Rae's Restaurant
Pico Neighborhood Association, Santa Monica
Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Rae's Restaurant is a practical Santa Monica daytime pick, strongest for breakfast or lunch when convenience matters more than ceremony. Booking difficulty is easy, but there is no dinner service listed, so it is not the right choice for an evening occasion or a polished destination meal.
About Rae's Restaurant
The limited opening window is the clearest decision point here: Rae's Restaurant is a daytime Santa Monica choice, not a dinner fallback. Open from 6:30 AM to 2 PM every day and with a casual dress code, it makes the most sense when the plan is simple and daytime-focused.
There are no details on price, awards, chef, cuisine, menu, or service-format. This suggests a practical rather than ceremonial choice. Rae's Restaurant is a casual Santa Monica stop, notable for its daily daytime hours and casual dress.
Pick it for daytime convenience, not dinner plans
Rae's Restaurant is open in the morning and afternoon only, so dinner is not available. That makes it useful for Santa Monica plans that need an early-in-the-day meal, but it is the wrong choice if the occasion needs evening timing.
For anyone comparing options, the key limitation is the 2 PM closing time. If your plans need a later meal, compare Rae's Restaurant with other dining options such as Gilbert's El Indio, Il Forno, Lazy Daisy Cafe, Lunetta, or Vito Restaurant before deciding.
How to decide before you go
Choose Rae's Restaurant when daytime timing and casual dress fit the plan. Skip it for an evening meal or for any decision that depends on details such as a specific cuisine, menu format, price tier, chef, or awards.
Quick reference: open daily from 6:30 AM to 2 PM in Santa Monica, with a casual dress code and no dinner hours.
Planning details
- Location
- 2901 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
- Website
- raesdinersm.com
- Phone
- +14242729016
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Rae’s reads like a preserved moment from mid‑century Southern California. A neon sign, low‑slung profile and interiors of Formica counters and vinyl stools announce a place that hasn’t chased trends; its worn surfaces are described as the residue of decades of actual use. The room catches the flat late‑afternoon light through big windows, and the building’s working‑city grit is explicit in the copy: this diner is part of a dwindling vernacular of neighborhood short‑order restaurants rather than a hospitality group’s stylistic pastiche. The overall character is unpretentious, quietly nostalgic and thoroughly grounded in everyday life on Pico Boulevard.
Best For
Rae’s positions itself as a true neighborhood diner that serves the full arc of the day, from early breakfast through late dinner. The description emphasizes prices and hours calibrated for locals, so it works well for regular breakfasts, casual midday meals and relaxed dinners with family. Its counter and booth layout makes it equally suitable for solo visits or group outings of a modest size, and the short‑order kitchen is built for straightforward, familiar American classics rather than formal occasions. It’s a dependable, all‑day option on the West Side for those seeking diner staples.
Ordering Tips
Service tilts toward the counter‑and‑short‑order model, so expect straightforward ordering at the counter or a booth for a slightly slower, sit‑down pace. Lean into the diner classics listed among the signatures: the Godmother sandwich, corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy and chorizo and eggs are highlighted as representative dishes. The copy underscores a neighborhood focus—prices and portions are aimed at regulars—so order what you want without fuss and enjoy familiar, unfussy American cooking that reflects the place’s long history on Pico Boulevard.
Venue details
Ambiance
Retro 1950s diner with turquoise decor, red booths, and counter seating evoking old-school nostalgic charm.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Godmother sandwich
- corned beef hash
- biscuits and gravy
- chorizo and eggs
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 2901 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Planning details
Location
Also consider
If you cannot make Rae's work
Try Lazy Daisy Cafe for another relaxed daytime option in Santa Monica. For dinner or a more deliberate sit-down meal, look at Lunetta or Vito Restaurant instead.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Santa Monica
Rae's Restaurant is the easiest recommendation for a casual daytime plan because its schedule is built around breakfast and lunch. Lazy Daisy Cafe is the closest cross-shop if the priority is another relaxed daytime meal; choose Rae's when Pico Boulevard convenience matters, and Lazy Daisy Cafe when the group wants a café-style alternative.
For a fuller lunch or dinner plan, Lunetta, Il Forno, and Vito Restaurant are better fits because they read more like planned restaurant choices than quick daytime stops. Gilbert's El Indio is the peer to consider when the group wants a more specific casual meal in Santa Monica rather than a general breakfast-or-lunch solution.
Explore Santa Monica
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Rae's Restaurant guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Rae's Restaurant
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Rae's Restaurant | Santa Monica | No published awards |
| Gilbert's El Indio | Santa Monica | No published awards |
| Lunetta | Santa Monica | No published awards |
| Il Forno | Santa Monica | 2026 50 Top Pizza USA · #232025 50 Top Pizza USA · #22 |
| Vito Restaurant | Santa Monica | No published awards |
| Lazy Daisy Cafe | Santa Monica | No published awards |
How Rae's Restaurant Santa Monica compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Rae's Restaurant?
Casual clothes are appropriate for Rae's Restaurant in Santa Monica. The restaurant is open from 6:30 AM to 2 PM every day.
Is Rae's Restaurant good for a special occasion?
Rae's Restaurant is best understood as a casual daytime option rather than an evening special-occasion pick. Details on awards, chef, price tier, or formal service format are not available.
What are alternatives to Rae's Restaurant?
If Rae's Restaurant's 6:30 AM–2 PM schedule does not fit your plans, compare it with other options such as Lunetta, Il Forno, Gilbert's El Indio, Vito Restaurant, or Lazy Daisy Cafe.
Is Rae's Restaurant good for solo dining?
Seating style or service format are not specified, so solo-dining suitability is not known. Rae's Restaurant is casual and open daily from 6:30 AM to 2 PM.
Is lunch or dinner better at Rae's Restaurant?
Dinner is not available: Rae's Restaurant is open from 6:30 AM to 2 PM every day. If you need an evening meal, compare other options such as Lunetta, Il Forno, or Vito Restaurant.
