for a date or long-awaited reunion with old friends. 

The space is small but mighty, with a thatched roof, colorful murals, and potted plants everywhere you look. The menu features all of your favorite Mexican staples, like tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and tamales.

But the real star of the show is the margaritas. De Buena Planta offers a variety of margaritas, all of which are made with fresh-squeezed juices and top-shelf tequila.

The “Garden Margarita” is our favorite, made with mezcal, cucumber, jalapeño, lime, and agave. But if you’re looking for something a little sweeter, the “Prickly Pear Margarita” is also a great choice.

If you’re looking for a fun and delicious way to spend an afternoon in Venice, make sure to check out De Buena Planta. And don’t forget to order a margarita!

Make a reservation on weekends and holidays, when this popular pop-up sees the highest foot traffic.

Featured Image: Photo by Viviana Rishe on Unsplash