Manhattan Beach Guide And Information

Contrary to what it sounds like, Manhattan Beach is not a beach located in New York.  Rather, it's in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County on the West Coast--in Southern California.  Manhattan Beach is full of expensive homes, wealthy residents, and fancy restaurants.. That's why some people call it Beverly Hills on the Sea.

Manhattan Beach has a scenic boardwalk that spans along the ocean.  Lining the walk are multimillion dollar homes, bike paths and volleyball courts.  At most times of the day, you'll see bicyclists, skaters and walkers enjoying this picturesque boardwalk.  But that's not all there is to do in Manhattan Beach.  You can also head over to the Manhattan Beach Pier, second in size only to the Santa Monica Pier--and quite scenic.  If you visit in July, you can go watch the Manhattan Beach Grand Prix.  This is the next-to-oldest Pro-Am cycle race in the United States, with a circuit running long Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Valley Rd.

If your trip to Manhattan Beach will include a Tuesday, you'll find that Metlox Shopping Center celebrates Farmer's Market Tuesdays every week, from 1 to 4 p.m.  But don't rely only on the farmer's markets for your shopping.  There are numerous boutiques and shops lining Manhattan Avenue, going all the way down to the pier.  These shops provide the best flavor that this upscale community has to offer.

Need something to eat?  Manhattan Beach has a number of fine restaurants.  You should know, though, that this community is especially known for its many breakfast eateries.  They have a reputation for doing breakfast better than anyone.  Four of the best breakfast restaurants include:

• Local Yolk, located at 3415 Highland Avenue in the El Porto area.  This an omelet-lovers paradise.

• The Kettle is a 24 hour breakfast diner full of local character.  You'll find it on the corner of Highland Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard.

• Oceanview Cafe is a quiet, out of the way place with a charmingly-relaxing atmosphere.  It's at 229 13th Street.

• Uncle Bill's Pancake House, as you would guess, specializes in truly memorable pancakes.  The restaurant has an ocean view that adds to Uncle Bill's charm.  It's located at 1305 Highland Avenue.

Of course, the food is not all about breakfast, and if you want a taste of fine-dining at Manhattan Beach, try Petros at 451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard.  Their upscale Greek food earned them the award for Best New Restaurant in the 2007 Zagat guide for Los Angeles.

Movie and TV fans might also be interested in knowing that Manhattan Beach is mere minutes from Hollywood.  In fact, probably because of that fact, there are studios right in Manhattan Beach.  For instance, Raleigh Studios at Manhattan Beach is the production center that has created previous TV shows such as "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal."  Numerous people new to the industry have moved to Manhattan Beach because of the area's growing studio industry.