Back on the Beach Cafe

This was my second time coming here the first me and mom we had the Fish n chips very good. The second I brought my girls young adults they liked the salmon burger I had the fish tacos loved them I recommend this Cafe next time we will try breakfast. We chose to eat outside it was very relaxing. Our waitress was good.

Awesome patio by beach. Yummy food. Only issue with salmon platter was there was only a tablespoon of cream cheese. I like less cream cheese so not a big deal.

Simply amazing ocean front cafe beautiful vibes. We just had bagel...French toast...for kids....a little waiting..but great footfalls and excellent ambience...sunsets are a great plus point. A pool behind and facilities of annemberg community centre especially parking is amazing. Great outdoor seating adds life to the experience.

It is a great place .the food was very tasty , I’m glad we went there because earlier me and my wife had a very bad experience at KILLER CAFE where we didn’t get service for 45 minutes . But our waiter was super nice and accommodating. Thanks guy , I’ll be back soon.

I ate at Back on the Beach …the food was okay, nothing to rave about but nothing to complain about either. The highlight was the service; our server was really kind and attentive. I did notice lipstick on my glass, which was a little off-putting, but she handled it quickly and brought back a clean one without any fuss. Not a bad experience at all, just decent. Probably a good spot if you’re looking for a casual bite by the beach.

A cute cafe right on the Beach with a convenient parking lot. Try to arrive before 11 AM to get a parking spot and avoid the line. Reservation highly recommended if you have a big group. The parking rate is $3 an hour. The food was good - has both breakfast and lunch menu to choose from. I ordered the North African Shakshuka and it was flavorful. Service was attentive - the waiter came around several times to refill water and coffee. Note that the 18% tip is automatically charged on a big group.

I absolutely enjoyed the dining experience.That's sunset here! The food was wonderful The atmosphere was great and the staff was very attending.And friendly. I especially enjoyed wiggling my toes in the sand while eating at the table!

No complaints. Food is good (menu is great with many vegetarian options), location is awesome and service is reliable but they get very busy for lunch so wait time for the food to arrive can take what seems like forever, especially at weekends 😳 If you can, same yourself the pain and order food to go from the back window

I had a great experience the service was excellent and the food was tasty. Great restaurant to have breakfast on the beach.

This was such a vibey beachside spot right in Santa Monica. My girlfriend surprised me with this place since it was somewhere her aunt used to take her, and it was the perfect choice for a sunset dinner. The restaurant sits directly on the sand, so be ready to kick off your shoes and get your feet sandy while you eat -- it adds to the relaxed, coastal feel. We shared the hummus and pita appetizer and the salmon with mashed potatoes and veggies for our main. The food itself wasn't anything groundbreaking, but everything was fresh and tasty. The salmon was cooked nicely and paired well with the creamy mashed potatoes and crisp broccolini. The hummus plate came with a colorful mix of veggies, feta, and olives that made for a great starter. The drinks were refreshing, the service was relaxed but attentive, and the beach view during sunset really made the experience. For the price and atmosphere, it's a great spot to unwind, especially if you're looking for somewhere casual but scenic.

Can't beat being on the beach and this cafe is right on the sand! There is an indoor portion too, if that's not your vibe. I parked at palisades park and walked down here for cheap parking, but I'm not sure how the parking lot in front of this cafe works or if there's validation. The food was delicious! I loved the shakshuka. It was very flavorful and hit the spot. It was interesting having it in a bowl though, I had to eat it like soup. My waiter was great, kind, and observant. My bill was a bit pricey for what I got, but that was expected because of the cafe's location.

It's been years since I was last here for a meal. What could be better when the sun's out and it's a gorgeous day. Lunch on the beach. Location is perfect as it's right on the beach next to the bike path. A minute or so walk to the beach with a playground right around the side for the little ones. There's a paid parking lot right when you enter to the lot. We checked in around 12:15 hoping to get a table on the sand. Well, if we wanted that it would be a 40 minute wait time but could get seated right away inside. Oh well, inside it is. Seated towards the back area but once seated we noticed that there were loads of empty tables both on the sand and back patio area. I don't know if they were short staff working the beach area or they just wanted to have people wait. On well, we ended up inside for lunch. Menu wise, it was both breakfast and brunch. The drink options were quite nice as well. Loads to choose from. Started off with some espresso martini and a Bloody Mary. Both were actually quite nice. Hank, who took care of us for lunch was amazing. Very friendly and attentive as well as sweet. Made sure that we were well taken care of. Lunch, the Fred's salad and Spring pea salad were both quite nice. The dressing in both was great and the chicken added to the Fred salad was quite tasty. Also had the fish and chips. It was good but a little too much with the batter. And a side of fries to share. Lunch was nice and noticed that they had some chocolate chip cookies at the front counter which was needed. Ended up getting one to go as well. Service was nice. Would have loved to be on the sand for lunch but wait time was too long. Hostess was sweet, Hank was excellent. Drinks were quite tasty and lunch did the trick. Let's hope next visit we could actually have a table in the sand.

After coming back for the second time, i love this place even more. Even on a cloudy day, this experience is so cool. Highly recommend. The bloody mary is a meal on its own!

Always a nice place for an afternoon lunch especially with a date! It got a little cold and windy after 2:30 so bring a jacket.

So happy this place survived Covid. I used to come here in my 20s and the first time I ate a whites only omelette...the breakfast food was great then and now. Ordered the farmhouse omelette, 5/5 beautifully made tasty fluffy delicious. The scone 5/5 is yum I was so full I only tore off two small but my friend wanted it for her husband even though it was half eaten, it was that good!! Service was fast efficient friendly. Refills on coffee without asking. More napkins no problem. And of course it's the beach. We sat outside on an overcast Saturday. Parking a bit rough, but there are two adjacent lots. Your entire party has to be present in order to be seated. Lovely seating in doors, on a patio or on the sand. Highly recommend.

Yum! We went to the Getty villa and thought this was the perfect lunch stop afterwards. The burger was high quality and cooked exactly to our liking. The fries were hot and salty, but not my favorite. They were happy to split our food, which was nice. Our server was sweet and gave good recommendations. I did not love the fact that the chairs sunk into the sand, BUT the view was to die for!

Back on the beach bigger is super yummy, perfectly cooked (medium rare), and involves both a generous amount melted white cheddar and avocado. This place had not the best reviews so I didn't expect much , but the burger is just what you want out of a burger on the beach. Service was super kind too and you can sit outside on the sand itself.

I love this place, especially the salmon. I'm gluten-free and so it's really easy to order a lunch. That is seriously delicious. I'm not sure if the sweet potato fries are gluten-free but they sure are yummy.

Visiting my son whom works at Back on the Beach. The place is super cute, clean and very beachy! The servers are all youngsters, full of life and fun! The owner came out to check on us. He had great things to say about my son, Ian. We told him we loved the food and the ambiance. My wrap was super tasty, light and delicious! My GF loved her pesto!!! Great spot if you're at Santa Monica beach and or visiting the Annengerg Beach House & Pool.

An excellent place to be at in the morning before your day start or just want to get away. The Service is outstanding and the food is Great, good parking and the Ocean view and Sound! You can get that anywhere else.

If you're hanging out at the Annenberg Beach House or nearby beach this is the go to place for breakfast and lunch. With a sit down restaurant and a handy Togo counter for beach and pool grubbing it gets you fed no matter your situation. I've eaten there several times and always have experience good and fast service. Nice coffees, pastries, burgers and sandwiches.

Eating here was such an enjoyable experience. Sitting outside with a perfect view of the ocean, digging my toes in the sand, while eating fresh and delicious food at a decent price. I ordered the back on the beach burger with salad. The burger was really delicious, great brioche bun and fresh avocado and arugula inside. Althand the salad it came with was really refreshing and delicious too. The burger (grass fed) with salad was $22 which seems pretty fare for on-the-beach dining. I will definitely be back!

Great place for a casual breakfast and lunch place! My friends and I met here for lunch on the weekday and the parking was easy. Pay at the kiosk and place your paid parking ticket on your dashboard. We chose to sit inside and it was perfect because we had the view of the beach and the cool ocean breezes coming in from the window. My friends were very happy not to sit outside in the sun. However, sitting outside on the sand under umbrellas was the more popular choice for most folks. There was a line waiting for outside seating. Reservations are accepted at Back on the Beach. I ordered my favorite, the Fred Salad. It is my "go to" salad here. One friend really enjoyed the fish tacos with a side of black beans and Mexican rice. Another friend ordered breakfast: eggs over easy, bacon and a scone. Eric,our server was great! He sensed when we were ready to order and also knew whenever my ice tea needed refills. He was busy, but we always felt he was aware of what our table needed. Thank you Eric! Back on the Beach is great for small groups and large groups. You can also your meal TO GO and take the food to eat outside in one of the nice patio tables by the Marion Davies Guest House.

The Fred Salad is fantastic ! The View can't be beat. The service is so friendly. I love it

This spot hits the sweet spot beachside breezy with unexpectedly stellar eats. We ordered a kids' grilled cheese, a kids' cheeseburger, and one grass-fed burger with cheese. Each came neatly packed with crisp lettuce, ripe tomato, ketchup, seasoned fries, and napkins tucked in with care nothing felt thrown together, everything felt thoughtful. Ordering was a breeze thanks to the friendly team at the counter. Payment and pickup were equally smooth, and the food was hot and ready exactly ten minutes later. Zero hassle, 100% satisfaction. The kids were thrilled with their meals, and I've got to say--the grass-fed burger? Hands-down the best quick-service burger I've had in ages. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. Those fries weren't just filler either; they were seasoned perfectly and still had snap when we got back to our spot. Whether you're grabbing a bite after beach play or planning a casual lunch with the family, Back on the Beach Café delivers quality, kindness, and convenience with a splash of coastal charm. We'll be back.

Can't find a better location on the beach, and the parking is ok if you go early. Surprisingly good food... had expected less. Great place to chill for breakfast.

Who doesn't love a good beach on a beautiful sunny day? Now add breakfast to that and we got ourselves a winner. While visiting our daughter in LA, she took us to this restaurant and it was beautiful views, delicious food and great service. The restaurant is directly off a beach parking lot so if you just want to eat here without the beach day you can! Our server named Carrie told us it was her second day working there and it blew is away because she was a total pro the whole time! Thanks Carrie! I ordered the breakfast burritos with potatoes. It was all so good, potatoes were lightly seasoned and cooked to perfection. The burrito was packed with deliciousness and very filling. We got a side fruit plate to share and I think it was my favorite of all! The fruit was fresh, perfectly cut-like the watermelon-mouth watering. Our daughter got her "go to" meal here, the Smoked Salmon toast. She said it never disappoints her. Hubby got fish and chips and said it was good. Reminded him of Arthur Treacher"s. If you liked that you'll like this. If not, try something else If you go to Santa Monica Beach, go here. The prices were very reasonable, on par with most restaurants and not over priced due to location. I took a pic of the menu so you could see and plan what you'd like to get ahead of time. Afterwards we rented bikes which are right next to the restaurant.

Got the black bean mushroom burger and a lemonade to go, to take to the pool nextdoor. Burger came out quick and was decent and filling... A little expensive but not crazy, and to be expected from a beachfront spot. I wouldn't come out of my way to come back here, but if I were by the pool and hungry I'd come back.

I've now been here a few times and can say the food is solid. I've enjoyed their fish burger, black bean burger, tacos, and salads. There's sometime a bit of a wait at peak times but many people will order to go to eat at the pool (cost to get in) or on the beach. Whether you eat inside or out, you'll enjoy the atmosphere.

Location, location, location! Literally on the beach, sand in the shoes. Nice place to have breakfast, hear the ocean and enjoy. Food was good but it wasn't 'knock your socks off' great. Nice comfort food, omelette, bagel and some fruit. Friendly staff. The chairs and table are in the sand, so when you sit down, the legs of the chair sink into the sand. I felt like a little kid at the table since I had to reach upwards a little bit. Not a problem, just an observation. There are several places you can eat 'at' the beach, but this one is 'on' the beach. FYI, outside seating is next to the bike/walking path, so you do get lots of people walking by. Parking is paid parking only...pretty standard for the beach. Will def go to this place again.

Everything love love love this place Amazing food, scenery the vibe and service was excellent. Right on the beach, toes in the sand

Went there for lunch, I ordered farm house omelette with sides of salad and mini scone. My friend ordered breakfast burrito. Omelette is just like usual omelette, nothing super surprising. Food delivery speed is quick. With a couple of drinks, the outdoor dining on the beach is fabulous, simple table and chairs with shading umbrellas, one of the best relaxing dining environments I have been to. For that reason, I recommend it.

Nice to have lunch with the ocean view and the feet on the sand. Help! Please I lost a bracelet on August 2nd while eating there or at the playground next to it. It's a silver and green opal one, and it's extremely precious to me because of its personal/family meaning. If someone finds it, could you please contact me?

It was a quiet day as they were rerouting folks away from the burned areas in Pacific Palisades/Malibu. We had a great meal with a view on the sand as advertised. I had an espresso martini it was fantastic.

Nice location right on the beach. Good menu from salad, sandwiches and fish tacos. I've been here about five times and always a good option to meet a friend or relative for lunch. Very cordial service.

This was a wonderful cafe restaurant and definitely making it a regular place to dine when at Santa Monica beach. It's a certifed green restuarant that provides "premium ingredients, cage free eggs, grass fed beef, no hormones or antibiotics with the chicken, and follow the monterey bay aquarium seafood watch, while purchasing local and organic ingredients when possible" as stated on their menu. Service: Many wait staff ready and attentive to your dining experience. They all work hard as I see them moving and grooving while on shift. They were professional. Location: Directly off of the sands of the beach, you can eat a great meal and walk it off along the walk/bike path and enjoy the rest of the day. Location is PERFECT. There is public (paid) parking lot and an adjacent small kids park so the kids can play while you wait for your food. It's the best! You can sit indoors or outdoors with umbrellas over the tables. If you sit outside, you're sitting on actual sand which is fun. Food: DELICIOUS! The prices are moderately high but with inflation, where is it not? It's a green restuarant so delicious AND healthy so it's worth every penny!

Excellent spot! Phenomenal set up great parking free (I can't believe it either...I know) Bathroom looks OK. It's not disgusting but it's not super clean. It's obviously the beach but there's a bathroom. There's even a shower. There is a private public pool. You can go to you don't have to go to the Sandy beach. You can actually go to the pool for minimal charge (and I don't think too many people pee inside the pool because it did look kind of clear from the vision I got) and the BEACH of course is phenomenal. I didn't go in the water. It's freaking cold, but it's always fun sticking your stinky feet inside the sand :-) I enjoy the summer. Oh, and by the way, the restaurant I believe has good food. I don't know I I didn't eat there. I brought my own shit from home.

The ambiance and the service is quite exceptional!!! The servers & host really know hospitality. Specially considering the elements. They made sure I was comfortable and that umbrellas were tilted in a way that the sun wouldn't bother me. The drinks are perfectly balanced. The food was just ok. But would some back for the drinks & service

Considering the ambiance (you are literally on the beach, facing the ocean) I would expect this place to be a tourist trap. But the food is actually really good! Service was attentive, even though you could tell they were short staffed, especially considering the wait staff has to trudge through actual beach.

The service was polite, thorough, efficient and easy. The beach views are the reason to go, but I cannot complain about the service- they are as engaged or disengaged as you would like for the most part. The menu makes point to let you know they really try to source the best quality ingredients for everything they make- but they do upcharge for real maple syrup (vs the corn syrup kind). Stomach feels after were mostly positive- I would not equate it to a "greasy spoon" feel, but I did feel that kind of "hard" fullness in the gut that left me wanting fresh foods after the fact (even though we had a small side of fruit). The pancakes had a certain "stiffness" - not the fluffiest or lightest. It doesn't feel greasy...but it feels...processed? If that makes sense? Sometimes healthy sourced ingredients can be harder to digest- so I don't want to speak to the quality of the foods themselves- just a heads up for those who search for places to eat by "how my stomach will feel afterwards". It was kind of like a hard fullness that lacked the feeling of being "satisfied"- and I think that's just because my buttermilk pancakes were relatively plain (it costs extra for berries or chocolate chips- and I wanted real syrup so I paid extra for the syrup and not the toppings). It's a good place to stop if you're not sure where to go, but are in the area and looking for a brunch spot with a view. All in all a positive experience. I think the prices are a little much (just serve real maple syrup and don't charge extra for it!), but not a bad place to try if you're looking for a view!

Gorgeous view right on the beach on the sands. Great food! Great place to go on any days of the week special weekend. Good service! Casual atmosphere.

Wonderful service, nice to eat outdoors on the sand with the view of the beach in the distance. My friend and I ordered the Back on the Beach burgers with fries at $22 each. Burgers were fresh, but bland and could have been tastier with red onions or sautéed onions and pickles. Parking lot was packed at $3/hr. We parked for 2 hours. It took a few minutes not seconds for our ticket to come out of the parking machine in Spanish. It stalled after it had already accepted my credit card charge of $6. Nice ambience, but I wouldn't be back for the food.

How lucky are we to have such a beautiful setting for breakfast at the beach. Yes it's paid parking. But it's truly worth it given the wonderful location and breakfast experience. We were seated immediately out doors under an umbrella and soaked up the Santa Monica beach view. There was a family having breakfast, while the kids played at a nearby swing set. What a great place to people watch....folks were jogging or riding by. Our coffee and drink orders came readily. We ordered Huevos Rancheros, breakfast burrito, and blueberry pancakes. All were delicious. Service was attentive and our drinks often replenished. They didn't rush us out... told that it was a quiet morning. It had been overcast and not too many people waiting to get in. I'm thinking on busy warm weekend they might rush people along. But not today, we enjoyed our breakfast and sights. Afterwords we took a nice stroll down to the water along the boardwalk... nice we didn't have to take off our shoes. All in all, awesome food and scenery. We'll be back.

Very pleased with our three night stay. Clean, comfortable, kitchenette and living room were an added plus. Owner always available,helpful, personable. Walk to every thing Highly recommend this place.

I truly hate to say this - but - BE CAREFUL eating there! We visited on August 7th... The service was not very good at all. The food, matched the service. I had fish and chips and was so excited to enjoy it. But it was cold and mostly batter with limp fries. The ambience was great, which is why my wife and I were so excited to finally go and have a sunset beach dinner there. On my way out, I went to the restroom. It smelled of a recent #2. Then a young man wearing an apron exited the stall and walked right out without washing his hands. What's worse - he went back into the KITCHEN! No way. That's why my advice is to be careful. Maybe just have a beverage and be safe. What a sad dissapointment!

I went to Back on the Beach restaurant with friends back in 2024. Also enjoyed treating my grandchildren with their favorite foid. My brother and his wife enjoyed Back on the Beach with me too. Unfortunately my brother has passed away.

It has very good parking, the rainbow trout was delicious, and it's on the beach dining with great views. Before or after dining, go for a walk on the beach! The service was good as well.

Love love love! What could be better than sitting with toes in the sand, a good cocktail in hand and yummy food? And really nice servers too!

A cute cafe right on the Beach with a convenient parking lot. Try to arrive before 11 AM to get a parking spot and avoid the line. Reservation highly recommended if you have a big group. The parking rate is $3 an hour. The food was good - has both breakfast and lunch menu to choose from. I ordered the North African Shakshuka and it was flavorful. Service was attentive - the waiter came around several times to refill water and coffee. Note that the 18% tip is automatically charged on a big group.

I always come back to this place when I want a bite at the beach, and most of the time, they don't disappoint. One thing to note is that most food is well portioned, but the kids burger is very small, especially compared to how many fries they give you. The servers are all so nice and are happy to accommodate your requests. Since it is on the beach, the ambience is automatically very nice, especially on a warm summer day.

One of our favorite places to go. This is what SoCal is all about. Sitting outside, looking at the ocean, with your feel in the sand! We come here for breakfast whenever we visit the poolhouse next door. Huevos rancheros is my go-to and it was DELICIOUS as always! Partner had the Pasta Mama which is thin spaghetti sauteed with eggs, cheese bacon and sausage. It was yummy too but the flavor gets wearying after a while. On past occasions we've also tried the shashuka, and the pancakes. We recommend them both. The service is always friendly here too - no matter how busy they get. It's a bit pricey but you're paying for the location as well as the food. $61 for two entrees with two coffees, tax and tip.

Service has always been great! The waiters are super friendly and attentive... The outdoor seating has an unobstructed view of the beach AND you are can have your feet in the sand which makes the experience so comforting and special! They have plenty of beers on tap, along with cocktails that they make in house. I love getting the Back On the Beach Burger with a side salad... the food comes out pretty quickly! I honestly feel like I'm on vacation whenever I sit outdoors at Back on the Beach and am so glad to visit after my bike rides in Santa Monica :)

Food has never been disappointing. The service is very friendly. And the ambiance speaks for itself especially if you eat outside.

My toddler Wade B. and I had lunch at Back On the Beach last month with three grown-up friends and another baby buddy. It was a great place for this hangout, an easy, casual, kid-friendly restaurant, where we could strap the boys into high chairs then let them loose in the adjacent playground when we were all done. Reservations are available and highly recommended if you want to eat outside. Not surprisingly, those tables go first. We booked ours for a Monday at 11:30, and I don't think anyone without a reservation was getting a spot on the sand. The set-up was lovely, a cafe attached to the Annenberg Community Beach House (parking was easy on a Monday, but I've seen how hellish that lot gets on the weekend). We really were eating on the beach. Service was friendly and fast. I got the shrimp tacos, which were solid, with marinated "selva" shrimp, grilled corn pico, avocado crema, and sides of rice and beans. Wade got the breaded chicken tenders with fries and mostly ate the fries, always the story when the kid's meal comes with fries. I always feel like it's a hassle to go to the beach, but this was a truly pleasant way to spend a few hours with friends and babies. I'd recommend Back on the Beach for a relaxing lunch with a view, especially if you have kids to entertain.

Great reasonably price food. Choice of eating inside or out. Friendly personal. My Bloody Mary was good.

We had a party of 12. They put us in a lovely private room. The service was exceptional. All twelve entrees arrived at the same time. The food was delicious. Needless to say, the restaurant is located right on the beach with lovely views. We visited the Marion Davies Guest House (walking distance) afterwards. It made for a very enjoyable afternoon.

Really cute vibes right on the beach- food is really typical beach vibe, not the best thing you'll ever eat but has something for everyone, tastes fresh and service is attentive. You can't really beat the location and if you sit outside your toes are quite literally in the sand- not to mention the cappuccino with vanilla was quite nice. Would actually come again to bring some friends for a very casual brunch.