The Sidewalk Cafe

Had a late lunch here while walking along Venice Beach. We had the chips with guacomole and salsa. Guac was homemade and delicious, not a fan of their salsa (it was too watery). We also had their Chinese chicken salad and it was okay. I just feel like there was too much dressing that made the veggies a bit soggy. We enjoyed the smoked brisket though, it was full of flavor and the fries were well seasoned. Service was good. Ambience was great and vibrant. There's a busker by the street and he played cool songs.

The Sidewalk Cafe is truly one of my favorite places to eat, and their Bacon Blue Cheese Burger proves exactly why. The burger was spot-on — juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The combination of smoky, crispy bacon with the bold tang of blue cheese is unreal. Every bite hits with that rich, savory flavor that makes this burger stand out from anywhere else. The atmosphere is always relaxed and welcoming, and the service is consistently friendly and attentive. It’s the kind of place where you feel comfortable settling in and enjoying a great meal every time. If you love a good burger with serious flavor, the Bacon Blue Cheese Burger is a must-try. It’s one more reason this spot remains at the top of my favorites list.

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend this restaurant. The chicken in the burrito was undercooked and had an unpleasant taste, which is unacceptable from a food safety perspective. The enchilada my wife ordered was also very disappointing. Overall, this was a very poor dining experience.

The restaurant was really good! The pizza was amazing one of the best I’ve had. The only downside is that the tip isn’t optional, which was a bit disappointing. Other than that, great experience overall!

Nice spot right on Venice Beach with a great vibe. We just stopped by quickly, but the atmosphere was fun and the location is perfect. Good place to relax and enjoy the beachfront.

Good sized portions for the food. Thought that we could take this down without any trouble. Got halfway and wasn't able to. Lots of different options to choose from. The pasta is very rich in flavor. The pizza was good but got a little oily at the end. Mai Tai's are nice and strong. Can't beat the atmosphere here. The wait staff is very professional.

Our server was great, the view of the sunset was spectacular. Great place to get some really good food.

A Great Spot to Unwind at Venice Beach! We were two people and decided to stop by Sidewalk Cafe while exploring Venice Beach. We ordered a regular-sized vegetarian pizza, and it was more than enough for both of us. The crust was perfectly crisp, the veggies were fresh, and the flavor was spot on – definitely hit the spot after a long beach stroll. The ambiance was relaxed and beachy, with a fantastic view of the boardwalk and ocean. It’s a great place to people-watch while enjoying good food. The staff was friendly and service was quick, even though the place was bustling with energy. Prices are reasonable given the location, and the overall vibe really captures the essence of Venice. Would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a casual bite with a great view. I left happy and full – no complaints at all!

Definitely a fun place to stop for lunch! Love the location, love the vibe. Come for the food, stay for the people watching! Oh, yes...you'll see it all, and from the comfort of a covered outdoor seating area right next to the boardwalk. But on to the business! Sidewalk Cafe is a pretty iconic place, with indoor and outdoor seating (but you'll definitely want outdoor). They have a respectable beer list (a must!), and some truly unique and tasty offerings on their menu. I had the smoked beef brisket sandwich. It grabbed me right off the bat when I first laid eyes on the menu, so much that I didn't even bother looking at the rest. And I wasn't disappointed. There was plenty of thin-sliced brisket on it, with a delightfully tangy chipotle sauce, and cole slaw packed in! I tell you, it was heaven. The cole slaw really made it. So plan your day at the beach. There's plenty to see and do between there and Santa Monica pier, which is just a short walk down the boardwalk. And then stop in to Sidewalk Cafe for a nice afternoon lunch. It's the perfect compliment to a full day on the beach. PRO TIP: Parking is an issue, but there are plenty of lots on the street right behind Sidewalk Cafe. You'll pay $20 for 3 hours, but it's well worth it for the convenience of being just a few steps from the action.

Was walking along the boardwalk with friends and decided to stop here for lunch/brunch. I got the chicken Caprese sandwich and we got a guac to share for the table. I did enjoy the sandwich but I also wish there was a little more flavor. I feel like there was not enough balsamic glaze - it just tasted like chicken and bread. The service was also a little bland. It took a while for her to check up on us, but when she did she was super sweet. She even brought a cup of water for the pup we had with us without us asking. She was really sweet. I did love the vibes and the location - we had someone on the boardwalk right across from us playing nice guitar music, so it didn't give us a headache. Will probably want to try something new if I come back here but overall a good experience.

Amber was our awesome server, great energy and smile. The wet burrito, is huge and tasty, the cheese burger was cooked exactly how I requested. The pasta, chef's kiss 10/10!!! The mango tango margarita gave me the lift off that I needed to finish my stroll down the boardwalk. I haven't been here in a while, everything was great as I remember. Loved it!!

Amazing place on Venice beach! Great atmosphere, wonderful views, awesome staff!!!! Must try the wings, they are smothered in delicious sauce and cooked to perfection!!!

Typical bar but with some games in the back. Drinks were okay. Tons of folks eating and the food looked decent, especially the cheese sticks. Burgers looked like the frozen ones from GFS, Sam's, Costco, or Sysco or wherever folks in Cali order their bulk frozen foods from. I could MOST DEFINITELY be wrong because again we didn't order food but drinks. Their food menu is huge tho. Check em out if you have the chance!

Right in the board walk at Venice Beach we decided to have lunch here! The waitress was so kind they are pet friendly. The first thing the waitress said when she took our order was that she was gonna bring water for our little doggy! She was good on recommending what was best on the menu, honestly they were friendly right from the start when you walked up, greeted you even though they were busy they had good seating and timing when food was done! Large meal sizes! If your hungry and want a good bite try this place out It's nice to die inside with open windows having the beach and walk right outside! It was clean and fast pace.

We've been coming here for years! It's such a staple at the boardwalk as it's great for people watching. We've always been lucky to score tables right at the edge where the sun hits you just eight. The food menu offers a great variety from burgers to pasta to salads and much more! The staff is always friendly even though they're super busy. A MUST when visiting Venice!

The food was really good. I got the Caprese Chicken Sandwich. The chicken was moist and juicy. The mozzarella tasted fresh as did the basil. The balsamic was delicious. The waitress was nice enough. We had to find someone to get our check. Once they delivered the food they never checked back with us. For the prices I feel like the service should have been better and perhaps see if the customers need a drink refill. The ambiance was nice because there was a gentleman playing music across the sidewalk.

Great location since it's right on the Venice boardwalk and they have a large patio. Unfortunately although wait staff is friendly service is slow. We went for drinks so it hit the spot while we people watched. Only ordered fries and they were warm and not hot. About 5 minutes after we got our fries, another waitress came with an order of fries so maybe we got someone else's order that was sitting there and ours was not made fresh.

Used to love this place, but my last experience made sure I'd never go back. Absolutely trash service. Took over an hour to get any food which was staggered for my party and then was told that they won't be making what were ordered because the kitchen shut it down. I've never had service this bad before. It was crazy.

On a family trip we decided to eat here as there weren't many places to choose from on the boardwalk. The hamburgers appeared to be the most popular item ordered so I gave the mushroom bacon grilled onion with avacado burger a try. It lacked flavor and the patty itself was not good quality meat. The fries were average and the ranch was not good as well. Over $22 for a burger and it was not worth it. Wish I had looked other places to eat. My waitress was ok but what I really found incredibly rude was I overheard her telling the table next to me that in United States customers tip waitresses. She was trying to secure the tip from these people. Overall it wasn't terrible but I wouldn't get a burger ever again.

The service was fascinating to me. We had sat down for about 15 minutes without anyone acknowledging us. But there were at least 4-5 servers standing against the wall. A few were on their phones, and it was impossible to get anyone's attention, so we just left. Beautiful view though!

It's been about 5 years since visiting the Sidewalk Cafe and the place and food are still amazing. We came in on May 24th around 10am to start our morning since it was our anniversary! There was no waiting which was a nice surprise and immediately seated by the walkway. I ordered the strawberry pancakes which was very good along with the sausage links. Our server was Isidro and he was really nice and professional. The view is amazing with the ocean in the background. Looking forward to visiting this great place.

Solid bar on the boardwalk, that has a great happy hour weekdays from 4-7. Not the best food or drinks ever, but if you are looking for something affordable, a good place on the boardwalk, or a place to watch a game (they have plenty of tvs) SideWalk cafe and Bar is a solid choice!

I sense they overcharge or double charge guests that are visiting from out of town. Did meet a couple friendly people that live in the area.

Good people viewing. Food was good. Big bar inside. Pretty good pizza. We had Hawaiian pizza no olives Bbq pork sandwich decent. Fries good and the order on appetizer menu comes w ranch.

First, it is so nice to see Venice nice, families walking in the afternoon, clean, more pleasant. After to take a boat friend stroll, we went to this restaurant to eat fish and chips, and see the sunset. The food was delicious! The beer was very good as well. Good vibe in the restaurant, great and friendly service. $$$good. The building is historic, q1920. The great treasure of Venice. We loved it.

Such a horrible experience. We went to this place for first time. We were starving and this was the first place we found. I gotta say about our server she was amazing but I didn't get utensils and napkins so I had to get them from the other table next to ours. The food was completely gross, I ordered the wings and the celery was disgusting. How can they serve this? Basically like trash on my plate. My bf ordered the turkey sandwich and it was horrible, bred was old the turkey tasted weird. And also was a fly around our food. So we will never come back to this place where the quality of food is so poor for the price .

We went here on Thursday, Aug 15th, 2024. It was my girlfriend's family's last day in LA so we decided to go to Santa Monica Pier and then to Venice beach to have a relaxing day. When it came to lunch, there were too many options but not enough formal sit down restaurants. Eventually we came across "The Sidewalk Cafe, at Venice Beach. The overall ratings of this place were mediocre, around mid 3s which isn't bad... but maybe I thought it was an overpriced tourist trap. It was busy though, which was a good sign. Even for 2pm in the afternoon it was decently busy! Anyway, there is seating inside or outside. We chose outside. But it's not really outside as it's in an enclosed space. It is very airy and somewhat spacious in there though! The vibes of the place were pretty cool too! Nice background music. The service was also very good too. We got a table immediately and our waiter was prompt with everything. The menu is also pretty big, with reasonable prices, especially for the area. So they have a lot to choose from. I ended up getting a burger. With a burger too, you get to choose from a variety of options for the type of cheese if you want it! The burger was called "..." and it came with lettuce, bacon, onions, avocado, (I went with Jack cheese) and a special sauce. I did add ketchup tho, as it was just a little dry without it. The fries it came with were also very delish too! Sometimes if you go to restaurants, you can tell if their fries are frozen, but I couldn't tell with this place, which is nice! Although they didn't seem hand cut, to be straight up. Regardless, it was a solid burger! If you're looking for a casual, not too expensive sit down restaurant in Venice Beach, I highly suggest you give The Sidewalk Cafe on Venice Beach a try!

Celebrated my sister's birthday at this spot, and we were lucky to have Randall as our server and bartender. He made some of the best drinks we've ever had and was incredibly friendly and attentive. If you're ever in Venice, be sure to stop by for great food and drinks--and ask for Randall!

Service and food so good we had to come back within 24hrs! Special shoutout to our server Eva - she was super helpful, attentive and overall fire vibe! We are locals and enjoy beachside views, people watching on Venice, great drinks and delicious food. Thank you Ali for the best Don Julio espresso martinis! Pricey but worth it

This café is right on the beach and you can see the sunset here. People watching here is the best with musicians, street vendors, bicyclist, skateboarders, roller, skaters, and Taurus from all over the world. The food here is OK but it's definitely not top notch. The chili cup $8.5 was too salty. There was a piece of bread next to it, but I felt we needed more bread because it was that salty. The clam chowder cup $9.5 had bacon in it and some people like bacon in it but I personally don't eat pork so I couldn't enjoy it as I wished I could've. I think there was more bacon bits than clam pieces in it. The clam chowder was not salty at all. The overall experience is great because the area and location is amazing.. it has so much seating and it's great for big parties.

The service here is top notch and the food was amazing. I have family with food allergies and they were very attentive to their needs. I had the steamed clams, New England clam chowder and chili. They were all delicious. The fish and chips are top notch also. The tartar sauce tasted home made and was very tasty. The chicken tacos and pizza were also excellent. The ambience is an outdoor setting with a canopy and heaters. Just ask your server to turn it on. They also have a full bar inside. They also close off the patio with pull down zipper plastic to keep out the cool evening breeze.

Randall the Mix-Man is the highlight! Great vibes, food, and drinks--but his service and mixology are next level. Worth the visit!

Fairly standard brunch/lunch place. Diner-esque menu. Reasonably priced portions. I tried the poached eggs over potatoes and spinach. Potatoes were well seasoned but could've been fried a bit more. Spinach was surprisingly quite flavorful and the best part of the meal. Staff were nice. Food prepared quickly.

This food was so darn good. And I've eaten here before when I mostly come to Venice Beach for about almost 10 years now and the food never misses! The view is always amazing! I sit where you can see the people walk by and it's just such a real sidewalk vibe. I'll be back forsure as usual since summer is almost HEEERRRRREEEEE!!!!

It was early and we needed breakfast before walking around Venice Beach on a recent visit. We stopped by the Sidewalk Cafe. It wasn't busy, so we got great service. I ordered the Georgia O'Keefe Omellete. The portions were exceptional. The make potatoes that aren't quite hash brown and not quite country. I liked them. They used bell pepper instead of onions. They brewed the coffee well, and it tasted great. Our table was right on the edge of the walking path and we got to see much of people walking by and enjoying the day. It's a wonderful way to enjoy the atmosphere of beach life in southern California. Sadly, I'm not sure what happened to my photos of this restaurant, but trust me, if you're in Venice Beach, give them a try.

I haven't been here in several years. It's nice to see it's still here and so is the little book store. Service and food is still good. The portions are still huge. It's definitely a great place to have lunch at on a warm sunny day in Venice Beach.

First time here and overall a very good experience. We had a very short five minute wait before we were able to get in for lunch on this most recent Saturday afternoon. I got the BLT with french fries as well as a cocktail and everything was very good. Really no complaints about this place, and our service was very good as well. Went back. I would definitely eat here again and try something else on the menu.

Very nice place to have a drink/food right by the water at Venice beach! Good a couple beers and then tried their John Irving bruger. The food wasn't anything special just like any other burgers you get. They have both indoor and outdoor dinning. They have TVs indoor for sport lovers. Five star.

Road tripping to LA so we stopped at Venice beach for food and an ocean fix. This restaurant Is right on the boardwalk and has a beach view. When we walked up it was busy. Very busy but we were able to get seated. Serve was good and the food was delicious

You get here by scooter, pedal-taxi, by foot or by skateboard. And "here", is right smack on the famous Venice Boardwalk where the people are trippin' and the views are priceless. The Sidewalk Cafe is in the heart of it all. If you're lucky enough to score a window booth (we were) your people-watching experience is better than any airport (save Amsterdam and sometimes Albuquerque). The food is spot-on. After a couple of decades of pleasing people, these cats have it dialed. Straight up egg dishes? Check. Killer potatoes? Check. Flavorful Mexican breakfasts? Arriba. Benedicts? Sí. Ice cold draught and bottled beer? CHECK. What we had: KONA LONGBOARD 22 OZ. / DRAFT GEORGIA O'KEEFE OMELETTE w/ VENICE POTATOES BOARDWALK BURRITO w/ BLACK BEANS Why we had that: BECAUSE BREAKFAST AT THE SIDEWALK INN EFFIN ROCKS. All selections were fire and that frosty Longboard to start it off was extra special. Fire...and frosty. Get here however you must - then EAT HERE.

AMAZING!!! The service was top tier! The entire staff from the host, to the busser, and the servers were all SO NICE! I think this has been the best service I've ever received, hands down. The menu was simple, and the food was delicious! The portions were humongous! Its mostly outside seating with an inside bar. Its sort of next to the beach which really adds to the ambiance. My family and I were more than satisfied! This place really rocks!

April & July 2023 The Sidewalk Cafe is a fun place to be while dining on the oceanfront & watching the excitement of Venice Beach flow by! With a variety of dishes & drinks to choose from, as well as often live entertainment playing out front on the Boardwalk, it's a popular place for tourists as well! Bonus: friendly customer service! Greek Salad: My absolute favorite, as it's hearty, as well as delicious and hard-hitting flavor that I love! If you love salad, I highly recommend this one! Fish Tacos w/beans & rice: Light flavor! Plentiful for sure, alongside beans, rice & guacamole! It's also easily shareable; depends on how hungry you are! Vibe: Beachy, as it's on the oceanfront; near the Skate Park & Roller-skater area! Piano player & other Musicians are fantastic to hear, while they're playing right out front! It's a great place for people watching & feeling the energy & fun of the very popular Venice Beach! Local Favorite: I'm a local & the Greek Salad has my heart! It was also fun watching a friend in town enjoy the food & scene, as well as 2 roller skating friends visiting in the area find the restaurant & vibe exciting! Overall: I love walking over; up the Boardwalk, & truly enjoy the Greek Salad, it's my absolute favorite! The Sidewalk Cafe is a winner for me, plus Small World Books is right next door! Score!

I love this place but especially one of the super cool bartenders Randall. (And he's a cutie patootie to boot!) If you're looking for a bartender who knows how to turn a regular night into a memorable one, look no further than Randall at The Sidewalk. Not only are his cocktails rocking...perfectly balanced, creative, and seriously delicious, but his personality is just as impressive. (And I love his occasional...and not so occasional sarcasm!) He brings fun, energy, and a warm vibe that instantly makes everyone feel like a regular. Whether you're craving a classic vodka and soda or something like my favorite, a Cadillac margarita, he nails it every time. And the best part is that he makes the whole experience feel effortless and fun, like you're hanging out with a longtime friend who just happens to be a mixology genius. Great drinks. Great energy. Great time. Cheers to Randall!

Group of 12? No reservation? No problem! Lunch after a walking tour of Venice - nice to sit, be served, AND be out of the sun. Diverse menu offered something for everyone in the group, and too many choices for a couple of folks. Everyone was satisfied with their meals and the service. Come for a great atmosphere and plenty of people watching opportunity.

Food was definitely average. presentation with seven out of 10. but definitely did not deliver. The atmosphere was very nice. But did not compete with the food.

Delicious food,great portions and friendly staff and affordable the ambiance is amazing

Beautiful view, great margaritas, tasty food, and super friendly service! Attached to a bookstore which I found super unique and quite quirky (in the best way!)

Great hang in Venice, the ambiance is a great classic Venice feel. And the food is always good, especially happy hour for sunset. Best cafe on the boardwalk!

Food was really good. It came out super fast. I would say be aware these are big portions so come hungry! I came early the staff was very attentive and professional. The restaurant was clean and I absolutely enjoyed the view to people watch as in dine. I really love that you can pay without needing the server to come back. You scan the QR code in the receipt you can pay and tip then dip whenever you're ready.

You will definitely not find anything "gourmet"on this restaurant's menu. However, service is prompt and our server was awesome! Super friendly! It was one of the very few open options for us as we strolled down Venice beach! So we gave it a try. My hubby ordered the chorizo and eggs breakfast plate. I tried it and it was ok. Definitely not authentic Mexican taste but it wasn't terrible. I had the lox and bagel and it was actually really tasty! The lox was fresh and the portion was pretty big! Also, it's a great spot for people watching! Lol ! We sat outside and just relaxed. It was a beautiful, sunny, breezy CA day! Definitely recommend if you're looking for something quick and uncomplicated

To be fair, we didn't really eat here. Ordered the chips and guacamole which was actually really good. Great avocados and the salsa was spot on. Really we were there to use the restroom and order a drink. My wife finally found a decent coffee in the form of an espresso martini. And I got the Boardwalk Mai Tai. Because, well, it's not a vacation without a Mai Tai. Both were great drinks. Five stars. The best part about this place is sitting with your cocktail on the boardwalk and people watching. The guitarist playing for tips outside was on point and enjoyable, not distracting but adding to the experience. The service was fantastic. Best part of whole day was our server, Mariah, she's a hero of mine! Some guy came in with a "tour group" and acted like a total a** hat. Barking at the servers. Our hero of the day, Mariah, threw his a** out and his group fired him as tour guide on the spot. So entertaining we ordered another round. Way to go not putting up with BS, Mariah! Enjoyed our experience and will definitely be back next time we're down here.

Great food! Great drinks! The vibe was prefect! They had music trivia to keep the folks entertained they had karaoke after. Over all the service was amazing! Our server was super nice she was very attentive! Happy hour was definitely worth it!

Stopped in while out for a morning stroll. We wanted some coffee so we stopped here. Cool vibe inside! Amazing views outside. The service was excellent from everyone we interacted with. We got the spicy chorizo breakfast burrito and the Tsunami breakfast burrito. Both were very tasty. Hit the spot. Fueled us up for a big walk after breakfast. The coffee was excellent. Strong. Tasty. I would come here again. Even just for coffee.

Good vibes good waiter good friends super fast service. Pretty background while you're eating. We all shared good appetizers

Was at Venice Beach and found the Sidewalk Cafe and bar. Perfect, not the many fast-food vendors that dot the beach path. A place I could sit by the outdoor window and chill. Ordered breakfast. Tasty and affordable. Breakfast potatoes were a bit hard or over cooked but otherwise the Omellete combo hit the spot, and the latte was perfect. As mentioned there is sitting outdoors but inside the place is actually quite spacious.

If you are a tourist, please skip this spot. There are so many other places to eat. This is a great spot to people watch. The water cups are ridiculously small. Service was pretty fast so I gotta give them that and their menu is huge. It was really hot inside we were all sweating, fans were at the lowest settings. We got a classic cheese burger which wasn't bad it was original and a safe choice. Overall it's a safe choice if you are going down the path but not the best choice.

Perfect place to get something to eat if you want to sit down and enjoy the view of people walking on the boardwalk view of the ocean. Staff was nice , service was a little slow, and the food was decent. It's definitely a great place to people watch .