evening dinner - times?

Question

Hi I have travelled to the US a few times and noticed that some places dinner is eaten much earlier than we tend to in Europe . We are in Santa Monica for a couple of nights and could arrive mid evening - are restaurants still serving at 9.00pm ?

Answer

In Santa Monica, the typical dinner hours are generally earlier than many European countries, but there is still a good number of restaurants that serve dinner later into the evening. Most standard American restaurants serve dinner from around 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., with some staying open until 10:00 or 11:00 p.m., especially in busy tourist areas or near the beach.

If you’re arriving around 9:00 p.m., you will have options, but it’s best to target restaurants known for later hours or those in high-traffic areas such as the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, or along Ocean Avenue. Many upscale or casual dining spots, as well as hotel restaurants, stay open later, particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.

Hotel restaurants: Often open until 10:00–11:00 p.m., convenient if you are arriving late.
Casual dining & chain restaurants: Many serve until 10:00 p.m., some until 11:00 p.m.
Bars with food: Some gastropubs or bars in Santa Monica serve full dinner menus until 11:00 p.m. or later.

It’s worth calling ahead or checking online for reservations or closing times, as some smaller or more local restaurants may close right at 9:00 p.m. Weekends tend to have later service compared to weekdays.

Consider looking at restaurants near the pier or along Main Street/Third Street Promenade for options that stay open later.
Some Mexican, Italian, and Asian restaurants in Santa Monica also have extended hours and are very accommodating to late diners.
If in doubt, hotel concierges or local apps like OpenTable or Yelp can provide current hours for late-night dining.

In summary, while dinner often starts earlier than in Europe, you can still find places serving dinner at 9:00 p.m. or later, especially in Santa Monica’s more tourist-oriented areas.

evening dinner - times?

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