Mel's Drive-in
Diner · Santa Monica ·
Classic 1950s diner serving comfort food & milkshakes
Classic 1950s diner serving comfort food & milkshakes
"The West Hollywood diner might be the most family- and budget-friendly dining option on the Sunset Strip. There are hamburgers and chicken fingers for the kids, but another reason to bring the entire family here is its old-school milkshakes, malts, and sundaes, each of which satisfies the most demanding sweet tooth." - Vox Creative
"The owners of a well-known local drive-in are organizing relief efforts as fires ravage parts of Malibu and the West Valley, actively accepting donations to support affected communities." - Farley Elliott
"Mel’s Drive-In has expanded beyond San Francisco with a new location in Santa Monica, California. This venue offers the same nostalgic diner experience that Mel’s is famous for, now available to Southern California patrons." - Janelle Bitker
"There’s something so alluring about an old, brightly-lit dinnertime diner, which is exactly how I felt at the new Mel’s Drive-In in Santa Monica. It sits at the historic termination point for Route 66 and has long carried its beaming penguin logo, even though the gorgeous Googie building was converted into a dentist office 25 years ago. Now back under the well-known Mel’s name (the company started in San Francisco and has locations in Hollywood and on the Sunset Strip), the team reintroduced the famed Penguin Coffee Shop from 1959, preserving its general layout and familiar signage. I enjoyed the soaring ceiling, the embedded Route 66 plaque at the front door, and an old jukebox playing throwback tunes, while cooks turn out diner staples—patty melts, burgers and fries, milkshakes, pie, eggs and coffee—and the spot is open 24 hours." - Farley Elliott
"A beloved all-day dining fixture, the new Santa Monica outpost occupies a Googie-lover’s architecture dream right off Lincoln Boulevard and the terminus of Historic Route 66, steps from the beach and the Expo Line. I confirmed it will start with a limited-hours launch on Wednesday morning, opening 8 a.m.–4 p.m. with longer hours to come; owner Colton Weiss noted that getting up and running on a full 24-hour schedule will take more time. Mel’s is an L.A. icon despite first opening in San Francisco, and its local Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, and West Hollywood locations each keep 24/7 hours year-round. Ownership even decided to keep the beloved penguin sign out front as a nod to the building’s history." - Farley Elliott