Hermosa Beach Travel Guide

I made the cross country move from Connecticut to Hermosa Beach, CA nine years ago (wow, time flies). It didn’t take me long to fall in love with this little beach town. Hermosa has a small town feel, which I love since I’m from a small town on the east coast. It’s also very walkable. I try to walk with my dogs or ride my beach cruiser any time I’m heading down to the pier or the strand. 

Where is Hermosa Beach?

Hermosa Beach is in Los Angeles county, California. It is one of the cities that make up South Bay and borders with two more seaside cities, Manhattan Beach, immediately to its North, and Redondo, to the South. 

How to get to Hermosa Beach

Hermosa is immediately to the South of LA and is easy to get to from LAX. Pacific Coast Highway, the famous scenic coastal drive, passes across the city from LAX. Once in Hermosa, the city is easy to enjoy on foot!

Things to Do:

• THE STRAND-
  • Walk, run, bike, or skate on the strand. The section of the strand belonging to Hermosa Beach has a length of about 1.5 miles. 
  • If you don’t have your own bike, you can rent one at the Hermosa Beach Cyclery (located near Pier Plaza). They have cruisers, hybrids, tandems, trikes, skates, scooters, boogie boards, umbrellas, and beach chairs in stock.

• THE GREENBELT-
  • 3-mile long path extending from Hermosa Beach to Manhattan Beach. This shaded path is great to walk, run, or take a stroll with your furry friends.

• THE BEACH-
  • Go for a swim- the beach is more crowded as you get closer to the pier. Walk further away from the pier if you are in search of a more secluded spot.
  • Play volleyball- there are tons of spots to set up nets along the beach 

• REDONDO MARINA-
  • Paddle board or kayak at Paddle House in Redondo Beach

•  PIER AVENUE-
  • Extends from Pacific Coast Highway  to the strand
  • Has tons of restaurants, coffee shops, apparel stores, a wine tasting shop, hair salons, and more!
  • There are plenty of options for those interested in dining or shopping.
  • This street has a large pedestrian space  at the end near the strand and beach called Pier Plaza. This area is known for its bars and party atmosphere.
  • The Hermosa Beach Pier is also located at the end of Pier Ave. There are benches located along the pier. It’s a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning or grab an acai bowl with a friend. There are usually a lot of fisherman located at the end of the pier. I personally love running along the pier to change things up when I’m running on the strand. 

Where to Stay:

• Sea Sprite Hotel (The Strand)
• Hermosa Hotel (Pacific Coast Highway)
• Beach House (The Strand)
• Shade Hotel (Redondo Beach)

Coffee Shops

• The Source Cafe– one of my favorite spots!! Highly recommend trying their avocado toast.
• Lucky 7– this little cafe is newer to Hermosa Beach. One of my favorite spots- the staff is very friendly and welcoming, plus it’s dog friendly. 
• Gum Tree Cafe- the cutest Australian cafe. I love their salads and sandwiches! They also have a small store, which sells jewelry, home accessories, books, and cards.
• High Fi Coffee– another place that I highly recommend trying their avocado toast!
• Java Man– another favorite coffee spot in town. 
• Two Guns– multiple locations in the South Bay. It never disappoints!

Favorite Restaurants

• Bonaparte Bistro-  something for everyone – highly recommend trying their brussel sprouts and sangria
• Palmilla– Mexican restaurant, give their mezcal margaritas a try!!
• Vista- located right on the strand. The perfect place to grab a drink and some apps and watch the sunset. 
• Hook and Plow– Highly recommend trying their mimosa juice flight at brunch!
• Poulet de Jour- Mediterranean food. My favorite takeout spot in the South Bay
• Oakberry– located right next to the pier. The most amazing acai bowls with endless toppings!
• Paradise Bowls– Acai bowls. I highly recommend trying the chocolate arc bowl.
• Uncorked (wine tasting) – love stopping here for a little happy hour on the way to dinner.
• Sunlife Organics – this is actually located in Manhattan Beach but I had to include it because their acai bowls are SO good! Highly recommend trying the samurai bowl. 

Sandwich spots:

• Granny’s Deli
• The Green Store
• Mickey’s Deli
• Cultured Slice 

Breakfast:

• Brother’s Burritos
• Good Stuff
• Martha’s 22nd Street Grill
• Gum Tree Cafe
• The Source Cafe
• BOLT Hermosa Beach
• Slay Hermosa Beach
• Hook and Plow

Ice Cream:

• Baked Bear
• Paciugo (Gelato)
• Handels Homemade Ice Cream (Manhattan & Redondo Beach)
• Manhattan Beach Creamery (Manhattan Beach)

Fitness:

• SOHO YOGA– heated and non- heated yoga classes
• Body One Fitness (HB/ RB border)- group training that offers high intensity strength and cardio conditioning
• Bay Club (Redondo Beach and El Segundo)- indoor and outdoor classes, open gym, pool, sauna, day passes
• Afterburn Fitness (HB/ MB border) – group fitness classes, private training, open gym, smoothie bar.
• Coreology (Manhattan Beach)- Pilates 
• Hermosa Beach Strand (walk, bike, run)
• Greenbelt (walk or run)

Shopping:

• Gum Tree
• Curious
• Beach and Beverly
• Spyder
• Wicked
• Waverly Boutique (Manhattan Beach)
• Vuori (Manhattan Beach)

Hiking (nearby):

• Palos Verdes Hikes and Trails –
  • Terranea Resort Trails
  • Ocean Trails Reserve (Trump Golf Course)
  • Portuguese Bend Reserve

Tips:

• -Restaurants can get super busy, especially in the summer, so be sure to make reservations. OpenTable is great for online restaurant reservations. 
• -There are a lot of beach cities close to Hermosa Beach so I definitely recommend exploring those as well (Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach). 
• -Traffic and parking near the beach gets extremely packed during the summer so plan ahead. Either get there early to snag a spot and or Uber so you don’t have to stress about parking or end up paying a crazy amount.

Enjoy your trip to Hermosa Beach!!