01
Best overall pick
The Strand House
Manhattan Beach Pier Area • Upscale Oceanfront New American Restaurant • Best For Sunset Views And Special Occasions
A polished, oceanfront dining room with serious cooking and a front-row seat to the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Floor-to-ceiling windows, a warm coastal-modern room, and a patio overlooking the sand make The Strand House the classic 'you have to see it' spot in Manhattan Beach. The menu leans seasonal and Californian, with wood-fired dishes, fresh seafood, and smart takes on comfort-food favorites. Go for golden-hour cocktails or linger over a multi-course dinner while the sun drops behind the pier.
02
Best for groups
Manhattan Beach Post
Downtown Manhattan Beach • Lively Seasonal Small-Plates Restaurant In A Converted Post Office • Top Pick For Shared Plates And Craft Cocktails
A buzzy room built for sharing inventive small plates, strong cocktails, and plenty of conversation.
Housed in a former post office just up from the pier, MB Post keeps the room humming with communal tables, exposed beams, and an open kitchen. The menu is all about shareable plates, from buttery cheddar bacon biscuits to market-driven vegetables and wood-roasted meats. It is the kind of place where locals book ahead for birthdays, but also slide into the bar for a casual night of snacks and drinks.
03
Seafood standout
Fishing With Dynamite
Downtown Side Street Near The Pier • Intimate Seafood And Raw Bar • Best For Oysters And Seafood Cravings
A tiny, personality-filled space that treats oysters, crudo, and classic seafood dishes with real care.
With just a handful of tables and bar seats, Fishing With Dynamite feels like a beach-town seafood shack that grew up and discovered Champagne. The raw bar is the star, with rotating oysters, chilled shellfish platters, and bright, citrusy crudo. Richer plates like clam chowder, lobster rolls, and seasonal specials round it out, making this a must for seafood lovers willing to snag a reservation or arrive early.
04
Most inventive menu
RYLA
Metlox Plaza District • Modern Japanese-Californian Bistro • Best For Inventive Date-Night Dinners
A sleek, softly lit room where Japanese flavors meet California produce in unexpected but dialed-in ways.
Tucked into Metlox Plaza, RYLA brings a chef-driven, big-city feel to this beach town without losing the relaxed vibe. The menu layers Japanese technique and flavors onto SoCal ingredients, with dishes like sashimi-style starters, nuanced vegetable plates, and deeply satisfying noodle and rice bowls. It is a go-to for locals who want a night that feels special, with thoughtful cocktails and a wine list to match the food.
05
Cozy neighborhood favorite
Love & Salt
Manhattan Avenue Just Above The Beach • Rustic Italian-Influenced Neighborhood Restaurant • Best For Pasta, Pizza, And Lingering Over Wine
A warm, bustling spot where wood-fired pizzas and handmade pastas anchor long, relaxed meals.
Love & Salt sits just up from the water, trading ocean views for a glow-y, brick-walled room that feels instantly welcoming. The kitchen leans on Italian roots with a California accent: think charred, chewy-crusted pizzas, seasonal antipasti, and pastas that change with the market. It is an easy choice for a lingering dinner with friends, plenty of wine, and a short stroll down to the pier afterward.