The Buffalo Club
Pico Neighborhood Association, Santa Monica
Restaurant in Santa Monica, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
The Buffalo Club is the Santa Monica choice for a planned seated dinner, not the safest bet for takeout or a quick daytime stop. Cross-shop Tartine Santa Monica for bakery-led casual eating, Pono Burger for a lower-commitment meal, and Santa Monica Brew Works when the group wants an easier, more casual room.
About The Buffalo Club
The Buffalo Club is in Santa Monica, keeps evening hours Tuesday through Saturday, is closed Monday and Sunday, and lists a smart casual dress code. That makes it best approached as a planned dinner in Santa Monica rather than as a daytime option. If you are comparing it with other named choices, keep the decision grounded in timing and occasion.
A better fit for a planned dinner than a daytime stop
The practical verdict is simple: plan around dinner hours. The posted schedule is Tuesday through Thursday from 6–9 PM and Friday through Saturday from 6–10 PM, with Monday and Sunday closed. With no lunch hours listed, it should not be treated as a lunch plan. For a different option, Tartine Santa Monica is another name to compare, while Pono Burger may be part of the same short list depending on the occasion.
Clearest reason to choose The Buffalo Club is when the evening schedule and smart casual dress code match the night you are planning. If the group wants something with a different feel, Santa Monica Brew Works is another option to consider.
Who should choose it over other options
Choose The Buffalo Club if the priority is a planned evening in Santa Monica and the group is comfortable with smart casual dress. Skip it for lunch, because lunch hours are not listed. Chomp Eatery & Juice Station and SOCALO are other named options to compare when you are still deciding what best fits the group.
For planning, use The Buffalo Club as an evening anchor rather than a flexible all-day option. Pair it with the broader local search only if the group is still undecided: Our full Santa Monica restaurants guide is the better next step for comparing more formats, while Our full Santa Monica bars guide helps if the night may move beyond dinner. Quick reference: choose this when the posted evening hours and smart casual dress code fit the plan; compare the other named options if the timing or occasion points elsewhere.
Planning details
- Location
- 1520 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
- Reservations
- Book on OpenTable
- Website
- thebuffaloclub.com
- Phone
- +13104508600
The take
The Take
The Vibe
The Buffalo Club reads as a deliberately restrained, upper-tier dining room that prizes understatement over flash. The copy emphasizes a purposeful quietness — a place that "does not announce itself" — and positions the club away from Santa Monica's tourist-facing strips, speaking to a local, serious clientele. The room presents a sophisticated, composed energy rather than upbeat or trendy theatrics; it feels like a spot where the meal and the occasion, not spectacle, are the point. Expect a polished, low-key environment that privileges privacy and classic occasion dining.
Best For
This is a place for milestone moments and measured celebrations. The Buffalo Club is repeatedly framed as an "occasion" restaurant built for locals with specific expectations: anniversary dinners, celebratory business meals and deliberate date nights fit naturally here. Its location off the beach and description as part of Santa Monica's upper tier signal that guests come with intent rather than as passersby. If you need a quiet, refined room for an important dinner—where the evening is about food and company more than spectacle—this is a sensible pick.
Ordering Tips
Stick to the signatures when you want an accurate sense of the room: oyster shooters make for a classic, bracing start; the Dover sole is the natural choice for a refined fish course; the prime rib is the go-to for a traditional, celebratory main; and the chicken pot pie is a comforting option that signals the kitchen’s take on classic American fare. Given the club’s occasion-oriented profile, plan to order courses to share and allow time for a relaxed, multi-course dinner.
Venue details
Ambiance
Dark wood paneling, burgundy leather booths and banquettes, antique mirrors, mahogany accents, and soft lighting create a classic 1920s supper club atmosphere; the garden courtyard features Chinese silk lanterns and intimate garden lighting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Leisurely
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Prime Rib
- Dover Sole
- Oyster Shooters
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1520 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Planning details
Location
1520 Olympic Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- Santa Monica Brew Works, Notable alternative
- Chomp Eatery & Juice Station, Notable alternative
- SOCALO, Notable alternative
- Tartine Santa Monica, Bakery, Bakery
- Pono Burger, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How it compares in Santa Monica
Choose The Buffalo Club when the occasion calls for a more deliberate dinner setting. Santa Monica Brew Works is the better fit for casual groups that care more about ease than polish, while Pono Burger is the smarter call for a lower-commitment meal.
For daytime or off-premise eating, Tartine Santa Monica has the clearer bakery use case, and Chomp Eatery & Juice Station is more practical for lighter casual food. SOCALO is the cross-shop for a Santa Monica meal that feels more everyday and flexible.
Value depends on what the group needs from the night. If ambiance and a sit-down pace are the point, The Buffalo Club is the stronger choice; if speed, daytime access, or casual ordering matter more, the peers above are easier fits.
Explore Santa Monica
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full The Buffalo Club guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare The Buffalo Club
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Buffalo Club | Santa Monica | , | No published awards |
| Santa Monica Brew Works | Santa Monica | , | No published awards |
| Chomp Eatery & Juice Station | Santa Monica | , | No published awards |
| SOCALO | Santa Monica | , | No published awards |
| Tartine Santa Monica | Los Angeles | Bakery | 2026 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Recommended2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #3472024 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #389 |
| Pono Burger | Santa Monica | , | No published awards |
How The Buffalo Club Santa Monica: Dinner Planning Guide compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What are alternatives to compare with The Buffalo Club?
Santa Monica Brew Works, Chomp Eatery & Juice Station, Tartine Santa Monica, Pono Burger, and SOCALO are other named options to compare. Choose based on the timing and occasion, since The Buffalo Club's hours are evening only.
What should a first-timer know about The Buffalo Club?
Plan for dinner hours: the posted schedule is Tue–Thu 6–9 PM and Fri–Sat 6–10 PM, with Monday and Sunday closed. The dress code is smart casual, so this works best as a planned evening in Santa Monica.
What should I order at The Buffalo Club?
Ask the restaurant for current recommendations when you arrive or book. Keep the plan centered on dinner, because the schedule is focused on evening service.
Is The Buffalo Club good for a special occasion?
It can be a fit if the occasion calls for a planned dinner in Santa Monica and smart casual dress works for the group. The schedule is Tuesday through Saturday evenings only.
Can I eat at the bar at The Buffalo Club?
Is lunch or dinner better at The Buffalo Club?
Dinner is the better planning choice, since the schedule only shows evening service on Tuesday through Saturday. Lunch is not shown in the posted hours, so plan for dinner in Santa Monica.
