Third Street Promenade
3rd St. and Broadway (map)
Downtown Santa Monica
(310) 393-8355
Third Street Promenade is the shop-filled, pedestrian-only area of Third Street spanning the three blocks from Broadway on the south to Wilshire Blvd on the north, in downtown Santa Monica. Decorated with dino-shaped fountains, bronze sculptures and fancy modern architecture, the area is heavily trafficked by both locals and visitors. Shopping is plentiful both in the promenade and in the surrounding streets, with a wide variety of restaurants, retail shops, vintage stores, bars and coffee shops available, all a couple of blocks from the beach. Street performers and musicians also make appearances from time to time, including that crazy acrobatic troupe from Venice Beach. The promenade is good for the daytime, afternoon or evening, with everything closing up around 9 p.m. most nights. Parking in the area’s public parking garages is relatively cheap.
The haiku version:
Beachside shopping zone
With a host of street talent
And lots of small dogs
Favorites:
- Urban Outfitters
- Forever 21
- H&M
- Miss Sixty
- Steve Madden
- Starbuck’s Coffee Bean
- Wasteland (nearby)
- Crossroads (nearby)
- Barney’s Beanery
- Buddha’s Belly
- Zara
- Aldo
