Last month I had the chance to visit my step-sister Brittany in Santa Monica, California. It felt so good to be back on the west coast to soak up the sunshine, eat some amazing food and spend time with Britt. We had a blast exploring Santa Monica and its neighboring areas with her roommate Chelsea. You can watch the video below for a visual recap of some of the best parts of the weekend.

Friday

On Friday while Britt went to work I explored on my own. I dined at Cora’s Coffee Shoppe for breakfast and it was one of my favorite spots of the trip! I got to sit under a quaint bougainvillea flower archway to dine outside at one of 10 tables. If you want to bypass the long line, you can eat in at the counter or one of a few tables inside to watch the action by the kitchen, but I was willing to wait so I could enjoy the gorgeous California weather. The bruschetta poached eggs made with heirloom tomatoes tops my list as my favorite poached egg dish ever. Cora’s is close to the Santa Monica Promenade so I went there next for a little shopping and walking around.

After a quick trip to the beach to walk along the sand, later in the day I got lunch with family friends at Urth Caffé. I had a huge Caravan Kale salad and a African tea latte made with Rooibos tea and spices. Urth is known for their fine teas and the tea latte I ordered was one of the best I’ve tasted. Urth is a spot I would return to for fresh, healthy food and organic coffee and tea. It was crazy busy during lunch though, so set aside a little bit of time for the wait!

Friday night we went out in Santa Monica, which was a great time. I loved bar hopping around to the different spots with different atmospheres. Per usual, we ended the night on the dance floor. Not only do I love to dance, but when Britt and I get together, we cannot be stopped!

Saturday

Saturday’s forecast included June gloom clouds, but the overcast weather made it a good day to drive up to Malibu, which was just about 40 minutes away. Our destination was Malibu Café: what I described as an adult playground with food, drinks, games, comfy furniture and fireplaces to hang out around. As you saw in the video, the space is beautiful and massive. While I loved Malibu Café’s vibe and wine options (since Malibu has its own wineries), I was not a huge fan of the food. It lacked flavor and was overpriced. However, the venue would be a great spot for parties, gatherings or celebrations. Plus, it has so many great photo spots. Taking the drive back down to Santa Monica on Pacific Coast Highway was one of the best parts!

Saturday night we got authentic Pho for dinner and then went out in Santa Monica again to explore the nightlife scene. Britt took me to The Victorian and 31Ten Lounge, which were both super cool. Next time I can’t wait to venture to the scene of Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles.

Sunday

Sunday morning we woke up and went to Venice for brunch. Sunny Spot was delicious and the decor was so cheerful! I wish my whole house was decorated like the inside of the restaurant. I would also love to go back to Sunny Spot for its well-known fusion dishes during lunch and dinner.

After brunch, the girls and I walked around Abbot Kinney Boulevard to (window) shop. We loved popping into every store to browse since there are so lining the street. We then drove back to Santa Monica for a stroll along the iconic Santa Monica Pier before I had to jump on my flight.

I loved being close to the ocean again and spending some sister time with Britt. The trip had me wondering if I should make my way back to the west coast again. We’ll have to wait and see! I’m sure I’ll be venturing to visit Britt again, so if you have any recommendations of your favorite things to do in Santa Monica, please comment below.

Love food. Love self. Love life.
Gabriela