Our favorite Santa Monica outdoor dining spot located a block from the beach is ready to delight guests with an exciting new summer cocktail menu but we all know summer in LaLaLand extends through November so carry on with your drink order at the longstanding Victorian.

A lengthy list of options with fun garnishes, refreshing flavors, and clever names makes imbibing here fun. Co-owner and nightlife extraordinaire, Adir Tal, designed these cocktails to be photo-opp ready and pair perfectly with their new all-day food menu. 

Lounge on a patio couch, dance to live DJs and sip on refreshing Miss Gindependent, made with Hendricks and honey lemonade or the Tequila Mockingbird, a cucumber-mint margarita. 

We loved the Spicy Betch with 400 Conejos Mezcal, strawberry, cucumber, and lime, and know you will want to start every meal with a Vanilla Espresso Martini with Herradura Ultra, cold brew and espresso liqueur. An Elit Dirty martini with goat cheese olives sounds incredibly appealing along with the Hometown 10 made with Stoli Vanilla, lemon, orgeat, and strawberry. Even one cocktail arrives with an upside-down popsicle that melts into the drink.

Pair your fun concoction with a whole new menu thanks to the new chef’s well-prepared dishes. Crowd-pleasing Shareables include Charcuterie (with truffle Pecorino and Humboldt Fog Blue), flavor-bursting Brussels Sprouts with goat cheese, lardons, and pumpkin seeds, Italian Chopped Salad, Garlic Fritters with spicy tomato and pesto, and Pork Belly Bao Buns with grilled pineapple and slaw. 

You won’t want to share your main dish with stars of the show including Bolognese Cavatelli and perfectly cooked Chimichurri skirt steak with crisp wedge-like fries. 

Originally built near the Hotel Miramar in 1892 in Downtown LA as the residence of one of the neighborhood’s founding families, this two-story building old Victorian moved to its current location in 1973. Established in 2010, over the years we have danced late night in the basement, attended a funeral upstairs, listened to live music on the terrace, brunched post-beach sessions, and lingered over many dinners outside on their patio.

Newly remodeled and decorated in Boho mid-century chic furniture and decor, the entire place shines with a clean white paint overhaul inside and out. The Victorian continues to evolve but as always as the westside hotspot. 

Come for the relaxed outdoor weekend brunch setting too where it’s easy here to fall in love with Santa Monica living. Brunch on weekends from 2 – 4 PM offers hearty staples like a Breakfast Burrito, a Smashburger, and Pigs in a Blanket, but also unique options like Mango Shrimp Ceviche and Breakfast Pizza. 

In 2022 we wrote about The Victorian in Lonely Planet. For up-to-date information, follow The Victorian on Instagram.