Just 25 minutes south from the LAX airport, Redondo Beach offers a low key alternative to Los Angeles. With great seafood restaurants, plenty of water sports, and several cute boutique hotels to choose from, this small beach town is a solid option for a quick west coast trip or an add-on after a conference in the LA area.

Places to stay

The Portofino Hotel and Marina offers a charming waterfront stay with water views from almost every room (the marina on one side, the ocean on the other). Each room has a balcony, the beach and pier are a short walk away, and the pool area is quiet and relaxing. Rooms are large and well-appointed, though the patios and bathrooms need cosmetic updates. If you don’t need ultra luxury and appreciate a boutique waterfront experience, the Portofino is definitely worth considering.

Other nearby accommodations include the Shade hotel Redondo Beach and the Sonesta Redondo Beach.

Where to eat

Eat lunch on the patio at Salt and Pearl, an outstanding seafood restaurant with impeccable service. The raw bar is unique, in that you can customize with individual items or share a platter, and elevated in flavor (such as the fresh herbs that accompany the shrimp cocktail).

Calvisius Prestige White Sturgeon Caviar

Have dinner at RYLA. Two of us shared the ribs, hamachi, and caesar salad and each dish was delightful.

Korean Style Spare Ribs and Japanese Yellowtail Hiramasa Sashimi at RYLA

Have a cocktail at Baleen Kitchen, the restaurant at the Portofino Hotel, which has an inviting dining room, patio, and bar.

There are many other restaurants in Redondo and Hermosa Beach and marina. Here are a few that friends spoke highly of that we’ll try next time:

Bluewater Grill: Fresh, seasonal seafood on the marina waterfront
Sea Level (in the Shade Hotel): Upscale waterfront dining
Huddy’s: Local-focused with extensive brunch options, great happy hour specials, and $1 and $2 tacos on Tuesdays.
Din Tai Fung (în nearby Torrance) - world renowned xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)

Things to do

Swim, surf, or tan on Redondo Beach, which has wide stretches of white sand, a biking and walking path, and the cleanest most well maintained and prevalent public restrooms you’ve ever seen.