Santa Monica Brew Works
Brewery · Santa Monica ·
Craft brewery with beach-inspired beers and Detroit-style pizza
Craft brewery with beach-inspired beers and Detroit-style pizza
"It’s no secret that Santa Monica is lacking in places suitable for casual big groups, which is why we send people to Santa Monica Brew Works. The local craft brewer sits in a big space away from all the tourists, complete with a massive front patio that can fit multiple rec kickball teams. While all the beer is solid—we particularly love the Head In The Clouds double IPA—what makes this spot exciting is that NYC pizza staple, Emmy Squared, is operating out of the kitchen. Be sure to order the Le Big Matt burger, which might be the best thing on the menu." - brant cox
"Although it's in a slightly secluded location on Colorado Ave., Santa Monica Brew Works is always full of big groups drinking draft beers and eating pizza. They’ve got a massive outdoor space complete with picnic tables, string lights, and an abundance of cute local dogs. The Brooklyn-based pizzeria Emmy Squared runs the kitchen, so you’ll probably end up sharing a couple of their signature sheet pan pizzas—they exist somewhere between thick-cut Detroit-style and a gooey New York grandma pie." - brant cox, nikko duren
"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
"The flagship taproom of the excellent beer company, SMBW is an ideal place for big groups and day drinking. Objectively, their Head In The Clouds hazy IPA is number one, but we also really enjoy a good ol’ glass of their cucumber kolsh." - kat hong, james montgomery
"It’s not even a secret at this point that you and your dog have codependency issues. Your barista knows about it, your landlord knows about it, and your therapist knows way too much about it. The idea of spending a night without Mr. Kibbles is basically a non-starter, so make it easy on yourself and go to Santa Monica Brew Works. Open since 2014, SM Brew Works is the Westside’s only craft brewery, and it’s a good one too. They’ve reopened their massive outdoor space complete with picnic tables, string lights, and of course, an abundance of cute local dogs. They’re only operating Thursday through Sunday right now, but keep an eye on their Instagram for their most updated hours, food truck schedules, and can releases." - brant cox, kat hong