"Santa Monica Brew Works is one of the only non-kombucha breweries in the neighborhood, so they could probably skate by on mediocrity if they wanted. But they don’t. Their taproom pours a long list of beers, like tangy witbiers, IPAs, and more experimental brews like a fruity guava-piña sour that tastes like something from a beach bar. The physical space is pretty brewery-standard, but what sets it apart is its built-in food options: Emmy Squared. The Brooklyn-based pizzeria has QR codes on the table so you can order a gooey pan pizza or double-stacked burger." - brant cox, sylvio martins