Weekend Escapes on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, CA

Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice, CA

Abbot Kinney, in the Venice neighborhood of California, stands out as a hub of culture, creativity, and community. This street, named after its forward-thinking founder, Abbot Kinney, offers a free-spirited atmosphere with its mix of chic boutiques, art galleries, and dining spots. My husband and I find our selves here multiple times a month, especially on weekends. We enjoy visiting the specialty coffee shops, clothing stores, and even looking for accessories for our new townhome. Did I mention there are street performers and local artisans displaying their crafts on the sidewalk? Abbot Kinney Boulevard brings together culture, commerce, and boho beach vibes. It’s giving a mix of bougie yet hippie chic. Discover more about the top attractions and insider tips for your visit as you continue reading.

Travel Tips for Abbot Kinney

Explore Boutiques:

Wander along Abbot Kinney Boulevard and explore its unique boutiques, offering everything from designer clothing and accessories to handmade crafts and artisanal goods. See all the stores in the official directory.

Enjoy Delicious Food:

Indulge in a variety of dining options, including trendy cafes, gourmet restaurants, and food trucks serving international cuisines and innovative dishes. Hungry for sushi, poke bowls, salads, sandwiches, ice cream, and more? Check out all the Dining options.

Kreation offering healthy eats

Visit Art Galleries:

Browse contemporary art galleries showcasing works by local and international artists, and take in the art scene of Abbot Kinney.

Experience Street Performances:

Enjoy live music, street performers, and pop-up art installations along Abbot Kinney Boulevard, adding to the lively atmosphere of the area. When we took my sister in law to visit for the first time, she watched a street performer playing her guitar with a dog by her side. The singer’s dog was so cute but looked tired laying on the sidewalk. My husband gave the singer a dollar and then she started singing passionately about the children dying in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It got intense and people started walking faster to cross the street.

Artists with guitars can be found on Abbot Kinney

Relax in Outdoor Spaces:

Take a break in one of Abbot Kinney's outdoor spaces, such as pocket parks, landscaped plazas, and sidewalk cafes, perfect for people-watching and soaking in the sunshine.

Lounging in the outdoor area of Loco Coco, smoothie and bowl shop

Attend Events:

Check the event calendar for festivals, art walks, and community events happening on Abbot Kinney Boulevard throughout the year for added entertainment. First Fridays are fun and a collection of food trucks show up offering a variety of different cuisine types.

Food trucks can be found along the blvd.

Shop Local Farmers' Market:

Visit the local farmers' market on Abbot Kinney Boulevard for fresh produce, gourmet foods, artisanal products, and handmade crafts from local vendors.

Explore Nearby Venice Beach:

Extend your visit by exploring nearby Venice Beach, known for its iconic boardwalk, sandy shores, and eclectic street performers. The homelessness problem has improved and during my last visit, I did not see the bike trail lined with homeless tents. I believe Mayor Karen Bass is doing her best to get the homeless housed.

Took this photo while riding my bike from Marina Del Rey

Use Public Transportation:

Consider using public transportation, biking, riding a scooter, or walking to explore Abbot Kinney, as parking can be limited and traffic congestion is common in the area.

Electric scooters are available all over the boulevard

Embrace the Bohemian Vibe:

Embrace the bohemian and laid-back vibe of Abbot Kinney and Venice, and take the time to soak in the unique culture and creativity of the neighborhood.

Weekend Trip Recap

On the hunt for a new scented oil diffuser for my husband’s office, we made our way to Huset, a Scandinavian boutique offering a curated collection of modern furnishings, home decor, and lifestyle goods sourced from Nordic designers. This Abbot Kinney store offers everything from dog collars, leashes, to kitchen items including long stemmed kettles, and even makeup. The highlight at the front of the store is the candy assortment where you can pack your own bag of sweet goodies and then pay at the register. Teens and adults looked excited at the candy section.

After buying two scented oil diffusers from Huset, we looked for something healthy and stumbled upon Loco Coco, a Vegan açaí bowl and smoothie shop offering fresh juices, iced matcha, health shots, coffee, and soft serve. Loco Coco’s pink interior is vibrant and inviting. Its outdoor area provides a relaxing respite from the busy Abbot Kinney boulevard with chairs and tables. We saw many families with kids taking a break from walking while enjoying smoothies and açaí bowls.

Loco Coco

Loco Coco’s orange juice and Loco Loco smoothie

My Loco Loco smoothie consisted of Açaí, banana, blueberry, activated coconut charcoal, oat milk for $13.99. It was filling, cold and delicious, like an açaí bowl in a cup. It left my mouth dark purple but it was delicious nonetheless.

After our drink orders were ready, we walked down the street and found another boutique selling hats and shirts from the back of a truck. The designs were reminiscent of the brand Rhude, with the Marlboro cigarette design printed on a T-shirt.

Hat assortment on display by Good Quality Human

Good Quality Human truck

My husband stepping inside the truck

One of our favorite places to eat is Abbot Pizza Company where you can buy pizza by the slice. My favorite is the meat lovers pizza and my husband loves a regular pepperoni and cheese slice. We took my teenage sister in law to this restaurant and she liked the sign on the wall that read, “You can’t make everybody happy, you’re not pizza.”

Abbot Pizza Company wall

Abbot Pizza Company exterior

Then, we made our way across the street over to Blue Bottle coffee, then past Greenleaf (they offer salads, wraps and sandwiches), and we were tempted to get in line for Salt & Straw ice cream. We ended up at Warby Parker trying on frames and then ended our trip at Madewell Men’s. Note, the women’s Madewell shop opens Spring 2024.

Salt & Straw ice cream line wraps around the building

Overall, Abbot Kinney has become one of our favorite weekend spots to visit as it draws people of all ages walking dogs of all breeds (they’re all so cute), and we’ve been lucky with parking every time. There is a public parking valet area, if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of hunting for a parallel parking spot. We love seeing all the classic cars as well as fancy expensive ones driving up and down the boulevard. Motorcyclists and bicyclists frequent the area as well, so make sure to drive carefully.

For more information on Abbot Kinney, visit: https://www.abbotkinneyblvd.com/merchant-events-and-promotions