Timeline
16:07
Pick up a coffee and a pastry. Espresso Cielo opens early, so you can grab your fuel before the crowds arrive.
16:37
Walk to Will Rogers State Beach. The 10-minute stroll from the coffee shop puts you at the sand just as the golden light begins to deepen. Find a spot on the dunes facing west.
17:07
Watch the sun set toward the WSW. The sky turns orange and purple over the Pacific Ocean. This is the peak moment.
17:52
Head to Tallula’s for dinner. It is a short 10-minute walk from the beach. The kitchen is open until 22:00 on weekdays, so you have plenty of time to enjoy a Mexican meal as the night settles in.
Local tip
The walk from the coffee shop to the beach is flat and easy. If you want to stretch your legs, take the long way along the coast path, but ensure you are back on the sand by golden hour.
Check before you go
- Espresso Cielo closes at 17:00, so arrive before 16:30 to be safe.
- Tallula’s is open Mo-Th 16:00-22:00 and Fr-Su 16:00-21:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Santa Monica (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).