March 19, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

We want to thank the community for voting in this year’s Best Of Santa Monica 2022! We had well over 27,000 votes from the community this year and many nominations – it is truly amazing to see the community come together for that! This year, we encourage you to shop local for the holidays – whether they are the “Best” business in their category, a nominated business or a business that isn’t even listed in this publication – small businesses are what makes our communities thrive!
So, as we start to hear more and more news about supply chain issues and big box stores not having gifts for the holidays, we encourage you to look local – shop small this holiday season and support all your community businesses!
From our family to yours, we wish you an amazing end of the year and a happy holiday season! As always, thank you for reading, following, watching and supporting!

Best Restaurant

Winner
Cha Cha Chicken
Phone Number: 310-581-1684
Address: 1906 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica CA 90405
Website: https://www.chachachicken.com/

2nd place
Fritto Misto
Phone Number: 310-458-2829
Address: 620 Santa Monica Blvd #A, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States
Website: https://thefrittomisto.com/

3rd place
The Upper West
Phone Number: 310-586-1111
Address: 3321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica CA 90405
Website: https://theupperwest.com/

Best Happy Hour

Winner
The Fig
Phone Number: 310-319-3111
Address: 101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.figsantamonica.com/

2nd place
The Misfit
Phone Number: 310-656-9800
Address: 225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://themisfitbar.com/

3rd place
The Galley
Phone Number: 310-452-1934
Address: 2442 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: http://www.thegalleyrestaurant.net/

Best Hospital/Urgent Care

Winner
St. John’s
Phone Number: 310-829-5511
Address: 2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://www.providence.org

Providence Saint John’s Health Center is honored to be named the Best Hospital/Urgent Care in this year’s Best of Santa Monica Awards. Thank you to the Santa Monica Mirror and its readers for voting for our health center and for recognizing our commitment to providing innovative and compassionate care to the Santa Monica and Westside communities. For 80 years, Providence Saint John’s has remained dedicated to providing state-of-the-art specialty, emergency and preventive care to all who walk through our doors. Today, Providence Saint John’s is a 266-bed hospital that offers leading-edge, university-level care in a community hospital setting. This
means that patients have access to the latest research-backed treatments and nationally recognized experts while they receive personalized care that meets their needs. Our unique approach has earned us a reputation for clinical excellence and high-quality care. In addition to the services within our health center, patients also have access to doctors at six clinical institutes who are at the forefront of medical research and advancements. The Pacific Neuroscience Institute, for example, is considered one of the top neurology and neurosurgery programs in the country and the Saint John’s Cancer Institute attracts some of the world’s most talented researchers and
doctors. These institutes not only deliver an integrative and holistic approach to patient care, but they also offer educational and philanthropic opportunities to the greater Los Angeles community. Like our foundresses before us, we believe that caring for our community extends well beyond the walls of our health center. Providence Saint John’s continues to advocate for vulnerable populations, partner with like-minded organizations and promote actions and structures that will transform our communities for a healthier, more equitable world. While we are humbled to be bestowed with this distinction multiple years running, providing warm, leading-edge care is to our community is an ongoing journey and we remain steadfast in serving all. Thank you for entrusting us to care for you and your family for the last 80 years.

2nd place
UCLA Nethercutt Emergency Center
Phone Number: 424-259-6000
Address: 1255 15th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://www.uclahealth.org

3rd place
Urgent Care on Wheels
Phone Number: 866-697-0402
Address: 2021 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 710E, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://urgent-careonwheels.com/

Best Real Estate Agent/Broker

Winner
Pence Hawthorn Silver
Phone Number: 310-458-4024
Address: 1333 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States
Website: https://www.phsrealty.com/

2nd place
The Noël Team | Keller Williams Advisors
Phone Number: 310-994-8721
Address: 2701 Ocean Park Blvd Suite 140, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://www.thenoelteam.net/

3rd place
Valnes and Company
Phone Number: 310-880-1653
Address: 1712 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://valnesandcompany.com/

Best Health Store

Winner
Co-Opportunity Market SM
Phone Number:323-990-7020
Address: 1525 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States
Website: https://coopportunity.com/

We are so grateful to the community for voting us Best Health Store! Health begins with
the food we eat – we strive to offer the healthiest options, with no additives or
preservatives, 100% organic produce, fresh prepared foods using only the best
ingredients, and the highest quality supplements and vitamins. We prioritize locally
grown and produced foods, and products using sustainable practices and packaging. If
it’s at the Co-op, it’s good for you, good for the community and good for the planet.
Anyone can become a Co-op Owner, but it’s not required – we welcome all to shop at
the Co-op!

2nd place
Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy
Phone Number: 310-395-1131
Address:629 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.smhomeopathic.com/

3rd place
Nutrishop Santa Monica
Phone Number: 310-606-2434
Address: 2929 31st Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://nutrishopsantamonica.com/

Best Pet Store/ Service

Winner
Animal Kingdom of Santa Monica
Phone Number: 310-392-4074
Address:300 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://animalkingdomsm.com/

2nd place
My Pet Naturally
Phone Number: 310-477-3030
Address: 3240 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://mypetnaturally.com/

3rd place
Santa Monica Pet Medical Center
Phone Number: 310-393-8218
Address: 1534 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://www.petmedical.com/

Best Coffee Shop

Winner
Urth Caffe Santa Monica
Phone Number: 310-314-7040
Address: 2327 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://www.urthcaffe.com/

2nd place
Cafe Luxx
Phone Number: 310-394-2222
Address: 925 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.caffeluxxe.com/

3rd place
Funnel Mill Rare Coffee and Tea
Phone Number: 310-393-1617
Address: 930 Broadway, Ste A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.funnelmill.com/

Best Medical/Day Spa and Massage

Winner
Alchemie Spa
Phone Number 310-310-8880
Address:2021 Main St, Suite B, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: N/A

2nd place
Face Haus Santa Monica
Phone Number: 310-893-0583
Address: 1426 Montana Ave #6, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://thefacehaus.com/pages/facials-santa-monica

3rd place
Beauty Park Medical Spa
Phone Number: 310-587-3502 ext. 1
Address:1511 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://beautyparkspa.com/

Best Jeweler/ Jewelry

Winner
Yale Jewelers
Phone Number 310-829-0605
Address: 2839 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States
Website: https://www.yalejewelers.com/

Yale Jewelers, owned by Joe Boiadjian, has been serving Santa Monica since 1978.Yale’s philosophy is simple; find something that speaks to you! Yale Jewelers specializes in engagement/wedding rings, custom design, restoration, repairs, and estate jewelry. Custom re-design of your existing pieces or restoration of your antique jewelry and watches is a passion of ours! Our main goal at Yale is not only to provide our customers with beautiful jewelry, but to provide incredible service. From start to finish. Please come in and see for yourself.

2nd place
Atelier Edward Avedis
Phone Number:310-899-4189
Address:101 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://edwardavedis.com/

3rd place
Nobel Jewelry Store
Phone Number: 310-393-6864
Address: 1412 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.nobelantiquejewelry.com/

Best Private School

Winner
Cross Roads
Phone Number 310-829-7391
Address:1714 21st St, Santa Monica, CA 90404, United States
Website: https://www.xrds.org/

2nd place
Pacifica Christian High School
Phone Number: 310-828-7015 x105
Address: 1730 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.pacificachristian.org/

3rd place
New Roads
Phone Number: 310-828-5582 x128
Address: 3131 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://www.newroads.org/

Best Children’s Program/Service

Winner (Tie)
School of Rock
Phone Number 310-442-7625
Address: 12020 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Website: https://www.schoolofrock.com/locations/westla/our-school

School of Rock is a growing, passionate community dedicated to enriching lives through performance-based music education. What sets us apart is our unique combination of one-on-one private instruction and ensemble-based rehearsals. You can take a lesson anywhere, but come to School of Rock to take the stage and rock the crowd.

For the past 12 years School of Rock West LA has been getting students inspired and excited about music using our “Song First” approach along with our patented School of Rock Method. This approach helps kids love learning and improve faster.

Our programs take students from beginner to rocking famous stages around Los Angeles. We start with Little Wing for our younger 3-5 year olds where we teach them music basics in a fun and interactive way. Rookies for 6-7-year-olds allows students to explore each of our core instruments: drums, bass, piano, guitar and vocals by playing simplified versions of songs in an ensemble format.

Next is Rock 101 for 8-13-year-olds. In Rock 101, students gear up to take the stage by combining private lessons with an ensemble Rock 101 rehearsal. Our selection of songs will teach your student the fundamentals necessary to achieve rock glory! Students are allowed to progress at their own pace until they are ready for Performance Program.

In Performance Program students rehearse sets of music to take the stage. Through structured rehearsals and engaging private lessons we get kids ready to take the stage and famous venues such as the Troubadour and Whisky-a-Go-Go to perform in front of live audiences. Nothing is cooler than standing at your locker and telling your friends, “I had a gig at the Troubadour Sunday”.

Our students benefit from learning from a community of teachers and fellow students. For years, lessons were private and passive. Now, you can immerse your child in a network of musicians with the common goal of making the world a better place through the passion and power of music. We are like a team, but instead of lacing up our shoes and hitting the field, we string up our guitars and create music as a team.

The top compliment we usually hear is “I wish I had this when I was kid.” We agree. Whether music is a fun hobby or you have dreams of becoming a professional musician, School of Rock West LA is here to help you rock!

Winner (Tie)
Beach Mom’s Child Development Center
Phone Number: 310-341-6269
Address: 1720 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://www.beachmomz.com/

Beach Moms Child Development Center was established in December 2012. We are a for-profit childcare center, providing preschool and childcare services for children ages 2 to 6 years of age. Our program is designed to provide experiences for, preschoolers, to enhance individual cognitive, social, emotional, and physical needs. Each child’s language, literacy development, and creativity are developed within the program’s daily schedule. Children have the opportunity to explore the environment, problem-solve, and scaffold their learning, as they learn through play. Our staff members are nurturing, positive role models for all children, and provide best learning practices in a safe, child-friendly, learning environments. Children are given opportunities to “Leap into Education,” as they Learn, Enjoy, and Play in order to become lifelong learners. After working in classrooms for children with special needs for 17 years, Celia Fisher established Beach Moms Child Development Center in 2012 as a fully inclusive childcare.Beach Moms is a regular preschool, but often we have children who require additional support. Sometimes it is behavioral (which may interfere with academics later), sometimes it’s anxiety, sometimes speech, and sometimes something else altogether. For some children, full inclusion looks like being flexible. That means allowing them to do a half day with our program so they can get services during the other half of the day, or allowing them to do something other than nap if that’s what their brains need, or helping them get to and from the special bus they access.It can also look like being supportive of children with dietary issues.This is what full inclusion looks like, making provisions, and supporting parents a little more. “The staff at Beach Moms is very patient and caring. They build positive relationships with both children and parents,” says one parent about Beach Moms.“Their indoor/outdoor environmental structure prevents challenging behavior and focuses on social-emotional development. I like how staff help the children make smooth transitions by singing songs. The kids enjoy themselves with enriched play, music, dance, and field trips to the library and pool,” says another.

2rd place
Cayton Children’s Museum
Phone Number: 424-416-8320
Address: 395 Santa Monica Place, #374, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.caytonmuseum.org/

Best Gym/Workout Facility

Winner
Elevate Physical Therapy & Fitness
Phone Number 424-322-8585
Address: 1505 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: http://elevateptfit.com/

Elevate Physical Therapy & Fitness is a concierge, white glove, Physical Therapy & Fitness facility with an elite team of highly experienced, multi-credentialed Doctors of Physical Therapy, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialists, Certified Pilates Instructors and Massage Therapists. Our spacious 2,100 sq ft facility includes our large gym and movement lab with state-of-the-art equipment for Rehab, Fitness, Performance & Pilates, as well as large private treatment rooms, shower and amenities, lounge area with free Wi-Fi… and we have free parking too! In THE ELEVATE WAY, we provide an exceptional, caring and individualized experience from the moment you call or email us or stop in, and throughout your journey with us. We’re honored to meet you wherever you are in your health and fitness journey, exceed your expectations in our 1:1, hour-long private sessions model for Physical Therapy, Fitness & Pilates, and achieve ELEVATED RESULTS for you.

2nd place
34 Degrees North
Phone Number: 310-730-3944
Address: 2723 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: N/A

3rd place
Oak Park CrossFit
Phone Number: 424-280-4003
Address: 1431 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.oakparkla.com/

Best Nail/Hair Salon

Winner
Bombshell Salon
Phone Number 310-450-0440
Address: 2431 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://www.bombshellsantamonica.com/

2nd place
Cha Spa
Phone Number: 310-866-5811
Address:319 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.cha-spa.com/

3rd place
Brambila Salon
Phone Number: 310-458-3770
Address: 1327 Ocean Avenue, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.brambilasalon.com/

Best Dentist

Winner
Santa Monica Family Dentistry
Phone Number 310-393-8284
Address: 1260 15th St #703, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://alanrubensteindds.

It is very flattering that so many people have such high regard and appreciation for our dental office. We believe the success of our office can be found in our relationships with our patients. Our philosophy of providing quality dental care without judgment, while encouraging patients to ask questions, makes our office unique.The fact that the average staff member has been with us for over 10 years also is a source of comfort. Check our website, and our more than 570 Google reviews, and see why our patients think our office is the place to go. Alan Rubenstein DDS.

2nd place
Santa Monica Esthetic Dentistry
Phone Number: 310-458-4000
Address:1418 7th St Ste 101, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.santamonicaedentistry.com/

3rd place
Main St. Dentistry
Phone Number: 310-392-8313
Address: 2409 Main St B, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://www.mainstdds.com/

Best Dry Cleaners/Tailors

Winner
Flair Cleaners
Phone Number 310-395-9354
Address: Between 7th and Lincoln, 720 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: flaircleaners.com

2nd place
Executive Cleaners
Phone Number:310-399-7403
Address:2901 Ocean Park Blvd #105, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: N/A

3rd place
Classy Cleaners
Phone Number: 310-396-9941
Address: 1803 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: N/A

Best Pharmacy

Winner
Santa Monica Homeopathic Pharmacy
Phone Number 310-395-1131
Address: 629 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: https://www.smhomeopathic.com/store/index.html

2nd place
Central Compounding Pharmacy
Phone Number: 310-395-3294
Address: 2008 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: http://www.mycentralpharmacy.com/

3rd place
Ocean Park Pharmacy
Phone Number: 310-452-5705
Address: Ocean Park Plaza Shopping Center, 2731 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: N/A

Best Dessert

Winner
Sweet Lady Jane
Phone Number: 310-254-9499
Address: 1631 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://sweetladyjane.com/

Since opening in 1988, Sweet Lady Jane’s bakers have prided themselves on working with the best ingredients and implementing simple techniques, culminating in layers of exquisite texture, rich flavors, and perfect sweetness. Their mission was and remains simple – they make good things even better.

Their iconic Triple Berry Cake decorated in buttercream vines and fresh berries has a reputation as L.A.’s favorite special occasion cake.

More than three decades later, they continue to expand with locations in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Manhattan Beach, Encino, and West Hollywood, and a Calabasas bakery opening just in time for the holidays.

2nd place
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery
Phone Number: 424-744-8572
Address:910 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://www.rorisartisanalcreamery.com/

3rd place
Broadway Baker
Phone Number: 646-410-3857
Address: 1209 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica CA 90403
Website: https://broadwaybaker.com/

Best Home Improvement

Winner
Universal Tile and Marble
Phone Number: 310-451-1900
Address: 1431 Colorado Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: https://universaltilemarbleinc.com/

2nd place
The House of Porter
Phone Number: 310-502-0099
Address: 1207 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Website: https://thehouseofporter.com/

3rd place
Betty’s Place
Phone Number: 310-392-7632
Address: 2314 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica CA 90405
Website: https://www.bettysplace.la/

Best Boutique

Winner
Buffalo Exchange
Phone Number: 310-314-7300
Address: 2449 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: https://buffaloexchange.com/

2nd place
Brat
Phone Number: 310-452-2480
Address: 1938 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Website: http://bratstore.com/

3rd place
Lost & Found
Phone Number: 323-856-5872
Address: 6320 Yucca Street Los Angeles, CA 90028
Website: https://lostandfoundshop.com/

Best Best Art Gallery

Winner
10 Women Gallery
Phone Number: 310-393-6254
Address: 1128 Montana Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90403, United States
Website: https://www.tenwomenartgallery.com/

2nd place
Robert Berman Gallery
Phone Number: 310-315-1937
Address: 2525 Michigan Ave A5, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Website: http://www.robertbermangallery.com/

3rd place
William Turner Gallery
Phone Number: 520-990-0981
Address: 2525 Michigan Ave. E-1, Santa Monica, 90404
Website: https://www.williamturnergallery.com/