A bohemian beach town, Venice Beach is one of the best places to spend an evening savoring the unique hipster culture of the Los Angeles region.
Last updated: September 23, 2024
Venice Beach in the Evening
What is your idea of a perfect evening in the Los Angeles area? Spending time by the ocean, taking a leisurely stroll and watching the sun hiding behind the horizon? Add to this crazy crowds of free-spirited people, endless street performances, and the assaulting smell of weed… This is how a usual evening in Venice Beach, California, looks like.
Venice Beach is one of the most hated and loved towns in the Los Angeles area. Yet not everybody is ready for this extravaganza. For some visitors and locals, there is too much craziness and hippieness and not enough of glamour and sophistication that you’d expect to find in the capital of Hollywood.
Others, on the other hand, fit perfectly in this bohemian beach paradise. So spending an evening strolling along beachfront streets of Venice Beach becomes an integral part of their lives.
THINGS TO DO IN VENICE BEACH AT NIGHT
1. Take a Walk along Venice Canals
The best part of spending an evening in Venice Beach is your ability to regulate the “craziness” of the place. You can dive right into the alluring madness of the oceanfront district or enjoy a slow walk along the Venice Canals.
Built in the early 1900s, the Venice Canals is one the nicest areas in Venice Beach. It’s famous for six picturesque canals with arched footbridges that aim to recreate the charm of Venice, Italy, in a Southern California setting.
2. People Watch at the Venice Beach Boardwalk
Arguably one of the most popular corners of Venice Beach, the Venice Beach Boardwalk is one of the best places to immerse yourself in hippie culture and spend an evening watching people.
For this area, you don’t need any itinerary, excessive planning or booking. Just take a stroll along the oceanfront promenade and enjoy the “show”. From numerous street performances to palm readings and “life advice for $1” from local “gurus”, the Venice Beach Boardwalk promises quite an experience.
3. Work out on Muscle Beach
Muscle Beach is a special treasure of Venice Beach. Even if you are not that tough guy or gal who wants to lift weights, you can spare a few minutes watching others doing it. And you never know who you may encounter here. Maybe one evening Arnold Schwarzenegger himself will feel nostalgic and visit the place where he trained in his early twenties.
4. Rent a Bike
Rent a bike and see the entire Venice Beach before finishing the evening by sitting on the sandy beach and admiring glorious sunset colors. There is really no faster way to explore the town. (Traffic is insane, the parking situation is bizarre.) Moreover, you can push yourself a little bit and ride two miles north to Santa Monica, another picturesque beach town in the Los Angeles area.
READ MORE: 8 Reasons Why You Should Vacation by the Oceanfront Beach
5. Visit Venice Beach Skatepark
It may sound like rather awkward advice from somebody who doesn’t skate. Yet I never hesitated to watch all those fit guys and girls sliding and flying at the Venice Beach Skatepark like it’s as easy as walking.
Alternatively, you can bring your yoga mat and do a few stretches in front of the mighty Pacific all by yourself or with a group of friends or complete strangers. Even the latter is quite possible in Venice Beach, the strangest of all strange places in LA.
6. Grab a Bite and Watch Sunset
The best way to spend an evening in Venice Beach, though, is to watch its golden-reddish sunsets. Some people say that Venice Beach has the most beautiful sunsets in Los Angeles, and I find it difficult to disagree.
Better yet, grab a bite before securing your spot on the best “bleachers” along the Southern California Coast. While there are plenty of dining places on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, I’ll strongly advise you against them. This part of Venice Beach caters to mostly tourists, and thus, the food is a bit overpriced.
TIP: If you spend an evening in Venice Beach on the first Friday of the month, then, by all means, grab some food from one of the food trucks on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
7. Shop on Abbot Kinney Boulevard
In addition to the best street food, Abbot Kinney Boulevard is your place if you’re longing for an evening of shopping and coffee drinking. This famous block is filled with boutiques with trendy clothes from all around the world and organic coffee shops.
