Capo Los Angeles

Capo sits on Ocean Avenue, just steps from the sand at Santa Monica State Beach. This Italian and Mediterranean restaurant holds a 2024 Wine Spectator Grand Award, a distinction that centers the cellar and the formal approach to service.

The wine program justifies a visit, but the room itself provides the main reason to choose it. While nearby spots lean into the breezy energy of the coast, Capo keeps the room smart and elegant. You sacrifice the frenetic atmosphere found a fifteen-minute walk away at the Santa Monica Pier for a quieter experience that prefers a tablecloth to a boardwalk snack. The room acts as the antithesis of the typical beachside crowd, proving that the most memorable dinners in Santa Monica happen when you turn your back on the surf.