Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
Santa Monica Mid-City Neighbors, Santa Monica
Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Book Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe when flexibility matters more than a formal meal. It is most useful for seafood-focused takeout, casual cafe eating, or a plan that may shift from dine-in to home. Choose Citrin, Mélisse, or Rustic Canyon instead when the night needs a more polished, reservation-driven experience.
About Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is a Santa Monica venue with a casual dress code and daily hours from 9 AM to 8 PM.
Use it when the basics fit your plan
The clearest planning advantage is the schedule: Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is open every day from 9 AM to 8 PM. That makes it a direct option to consider when you want a Santa Monica stop during those hours and prefer a casual dress code.
How it compares with other Santa Monica choices
Compared with Rustic Canyon, Citrin, and Mélisse, Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is in Santa Monica, has a casual dress code, and is open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM. Those comparisons are most useful when you are deciding which venue to research further for the kind of outing you want.
Compared with Huckleberry Café & Bakery or Belcampo- Santa Monica, the decision should come down to what kind of Santa Monica outing you want and the current details from each venue for the day you plan to visit. For a wider look at nearby choices, use the Santa Monica restaurants guide.
Planning details
- Hours
- Monday: 9 AM–8 PM · Tuesday: 9 AM–8 PM
- Location
- 1000 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
- Reservations
- Book on Resy
- Website
- smseafoodmarket.com/home
- Phone
- +1 310 393 5244
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe reads like a working fish hall transplanted into Santa Monica: a retail counter and glass cases of Pacific catch sit up front, the smell of brine and ice greeting you before a menu does. The place trades the polish of tasting-menu restaurants and chain-level casuals for a more direct, pragmatic experience. It feels unpretentious and purpose-built, less about staging and more about provenance, which makes it appealing to diners who prize freshness and straightforward seafood without theatrical frills.
Best For
This market-plus-cafe is best for diners who want immediate access to fresh seafood without a formal dining ritual. The format suits quick lunches, relaxed dinners, and anyone who values traceable supply chains: the fish in the glass case and on your plate share the same source. It’s a practical choice for individuals and small parties looking for unfussy, honest seafood rather than a multi-course, plated tasting-menu evening.
Ordering Tips
Start by browsing the glass cases: fish are sold by the pound and the cafe sources from that same inventory, so what you see is what you’ll get on your plate. Signature options to consider from the cafe menu include the cioppino, a lobster roll, and Chilean sea bass: heavier, shareable items like cioppino lean toward dinner, while a lobster roll works well for lunch. If you want to cook at home, the retail counter lets you buy the same fresh fillets on display.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual market-café atmosphere with a focus on fresh seafood display and simple dine-in seating.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Traditional
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Dietary
- Pescatarian friendly
Signature Dishes
- Cioppino
- Lobster Roll
- Chilean Seabass
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1000 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Planning details
Hours
- Monday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Tuesday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Wednesday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Thursday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Friday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Saturday
- 9 AM–8 PM
- Sunday
- 9 AM–8 PM
Location
1000 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this is not the right fit
If the group wants a more complete sit-down dinner, cross-shop Rustic Canyon. If the night calls for a higher-end occasion, compare availability at Citrin or Mélisse.
Restaurant context
How it compares in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is the flexible seafood play: better for casual meals and take-home plans than for a dressed-up dinner. Rustic Canyon is the stronger choice when you want a fuller New American restaurant experience at a $$$ level, while Citrin and Mélisse sit in the $$$$ special-occasion lane.
If the decision is value and ease, this venue is easier to rationalize than a high-price tasting-menu night. If the decision is ambiance, service pacing, and a more composed room, Citrin or Mélisse make more sense. Huckleberry Café & Bakery is the better cafe comparison for breakfast, lunch, or bakery-driven comfort; Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is the better fit when seafood is the point.
Belcampo- Santa Monica is the cross-shop when the group wants a protein-focused casual meal but is not set on seafood. Pick Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe for off-premise flexibility, Rustic Canyon for a more complete neighborhood dinner, and Citrin or Mélisse when the occasion justifies a higher spend.
Explore Santa Monica
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe | Santa Monica | No published awards | ||
| Huckleberry Café & Bakery | Los Angeles | Café | No published awards | |
| Belcampo- Santa Monica | Santa Monica | No published awards | ||
| Citrin | Los Angeles | Californian | $$$$ | 2026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended2026 Michelin 1 Star2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #2242025 Michelin 1 Star2024 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #3092024 Michelin 1 Star |
| Mélisse | Los Angeles | French, Modern French | $$$$ | 2026 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #222026 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #1302026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2026 Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence2026 Michelin 2 Stars2026 Les Grandes Tables du Monde Members2026 La Liste Top Restaurants2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #232025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #95 |
| Rustic Canyon | Los Angeles | New American, Californian | $$$ | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #562026 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #67Star Wine Lists 20262026 Michelin Plate2025 LA Times 101 Best Restaurants · #482025 Robb Report 100 Greatest American Restaurants of the 21st Century · #952025 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #156We're Smart World Top Restaurants 20252025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence |
.png?width=1200&quality=80)
How Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe accommodate groups?
The dress code is casual and hours are 9 AM–8 PM daily, but larger parties should confirm arrangements directly. Rustic Canyon and Mélisse are other Santa Monica options to compare.
What are alternatives to Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe in Santa Monica?
Other Santa Monica options to compare include Huckleberry Café & Bakery, Belcampo- Santa Monica, Citrin, Mélisse, and Rustic Canyon.
Is Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe good for a special occasion?
Santa Monica Seafood Market & Cafe is casual and open daily from 9 AM to 8 PM. If you need a celebratory meal, compare options such as Citrin, Mélisse, or Rustic Canyon.
