Best Places for Holiday Shopping in Santa Monica

Just in time for holiday shopping, Forbes.com released its list of 25 Best Shopping destinations in the U.S. Stretching up the California coast from San Diego to San Francisco, four California cities made the list. Among them is the popular Los Angeles area home to stylish Santa Monica. With the city’s mild winter weather, scenic beaches and sunny skies, the area offers the perfect spot to mix holiday shopping with relaxation before the festivities begin across the state. To get started, read our round-up of holiday shopping in Santa Monica.

Holiday Shopping in Santa Monica: Best Places for Fashion, Gifts

Santa Monica Place

The open-air mall features hundreds of stores on three levels set among palm trees. Browse stores, rest on benches and ride outdoor escalators between levels for easy access. Anchor stores include Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, while smaller shops range from Barneys New York and Disney to Uniqlo.

When it’s time for a break, head to the roof-top dining area. From here visitors can select from delicious restaurants and eat outdoors while enjoying mountain and ocean views. After dinner, head to ArcLight cinemas for a new release in a state-of-the-art theater.

Santa Monica Main Street

As many know, all bike routes lead to Main Street in Santa Monica. Packed full of local shops, restaurants and services, this strip houses over 24 places for visitors to enjoy holiday shopping in Santa Monica. Stroll Main Street for gifts, then take a break at an area salon. Those who need some sustenance will find everything from Indian to pizza and local fruits and veggies.

Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles

Its central location and exciting vibes make Los Angeles a favorite shopping destination. In fact, city boasts 15 shopping centers and more than 40,000 retail stores. However the main attraction — Rodeo Drive — ranks as the city’s most popular shopping hot spot.

Located in posh Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive offers three-blocks of shopping bliss. Only the world’s most exclusive boutiques hold an address on this world-renowned street of glitz and glamour. Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel and Versace are among the iconic fashion lines that draw fashion-lovers from around the globe to this storied shopping mecca. While shopping, take time to admire the area’s architecture and learn about its history.

Need to find more things to do? Don’t miss these Santa Monica top attractions.