Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
4.5
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The area
Neighborhood: Venice
Venice has always danced to its own beat as the epicenter of bohemian culture in Los Angeles. Along the boardwalk there are street performers and local craftsmen selling their wares. Original paintings, souvenirs, and jewelry are on display. Crowds of visitors marvel at the sites while weightlifting enthusiasts pump iron in plain view, and skateboarders do their tricks around the skate park. All of it happens under the warm California sun with sprawling views of sand and sea. Heading east, the main drags of Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Main Street are lined with boutique shops, some major retail stores, art galleries and restaurants. Here the ambiance is more relaxed and upscale than the frenetic boardwalk area. Venice is a mostly walkable (and certainly bikeable) neighborhood, full of areas to explore.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
417 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
136
Average
42
Poor
4
Terrible
1
Travelling.Kasia.1999
Herning, Denmark338 contributions
Dec 2022
Go grab some good ice cream on this local and popular street.
If you like to enjoy natural cosmetics there are also a great shop there (Sajé).
There is also a nice crystal shop where you can find som spectacular stones.
If you like to enjoy natural cosmetics there are also a great shop there (Sajé).
There is also a nice crystal shop where you can find som spectacular stones.
Written February 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
elizabethlascheid
Los Angeles, CA5,107 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Abbott Kinney is a lovely Street in Venice that spans about 1.5 MI. Parking is not easy but you will find a spot, but mind the meters. On the weekends it can be especially crowded, especially during the summer. It is just as pretty in the winter and I suggest you go then. There's a lot to do and a lot of walking on Abbot Kinney.
Now, if you are looking for discount shopping or Cheap Eats go somewhere else. The street is filled with boutiques, art galleries, fine dining restaurants and expensive coffee and tea. Despite the cost it is great fun and if you want something unique you might very well find it.
The area is relatively safe and there are few bars which are quite nice. Back to parking: do not go behind the street and find places to park inside the residential area you may find your car stolen when you get back. Stay right on or near Abbot Kinney and you will be fine. The place has gentrified over the years. It used to have little bars, tiny shops and even a few houses, that is no longer the case. But, as locals we have made the best of it and we have learned to love it. You will too
Now, if you are looking for discount shopping or Cheap Eats go somewhere else. The street is filled with boutiques, art galleries, fine dining restaurants and expensive coffee and tea. Despite the cost it is great fun and if you want something unique you might very well find it.
The area is relatively safe and there are few bars which are quite nice. Back to parking: do not go behind the street and find places to park inside the residential area you may find your car stolen when you get back. Stay right on or near Abbot Kinney and you will be fine. The place has gentrified over the years. It used to have little bars, tiny shops and even a few houses, that is no longer the case. But, as locals we have made the best of it and we have learned to love it. You will too
Written August 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
greenacres007
California69 contributions
Oct 2013 • Friends
Loved everything about it! My adrenaline started pumping the minute we turned onto the street and there was a lineup of shops as far as the eye could see! lol. We had GPS'd the location, and parked at one end so we could work our way down the street. Unfortunately, it was our last day in town and it was a Sunday, so we didn't have enough time to REALLY canvas the area like we wanted to... but from the shops we DID hit... we were in heaven! LOVED LOVED LOVED it and can't wait to go back! We normally stay in West Hollywood when we visit the LA area, but I think I'm going to try the Santa Monica/Venice area next time for something a little different. There are SO many fun places to shop and eat... all with a little taste of local flavor... love the offbeat designers and casual atmosphere. I DID think some of the goods were a bit overpriced (and I'm not normally one to complain about price)... probably thinking they could justify it because of location?! I've seen similar items on etsy for FAR cheaper! Some designers though... their prices were well justified... and I just LOVED the boutiques!!! OH, and definitely opt to park in a paid parking lot w/an attendant (and don't leave purchase bags or luggage in your car!)... better safe than sorry... there are a LOT of "interesting" people wandering around ;)
Written November 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael in SEA
Santa Monica, CA102 contributions
Apr 2018 • Solo
OK, got to be honest, years ago Abbot Kinney was unique with lots of oddball stores, interesting restaurants and other quirks. Then it was crowed one of the "top shopping streets" in the world, rents skyrocketed and all those places got pushed out. Today, some of the quaint beach-town architecture remains, but virtually all the stores occupying those buildings are owned by major global brands that can afford to pay ridiculous rents just to have a "presence." The traffic along the street has also gotten out of control.
So, basically at this point it's mostly an expensive outdoor mall for high-priced brands. If that's your thing, you'll enjoy it. Otherwise, maybe you'll like laughing at the prices. Otherwise, it's harder and harder to find anything really special about what's here.
If you look carefully, you can still see a handful of house/store fronts that exhibit the artistic quirkyness that it interesting before most of it was redesigned by corporate marketing departments. If you want to find the places where the current "hip" people are shopping, it isn't here anymore. Try Echo Park or Silverlake, maybe Eagle Rock.
So, basically at this point it's mostly an expensive outdoor mall for high-priced brands. If that's your thing, you'll enjoy it. Otherwise, maybe you'll like laughing at the prices. Otherwise, it's harder and harder to find anything really special about what's here.
If you look carefully, you can still see a handful of house/store fronts that exhibit the artistic quirkyness that it interesting before most of it was redesigned by corporate marketing departments. If you want to find the places where the current "hip" people are shopping, it isn't here anymore. Try Echo Park or Silverlake, maybe Eagle Rock.
Written April 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
nancy34110
Naples, FL60 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
Honestly, I didn't see the appeal. I imagined a street with more fun shops. We didn't try a restaurant. We walked the street, both sides, stopped into a couple of blahhh shops, and were done in half an hour. Not for us.
Written October 2, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
streaker3
Venice Beach19 contributions
Nov 2011
Abbot Kinney is the best place in Venice Beach. Keep away from the madness of out of towners checking the scene on the boardwalk. This 1 mile stretch of boutique shops,art, trendy restaurants, and bars is a fun place to spend the day with the family! Lots to do and see. Street Parking and if you like Valet is offered in some places. The boulevard comes alive at night with music and bars, and what a beautiful scene. Leave the babies at home. Every first Friday of the month the shops open late and a parade of gourmet food trucks park and serve up feast like truffle potatoes on a stick, BBQ, Mexican Food, Greek Food, etc. COME HUNGRY!
Written November 10, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
8umble8ee
Braintree, MA64 contributions
Jan 2014 • Family
I visited on the first Friday of the month looking for some shopping and grab a bit to eat. Boy was I surprised to find a bunch of food trucks everywhere! It turns out, the first Friday of the month is Food Truck Friday!! I nibbled my way up and won the blvd. I even tried some famous food trucks that were featured on the Food Network! What a treat! Besides the food indulgences, there were also lots of cute boutiques. No chain stores, just charming boutiques offering uniqueness. If you don't want food trucks, I cant imagine why, there are also lots of restaurants to choose from. I would suggest making reservations because in some places the line was out the door. Street parking could be an issue unless you get there early. I arrived around 4pm so I didn't have a problem. I also parked strategically so I minimized unnecessary walking. Not sure if there was paid parking available since I found free parking. I would recommend getting there earlier if you want to shop since most of the stores closed around 6-7pm. The food trucks were opening around 6pm. The restaurants were opened when I arrived around 4pm. So I would recommend, grab some truck grub, get something to drink, grab more grub, then have dinner in one of the restaurants! After all, it was a Friday nite!
Written January 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Go580299
Los Angeles, CA3 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a great long street to walk. Parking is tough, but worth it. Trendy stores. Hip people. Near Venice Beach
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reyledda
San Francisco, CA57 contributions
Oct 2019
I discovered Abbott Kinney many years ago when its main street still had a mix of thrift and vintage stores, local coffee joints and surfy bars. Frank Gehry was doing his thing in Venice, and the Eames Office was still open in nearby Rose Street. Back then, you could really feel that this place still had the authenticity that was starting to disappear from LA's beach cities. Those quirky places are gone now - replaced by high end retailers and boutiques. The bars and restaurants have been scrubbed clean for the hordes of tourists that have discovered (and killed) whatever it was that made this place unique. If I could put a roof over the main street, this may as well be a high end mall. So, my visits have become less - opting instead to go further west on Lincoln where interesting shops are starting to pop up, or to DTLA where the artistic vibe is still exciting but edgy enough to stave off the total gentrification that has become synonymous with Abbott Kinney.
Written October 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
xdorax
London, UK231 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We weren't having a great impression of LA at first but a waitor recommended this area for us to visit. We loved it!
Love the graffiti. lots of trendy cute little shops and eateries.
You can just park on the side road for free.
Must go!
Love the graffiti. lots of trendy cute little shops and eateries.
You can just park on the side road for free.
Must go!
Written July 11, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Henrique B
Sao Paulo, SP
How do I get the wifi to work? No password or instructions available in the room. Please answer asap, as I need to have access. Thanks
Written August 2, 2017
Hi, just wondering re weekend markets, what type of products for sale & in what location please? Also what times were the markets on? Thank you! :)
Written August 22, 2015
Sally G,
AK is a long street so I'd break it up into two long strolls, unless you have good stamina. The shops themselves are eclectic, mostly clothing (including vintage) but also things like vinyl albums, Warby Parker sunglasses and Tom's. There are also several good restaurants and a couple of great breakfast spots (great for early morning, my favorite time). Prices range from very expensive to moderate. I would say just stroll the boulevard and soak the experience in. I hope you enjoy it!
Written August 22, 2015
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