Venice

 

The community is named for Venice in Italy, and the Venice Canal Historic District features attractive homes in diverse styles lining picturesque canals reminiscent of Venice’s Italian namesake. Other homes include beachfront condos, early-20th-century single-family homes, and ultra-desirable contemporary properties.

 

Venice is a hip urban neighborhood with an iconic beach on the Westside of Los Angeles. This active community is known around the world for the outdoor gym at Muscle Beach and many world-class indoor fitness centers. This eclectic community is teeming with activity, from the street performers of the boardwalk to the premium fashion stores of Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Venice is also a thriving hi-tech hub, with offices of companies such as Google and Snapchat. It’s easy to get around in Venice on foot or by bike, and Los Angeles International Airport is less than 15 minutes away.

 

Venice is home to artists, tech workers, and even a few Hollywood A-listers. The community is one of the most exciting in Los Angeles, with a great mix of businesses and things to do. Venice is vibrant, bohemian, and inclusive. Few neighborhoods in Los Angeles can compete with Venice when it comes to having fun.

 

Abbott Kinney Boulevard is one of L.A.’s premier shopping streets, with stylish boutiques nestled alongside hip restaurants and laidback coffee shops. Flagship fashion stores such as Alternative Apparel, Heist, and Burro offer a great choice of contemporary clothing from leading local and global designers.

 

Gjelina has long been a standout of the Abbot Kinney dining scene. The Mediterranean-inspired menu includes mouthwatering entrees, delicious roasted and grilled vegetable plates, raw bar oysters, gourmet charcuterie platters, and impeccable wood-fired pizza. Gjelina is also Venice’s most popular brunch spot, with a great selection of artisanal toasts and omelets. The team behind Gjelina operates adjacent takeaway spot GTA and hip bakery and café Gjusta. Other popular eateries along Abbot Kinney Boulevard include bustling bistro Neighbor, lively wine bar and restaurant South End, and Felix Trattoria for farm-to-table Italian cuisine and freshly made pasta.

 

While Abbot Kinney Boulevard exudes chic sophistication, Venice Beach Boardwalk is captivatingly chaotic. Hundreds of street performers entertain the crowds moving along this one-and-a-half-mile oceanfront stretch. Performers include everyone from jugglers and mimes to musicians and break-dancers. Vendors along the Boardwalk sell all kinds of arts-and-crafts. The Eastside of the boardwalk features off-beat stores and businesses, including surf and skate shops, tattoo and piercings studios, and casual clothing retailers.

 

Venice is home to many artists and art studios, and most of these studios participate in the Venice Art Walk in May. Visitors of all ages can join art workshops or bid on artworks in a silent auction that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity. There are also studio tours, food vendors, live music, and lots of family-friendly activities..

 

September’s Abbot Kinney Festival sees hundreds of vendors line Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The event also features gourmet food trucks, games and rides for kids, three beer gardens, and four stages of live music. First Fridays at Abbot Kinney offer a festival atmosphere each month with food trucks, art vendors, and music. The Festival of Chariots on the Boardwalk in August is a vibrant Hare Krishna festival with Indian cultural performances and cuisine.

 

Venice belongs to the Los Angeles Unified School District. Highlights include: