French Market Cafe
I've only been here for breakfasts with a Venice friend. I can vouch for the coffee and the pastries - yum! They also serve omelettes, scrambled eggs, baguettes. Right on Abbott Kinney Blvd., and you sit outside at small tables under umbrellas on the edge of the parking lot, so it can be a bit noisy.
Sun Precautions
Lots of clothing to shield your fair or not-so-fair skin from the sun. A really good selection of solumbra hats, shirts, etc. Plus you can then stroll up and down Montana and check out the many one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants there.
Mcconnells Ice Cream Yogurt
Small ice cream and yogurt shop at the foot of the pier, south side, just above the sand and the showers. I enjoyed my black cherry scoop of ice cream, and my sister was quite happy with her two scoops (pralines and cream plus mint chocolate chip) in a cup. There's limited seating outside on benches and chairs.
Akbar Hermosa Beach
We've tried this restaurant several times in recent years, and have always been happy with the food. It's really good Indian food. We've particularly enjoyed the lamb curries.
Cala Video Store
A small neighborhood video store. The selection is limited, but the prices are good. You'll mainly find mainstream videos here, not too much in the way of independent films - but there are a few.
Cambria Pines Lodge
Lovely grounds, quiet cabins on 25 wooded acres. You can walk to town, if you don't mind going down (and later coming back up) some steep steps off a side street behind the lodge. There's also a quite-good restaurant attached to the lodge.
Benbow Hotel
A few years ago I stayed here, on my way up to Oregon, and was completely charmed by the inn and its setting. Elegance and luxury. While the inn feels very upper-class (and has prices to match), the small town of Garberville is just a tad north. There you can find hearty, inexpensive breakfasts when you've had enough of room service, or it's just time to get back on the road.
Ham Supreme in Redondo Beach
Good ham sandwiches and pea soup. This is basically a hole-in-the-wall take-out place (in a very good neighborhood), but there are little tables set up outside where you can eat your food, if you like.
Pill Box Drug
A basic pharmacy, convenient to Palos Verdes, at which to get prescriptions filled. Not much in the way of incidentals available, unlike a regular drugstore.
All Star Glass
There was a big crack in my windshield, and I called this company and had them come out to my house and replace the windshield. It was easy to make the appointment and to get service, and the installer did a very good job.
