Hermosa Beach Pier

As a portrait photographer, this is one of my favorite spots to shoot couples at sunset and even capture spontaneous street portraits of interesting strangers. It’s a lively, cinematic place — no surprise it was one of the filming locations for La La Land. The crowd brings great energy, and the golden hour light here is simply magical. If you’re a fan of dreamy light and city vibes, you’ll love shooting (or being photographed) here too!

Parking is a challenge, sometimes. The pier has plenty of benches. They had a volleyball competition the day I visited. The bathroom might be without toilet paper at times. I noticed the area to be clean. There are restaurants and shops near the boardwalk. Very lively. I noticed a skateboarding group riding together. I also noticed a live band playing music on a Thursday night in July in one of the outdoor bars.

This is our favorite beach. They have the strip of stores and restaurants right off the beach. It's very clean and family-friendly. If you like volleyball, they have a ton of courts to play on. If you want a refreshing bite to eat, I suggest the acai place called Good Sol. So, good!

Beautiful clean pier right in the center of Hermosa Beach. Free access. Fishing from the end. Lots of nice drink, places and coffee shops next-door. Ample parking also.

One the calm, less crowded and nice beach. Small one but very beautiful. The restaurants available are also pretty decent.

Hermosa Beach is such a peaceful escape! The vibe is more relaxed compared to other LA beaches, and it’s perfect for a calm walk, beach day, or just watching the sunset. Clean sand and friendly locals.

The atmosphere was wonderful, I had never felt such a pleasant vibe, very friendly people and many parties because it was July 4th.

Great beach, clean and neat. Unfortunately for me was a very cold day, but anyway enjoyable.

This area is quite lively on a weekend. You get a little bit of everything here. Outdoor restaurants, bars, Acai bowls, rooftop bar, live music, liquor store, souvenir stores, beach, etc It's a great place to spend a couple hours here. Parking will be a pain in the butt . Street parking and there are some lots

So many degenerate memories here at the Hermosa Pier. My early 20s were all about hitting Tower 12 and American Junkie and activating in the trenches. Live from the gutter. Most recently, I came here on a run Thanksgiving morning to work off the food coma that awaited. I did my 5 mile route on the strand, with the Hermosa Pier being my halfway point. I ran the craziest 9 minute mile pace with the new Kendrick album blasting in my noise canceling airpods. This is the first album I actually listen to straight through in forever, albeit a few skips here and there. I miss when albums were complete bodies of work rather than just gunning for 1 hit song in today's tik tok era... but I guess I'm just an old head now. When I got to the pier, there was a beautiful pod of dolphins slowly making their way through the water right next to the pier. Dolphins are so rad. Humans of the sea. I stood there on a pier for a sec just appreciating life. I heard a quote recently "I am where my feet are," and that really helps ease my anxiety. The 68 degree and sunny weather in late November also helps. I love the South Bay. I love Socal. Thank you God. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

The vibe of Hermosa beach reminds me a little bit of Venice Beach; great crowd, clean, great views and big walkways. Hermosa beach is definitely one of the must-visit beaches if you happen to be in Los Angeles! If you love playing beach ball games, you would love this beach as the whole stretch of this beach has volley nets! You could also dine here as there are plenty of seafood restaurants to satisfy your cravings. What's more, you could go fishing here and they even provide chopping boards for you to cut your freshly caught fish ! Overall, I would recommend coming here if you prefer a lively vibe than camping on a beach!

Came here for a late night stroll as we missed the sunset. This pier is looooong. We found parking nearby, pay-by-plate. It was a short stroll from parking to the pier. There was a live silent disco fundraiser going on, which was cool to see at the beginning of the pier. The pier always had a sign for counting steps and which pathways to take. The walk down the pier was met with several benches, was extremely clean and calm, all the way down... where tons of people were night fishing. While there is some lighting, for the most part, it is on the darker side. It was nice and relaxing. On the way back, we walked down to the clock and saw all the restaurants and bars (packed for a Saturday) and made notes that we would definitely come back here again, maybe daytime.

Visited Hermosa Beach for a beach sunset with friends. The pier was great for a lovely walk after a picnic dinner on the beach. It's wide and clean with benches along the way. People were there fishing, but it was not overly crowded for a Sunday. Lots of restaurants and shops nearby. Public parking structures and lots are in walking distance. Definitely worth a visit.

I love HB Pier, so many memories and many more. It's a chill community and relatively safe. Not a lot of homeless people, if there's a few - they're calm. There's not a lot of violent, belligerent druggies either. It's perfect for walks, jogs, bike riding, roller skating & rollerblading at the strand. It's a clean pier and I'm glad it's been kept this way for years. The HB Police Dept is great! They're always vigilant specially on the weekends or drinking holidays for drunk drivers. I always see them make their rounds in the neighborhood. Lots of restaurants to choose from, shops, sports bars, wine bars, perfect for stroll and people watching. Summer time is lots of fun with the summer events, music, beach volleyball games. Lots of parking lots available, metered parking. Always a great time in this pier!

Great beach and pier area. Finding parking was really easy and not overly priced. The pier and restaurant area is really clean and well kept. Definitely recommend visiting this pier.

Love coming to Hermosa Beach and spending time at the pier. The ocean waves are so calming. It's also a great place to take a walk. The sunsets here are magical. There are many benches along the pier for you to take a break and enjoy the fresh sea air or watch the swimmers on the beach. Lots of restaurants and shops nearby. During the summer they have movie nights and concerts at the beach. The area is clean compared to Venice beach or Santa Monica.

Great place to walk or jog at night. Park up the hill where there's free parking. It feels safe here. Great place to watch the sunset. So romantic. So many places to eat after a walk or jog.

It was a Saturday afternoon and we were starving. We wanted a walk on the beach so we headed to Hermosa Beach. We got lucky and landed a good parking spot in the parking structure as someone was leaving even though there was a waiting line to get a spot. There was a festival on Pier Avenue so it was blocked off. There were too many people to enjoy it and the music was crazy loud. The best part of our day was eating at Scotty's on the Strand. Service was good and the Surfing Bird sandwich was delicious. It was big enough to take some home too. By the time we left the parking structure traffic had mostly cleared so it only took a minute or two to get out onto the street. I recommend visiting the strand t Hermosa Beach but check the calendar for festivals and try to avoid those days.

Here is little secret I am going to tell just the few people that read my reviews if you promise not to tell anyone else: When I first moved to California for the first time years ago--Hermosa Beach right next to the Pier is where I moved to. Back then, with a roommate in May, I rented a place next to the Sea Sprite hotel on the beach with a balcony facing the ocean. That was one crazy summer! Just steps from the Pier and Pier Avenue bars and restaurants. Down the block was the Comedy Club where Jay Leno would come every Sunday night to practice his comedy on the locals for the upcoming week of the Tonight Show on NBC. You can walk to almost everything you need in Hermosa without a car--I would not move my car for days sometimes. And was a regular cycling on the Strand right outside my door. Now Hermosa Beach as well as Redondo and Manhattan Beach on each side of it has changed over the years--much more expensive now and newer in some areas, many different stores and restaurants, but one thing that has not changed is that these communities especially West of PCH are the best places to live in Los Angeles County. These cities have their own police and fire departments and school system. A lot of people don't know this, but the real estate West of Hermosa Ave. to the beach in these South Bay communities is more expensive than Beverly Hills or Bel Air. These are the best communities to reside or raise a family if you have to live in Los Angeles County. I would never turn down an opportunity to move back here. Do not turn down an opportunity to live here.

A lovely place to watch the sunrise or set. I hadn't spent any time in Hermosa... I'd mostly been in its neighboring cities of Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. I find Hermosa Beach to be a refreshingly low-key, comfortable little town compared to the other two, and the pier is reflective of that. My hotel was very near the pier, so I grabbed a coffee and headed to the pier to watch the sunrise. The view was spectacular and I appreciated the many available (clean) benches to sit and admire the natural beauty. Can't wait to come back and share this special place with my SO.

Simple pier. They have a horn that goes off every few seconds if its foggy so ships and boats don't hit it. Looks of onlookers, fishers and residents. I love it over here they have a nice community of restaurants and shops.

Nothing compares to Santa Monica Beach Pier in terms of activities and fun and people watching. I do like Hermosa Beach so the pier is good for eating and having more quiet time at the beach because it is less crowded and a bit more isolated. I came here for ice cream as none of the restaurants were that interesting to me. My fave restaurant nearby is Chef Melba's I seriously ate there everyday for 3 days straight. I would have eaten there on my last day in Hermosa, but it was closed.

A long pier that gets calmer the farther out you walk. Fish cleaning stations and popular to fish. So many benches along both sides to sit and listen & watch the waves and surfers

Beautiful place to watch the sunset. It's just a straight pier no frills and attractions like the Santa Monica Pier which is nice. You just get to take in the the views of the ocean and watch the sunset. People are fishing there a lot too, I'm not into it but people do that too there. Before the pier, there is the beach and all the food and attractions. Overall the best place I've been able to watch the sunset so far in my stay and I have been staying in Santa Monica

Pier has beautiful views. As you get further along people will be fishing. Great picture spot and there are so many restaurants nearby.

You can't skateboard on the pier but its fun to go skateboard on the esplanade especially with my 2 kids who are just started to learn. It helps when daddy knows how to do it also. Me, I was walking this time but next time I'll bring my rollerblades. This place is fun to hang out if you have time on your hands. If you play Pokemon go there are lots of Pokestops and Pokegyms in this area.

This beach was live, I loved coming here. There was so many people in their own world, walking their dogs, riding their bikes, sunbathing. The weather was beautiful and people pleasant. We came here for the view not realizing it would be so many people. So relaxing just walking down the walk way, people jogging, running anything to get outside and enjoy the weather. Parking was not so east but when you find a spot it's like winning the lottery. So basically come as early as possible if you want to spend the day at the beach.

This is by far one of the nicest beaches I've ever been to. Hermosa Beach is not crowded at all and the beach has ample space to set up towels or tents. The restrooms are super clean, the cleanest I've ever been to at a beach and there are little fountains ti wash your feet or body. There's volleyball nets and even a set of swings in the sand. The water is clean as well but it was too cold to swim on the day that I went. There was people in the water though. I think part of the beach that is closest to the pier is banned from swimming due to dangerous rip currents or proximity to the wooden pier but there is lots of other places to swim. The parking is also pretty accessible and super cheap for beach parking. There is a lot right next to the sand that is surrounded by restaurants like Brothers Burritos and we got a spot pretty early on (partially luck and timing). Overall, my experience at Hermosa was top tier. There are shops, restaurants, the ocean, sand and everything that a crowded and popular beach has without all the people and much more clean. Highly recommend spending a day here!

finally visited the la la land city of star beach. so beautiful and safe. sunset was extra pretty from there.

My go to pier when I'm in town. I usually park in the public lot near the police station ... it's free up to 12 hours. The area leading up to the pier is lined with restaurants and stores, open only to pedestrians, not cars. A concrete surfer statue stands at the start of the pier. Kids play around this landmark and it's also a perfect picture spot! Plenty of benches line the pier.. you can view the surfers catching waves and see the beautiful coastline for miles. So peaceful Public restrooms with wash area is nearby And bike path!

I'm a little late on reviewing on this but I absolutely loved this place! It was so beautiful and serene. Took my breath away! I'm already missing the beach scene. I can't wait until I go back.

I love going to this pier it's awesome lots of cool places to eat bars sometimes they have live music you can walk the pier article people walking around great views definitely a cool place to come and hang out

There's plenty of parking, plenty of restaurants and bars, plenty of surf and sand, and unfortunately also plenty, plenty of people. It's a very well maintained area all the way around, meaning clean, safe and well controlled traffic flow. I very much enjoy Hermosa.

What an amazing view and overall experience. There are so many nice and relaxing adventures to partake in on and around the pier. It almost feels like the nature here is just like a close friend. You'll be glad you visited, I promise.

A great iconic, historical pier. It's always nice to visit and do a bike ride along the bike path that goes all the way from Santa Monica to Torrance Beach . Lots of good places to eat in the area near the pier. If you are in the area and can find parking or are on a bicycle you should visit Hermosa Pier as well as Manhattan Beach pier!

11.11.18 This was my 2nd time at Hermosa Beach and it was pretty relaxing. The weather was great on this day. We caught the sunset during our friend's proposal. It was beautiful! It wasn't as busy as Santa Monica because there wasn't much to see I would say. But it's definitely a great place if you don't like the crowd and just like to hang out at the beach.

We almost didn't experience the Pier as the main parking structure was 100% full. The signs said so, but we drove the whole thing hoping someone would leave at an opportune time. No dice. We backtracked a block or so south and found a spot in a lot with metered parking. ($1.25 for an hour seems very reasonable.) Strolling over to the actual pier, we caught a lifeguard lowering the flag on their large structure at the base of the pier. It was getting to be sunset time, so we caught the flag lowering and the actual sunset just at the right times. I don't think I'd ever been out on the Hermosa Beach Pier before, so was surprised that it's all paved, instead of big wooden planks. It makes for pretty smooth walking, which is nice. It doesn't have that rustic feel of a wooden pier, but it's a trade-off that worked for our post-dinner walk-about. We walked all the way out to the end, snapping selfies as the golden light of the end of the day was waning. Dozens of fisher-men, -women, and -children were reeling in various fish. None of the catches were very large, but a bag of several smaller ones could make a decent fish-fry. Once the sun dropped over the distant hills, we went back to the pedestrian zone at the base of the pier where various restaurants and bars line the closed-off street. The noise volume coming from several of them was LOUD! And that's from out on the sidewalk. Hey, it was a Saturday summer night at the beach. Everyone was up for having fun, and it sounded like they were on their way. When we were walking the pier, I noticed looking down from on high that the beach sand looked soft and clean. There were lots of families out enjoying the end of the beach day. As it should be on a warm July day. Happiness for all!

This is a Pier that doesn't has shops or a restaurant on it It is nice to watch the sunset and just enjoy the sounds of the waves and people watch. A few times at the end of the Pier there's been people with loud music and if you have kids keep a listen so you can make your decision if the music is apparent for your kids The view is amazing at times.

What an amazing beach and vibe! I was told their was a lot of pretentiousness. I didn't notice because I just don't receive that type of energy but I did enjoy the sights, shopping, food and walking. They had things that I wanted, needed and never thought I needed - like unique ice creameries and bike riding (kidding). This place is everything for an amazing time to date, picnic, relax, party, shop and eat from all walks of life.

Nothing to complain about on this pier. It's right across from the Hermosa Beach Boardwalk. This Pier is great for fishing and has a really good view! There are some benches on the way and everyone should go down it once.

Beautiful and crowded local beach, nice views on a clear and sunny day, however the parking is a headache here, very limited spots, small public garage, and street metered parking only takes quarters, not accepting credit cards.

This is perhaps one of the most popular beach piers in LA. Tons of people everyday especially on the weekend. A lot of things happening here. Before Covid-19, there was something taking place here every weekend. I joined the triathlon event here couple of years ago. People also enjoy biking and rollerblading here along the beach on the boardwalk. Many people come here simply just to enjoy the ocean breeze and sunset. During the summer, the sunset view is extra beautiful. There are also many restaurants here at the front end of the pier. Many people come here at the end of the day to unwind with a drink and enjoy the beach view while having a good time. My favorite restaurant here is the Playa- Hermosa Fish and Oyster. They have the best seafoods in town. It helps that this restaurant also has the best view of the ocean and the sunset since it is the first restaurant on the pier without any obstructions to the ocean. Parking is a bit of a problem on the weekend. But you can always find street parking with a short walk.

It's so pretty here. You can walk out to the water on the pier. There are lots of shops and restaurants on that street. Parking is difficult they do have Public lots but you need to look for them. Very pretty at Sunset

Our family loves going to this beach, it's not super crowded and the people have all been friendly in our experience. The beach is nice and clean, along the sand there are a lot of garbage cans with lids. There is not a lot of trash on the sand. On the pier, you get a great view of the beach, the waves, the water, and the little stores up by the streets.

Mommy review I love love LOVE Hermosa beach. It is a lot easier to walk around to shops and restaurants than some of the other piers in my opinion. Up and down along strand you can find great restaurants and quick dining options. The beach doesn't get too crowded though parking isn't the best. During the weekend getting there before 1pm is your best bet for finding parking but know that most parking close by is metered. Mini review I love coming to the beach and playing in the water. There is a park in the sand not far away that Mom takes me to all the time. You can ride your bike up and down right by the beach too! Definitely bring friends and stay all day!

I agree with Rob A. The best part of living in the Los Angeles area has to be the beach area with the most adorable beach cities surrounding. Take me to the water and let's go biking on the strand and then we might just end up drinking at the Hermosa Beach Pier. Check out Scotty's On The Strand (see my review). It's oceanfront, relaxed and not pretentious & they have great service and food. Did I mention you can just lock-up your bike outside where you can see it and down a few beers while watching all the people walk by on the strand? Just bummed Fat Face Fenner's Fishack is CLOSED. That place was awesome! Anytime of year is a great time at the pier although summers seem to be busier with tourists. Definitely go for the beer festival and sporting events. Overall, a nice selection of bars and restaurants in which to drink and eat and hang out with some friends or out-of-town visitors. Pay parking is usually the way I go if I drive or just grab your bike and get there. It's so fun.

There's something about Hermosa Beach that keeps bring me back over the past 6 years. Maybe it's the all the craziness and fun that is Pier Ave. Maybe it's the chill vibe you get from the locals. Or maybe it's just the relaxing beach, where you can just sit and watch the sunset. Out of all the beaches I've ever been to this is one of my favorites and always will be.

The Hermosa Pier is one of thoes seminal California landmarks. Is it a great architectural landmark full of uniquely designed buildings, shops, and restaurants? No. It is pretty much just a pier stretching out to the sea. This being said, it is one of those locations that has set the stage for and about South Bay life forever. I cannot tell you how many times I have walked out to the end of in the day and late into the night simply contemplating life. For anyone anywhere near the Hermosa Pier, you must walk it! What will you find on the pier? Mostly, you will see people like me who like to walk or sit on one of the benches and contemplate life. You will also commonly see many a fisherman attempting to catch their dinner. Personally, I do not believe that I would eat any of the fish caught off this pier -- I mean there are even posted warnings about several of the fish that inhabit the local waters. But, to each their own. It is interesting, however, to watch the process that these fishermen employee. Note: you are not suppose to ride your bike on the Hermosa Pier but you can push it. Parking for the Pier can be found in the local area parking lots or there is metered parking along Pier or Hermosa Avenue. So, even for those non-locals it is pretty each to get to. Overall, I have so many memories on and about this pier. Yes, it has changed over the years, what you can and can't do on it. But, it is an excellent location to take a moment walk out, study the surfers surfing, the swimmers swimming, and watch and listen to the waves crashing upon the shore. Recommended!

Beautiful pier and beach, It's never as busy as the surrounding ones and we like it quite a bit. It's always really clean around here and just a really beautiful view. I was sad when I came to visit during COVID and the pier was closed up but for the time being it has opened. It's really pretty here and if you walk around the pier there are many shops and restaurants around. There is plenty of parking so if you are just driving through and want to stop, you shouldn't have any problems trying go park. For people who have complained about parking just seem to want to get a parking spot right out front. My brother has lived here for 6 years and out of the 20 times i've come to visit you can always find a spot, sometimes you just might have to walk.

The pier itself is nothing amazing, no major frills like Santa Monica or Redondo Beach. That said, the surrounding area is dynamic, with shops and great sandy beaches surrounding it. The pier is clean and safe for families and kids, plus it has a large cube of bathroom options, which are not super clean, but they serve the purpose. I frequently jog to the end of the pier as part of my route, the paving is even which is good for strollers, and a good spot to take in the gorgeous sunsets, or sit and watch the surfers. The city plans a lot of great events for the pier. I've attended and or participated in most, like the pier to pier swim race, the outdoor concert series, the Fiesta Hermosa street fair, and much more, so they do a lot to promote in the immediate vicinity. The stores/restaurants around the pier tend to be geared towards 20-something's (Hennesseys, Sharkeys, Patrick Malloys, etc). The immediate area is now less geared toward family friendly options, but my family does like Scotty's on the strand which is good for breakfast and lunch. The most disappointing/sad aspect is the homeless population which seems to have grown, seems odd because there is now a much greater influx of cash in the area.

Easy to find parking. The parking area we went to was right off the beach. We paid 6.50 for 3 hrs which was perfect for us. The have a little walk way to the beach so it made it easy to get across the sand. I recommend coming her.

My favorite pier in beach cities, the parkings are the easiest compare to Manhattan and Redondo, there is a big parking structure right next to the promenade. This beach is also very clean and neat that you should really come here to spend a day if you like beach volleyball or just hang out, it's never packed with obnoxious tourists which I definitely prefer whenever I want to hang out at any beaches. We have tried many restaurants and bars around here, I have to say almost all the restaurants are great, the food and drinks are so yummy at reasonable prices, and the cocktails are strong and great pours! The nightlife is fun on weekend nights if you are into that, but we usually just hang out at restaurant bar or lounge area cause it's more relaxing and chill. Since this beach is very small so I recommend touring all three beaches (Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan), they are all next to each other anyways, it's more practical this way if you don't live in South Bay. As for us South Bay locals, Hermosa beach is definitely our local favorite, it's just hassle free and so much fun on any day of the week!

Hermosa Beach Pier is an absolutely wonderful place to be at. The strand is popular with roller bladers, bicyclists, skateboarders, joggers, and walkers, alike. It makes for a great place for people-watching, and by people I mean health-conscious people. Parking isn't the easiest, but if you use your eagle eyes, and be patient, something usually opens up. There are several restaurants near the pier, and also on the side streets in the area, so it's a great place to meet a friend to catch up.

Trips to the beach make me thankful that I live in such a beautiful state and close to the ocean. I could just sit and stare at the waves under the sunny blue sky forever. It's just ridiculously beautiful, so I stop and take in the view and wonder what it would be like to live in one of the houses overlooking the beach. Your backyard of soft whlte sand and beautifully blue water. Just Gorgeous!

Hermosa Beach Pier is so close to Manhattan Beach Pier, yet it's completely different. Hermosa is for the younger crowd. They have so many bars located along the pier along with a few restaurants. This area can get pretty crazy on a weekend night since this is where everyone comes to drink. The bars are more of a small club rather than a bar. The waters along the pier aren't as nice as the waves along Manhattan Pier, but it's still nice. I definitely see a lot more people playing volleyball next to the Hermosa Beach Pier. If you are looking for a little adventure then rent a bike at the pier and take that along the strand. You can stop anywhere to grab a bite to eat or get dessert. There's just something about being at the beach that's just so relaxing. You tend to forget about everyday life and just enjoy everything around you. Hermosa Pier is a great place to get a drink during the day or at night. It's also a good spot to grab a bite before going out at night or just to have a nice beach day. You either have to park in the structure which is just north of the pier or find street parking. I suggest eating at Abigaile's if you are looking for a good place to eat near the pier!

There were several people fishing from the pier, and couples of various generations walking hand in hand. Nothing goes better together than free fish and the chains of love. And as the picture shows: NO COMA "WHITE CROAKERS".

One of the nicer and cleaner beaches of LA with so much to do!! I was disappointed that about 90% of people didn't have a mask on - ummm hello we are still in a pandemic!! This beach was so relaxing and beautiful and had nice soft sand! I have been to a couple of beaches in LA and thought that they will all be decent but I wasn't disappointed with this one. Parking is a pain so I ended up paying for parking right next to the pier! I want to come back to take a day to explore all the cute shops in the area! I also loved that the beach had volleyball courts and what not!