Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Manhattan Beach is a small coastal city in the South Bay of Los Angeles County, just south of LAX between El Segundo and Hermosa Beach. In the early 1900s it was a sleepy stretch of sand dunes, and developer Stewart Merrill is said to have named it after his hometown of Manhattan, New York. The city incorporated in 1912, and its landmark pier, completed in 1920 with a round building at the end, soon became the center of beach life.
Today Manhattan Beach is a city of around 35,000 people with a relaxed, upscale beach-town feel. Homes climb the hillside streets toward the sea, and The Strand, a beachfront walkway lined with striking houses, runs the length of the shore beside a bike path. The downtown blocks around Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard are filled with cafes, surf shops and restaurants just steps from the sand.
The beach is the star. Volleyball nets line the sand, and the Manhattan Beach Open, held here since 1960, is one of the oldest and most prestigious beach volleyball tournaments in the world. Surfers head to El Porto at the north end of town, families explore the small Roundhouse Aquarium at the end of the pier, and evenings bring spectacular sunsets over the Pacific. Inland, Sand Dune Park lets visitors climb a giant natural dune, and Polliwog Park offers ponds and shady lawns.
The Manhattan Beach Pier stretches about 900 feet into the Pacific from the foot of Manhattan Beach Boulevard, ending at an octagonal roundhouse with a small aquarium. Surfers ride waves on both sides. It is a classic spot for sunset walks, and metered parking lots near the pier fill quickly on weekends.
The Roundhouse Aquarium sits in the octagonal building at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier, run by an educational nonprofit. It has small tanks of local sea life, touch pools with sea stars and urchins, and friendly volunteers. Entry is by small donation, and it makes a short stop on a pier walk.
The Strand in Manhattan Beach is a paved beachfront path with a walk street on one side and a bike path along the sand, lined by beach homes. It links north to El Segundo and south to Hermosa and Redondo beaches. Rent a bike or walk it in the morning, and keep pedestrians and bikes on their own paths.
El Porto is the northern section of Manhattan Beach, known for some of the most consistent surf in the South Bay and a laid-back crowd of local surfers. Wide sand and volleyball courts make it good for a beach day. Paid parking is in the county lot on Highland Avenue, which fills early on good surf days.
Downtown Manhattan Beach is a compact, walkable area of boutiques, surf shops, cafes, bars and restaurants on Manhattan Beach Boulevard and side streets leading down to the pier. It has a relaxed upscale beach vibe. Parking is tight, so use the public structures and walk to the pier and beach.
Manhattan Village is an open-air shopping center on Sepulveda Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, with department stores, fashion and home shops, a grocery store and many restaurants. It is the city's main shopping destination away from the beach. Parking is free, and the center gets busy on weekend afternoons.
Sand Dune Park is a hillside city park whose huge natural sand dune draws locals for tough workouts climbing up and down. It also has a playground and picnic areas. Access to the dune requires an advance reservation through the city, so book a time slot online before you go and bring water.
Polliwog Park is a large green city park in Manhattan Beach with a pond full of ducks, shady lawns, playgrounds and picnic areas. It hosts free summer concerts in the park on Sunday evenings. Bring a blanket and picnic for the concerts, and arrive early to claim a good spot on the grass.
Veterans Parkway, also called the Greenbelt, is a tree-lined strip of green space running through Manhattan Beach on a former railroad right of way. Its soft wood-chip path is popular with walkers and runners. It is shady and quiet, making it a nice alternative to the busy beach path on hot days.
The Manhattan Beach Historical Museum, run by the local historical society in a small historic beach cottage known as the Red House in Polliwog Park, shows photos and artifacts about the city's early days as a beach town. Admission is free, and opening hours are limited to a few afternoons each week.
Bruce's Beach is a grassy oceanview park marking the site of a beach resort run by Willa and Charles Bruce, a Black couple whose land was taken by the city in the 1920s. In 2022 the land was returned to their descendants. Plaques tell the story, and the park offers wide views of the ocean.
The Manhattan Beach Open is one of the oldest and most famous beach volleyball tournaments in the world, held each summer on the sand beside the pier since 1960. Winners get their names on plaques on the pier. Watching is often free, so bring sunscreen, a hat and water, and arrive early for good seats.
No reviews yet. Been to Manhattan Beach? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Manhattan Beach? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Lars0001, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: Don Ramey Logan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Sharon Mollerus, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Flyingsmitty, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: FASTILY, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Markbaertschi, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Redideo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jake Rome, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: jakers3200, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pablo Merchán Montes pablomerchanm, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: FASTILY, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Robson Hatsukami Morgan robsonhmorgan, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Pedro Szekely from Los Angeles, USA, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Andrew Hecker, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jengod, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: ChildofMidnight at English Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: MF Solutions, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: MF Solutions, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: MF Solutions, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0