The vibe

Long Beach is not LA. Say that to anyone from here and they'll nod hard. It's its own city, with its own city hall, its own rules and its own very specific chip on its shoulder, sitting at the bottom of the 710 where the port cranes meet the beach. If you're looking for things to do in Long Beach or a proper Long Beach munchies run, it's worth the trip down. It's laid back, a little gritty, a little salty, and way less precious than anywhere on the Westside.

The city stretches along the coast from the port and Downtown out east through Bluff Park, Belmont Shore and Naples, with the cool old neighborhoods of 4th Street and Bixby Knolls inland. Signal Hill pokes up in the middle like a weird island (it's technically its own city too, surrounded on all sides). Because Long Beach makes its own rules, check what applies here before you plan anything beyond a normal day out.

Getting here is easy without a car. The Metro A Line (the old Blue Line) runs all the way from Downtown LA to Downtown Long Beach. Sesh at home, ride down, and spend the day on foot, on a rented bike or along the waterfront paths.

Long Beach munchies

Hole Mole is the local taco institution, a no-frills counter built for quick, satisfying eating. Grab a stack and you're set.

The real Long Beach munchies story, though, is central Long Beach, where Cambodian families built one of the biggest Cambodian communities outside Cambodia. Along a stretch of Anaheim Street you'll find noodle shops serving rich pork-broth noodle soups, rice plates with grilled meats, and bakeries doing fresh baguette sandwiches. Walk in, point, eat. Hot take: those noodle shops beat most of the ramen in LA for a lifted lunch.

Elsewhere, you've got taco trucks along the bigger avenues, old-school burger stands, a donut shop on what feels like every corner, and seafood joints near the water. Belmont Shore's 2nd Street is lined with casual spots, and Downtown and the Pine Avenue area have plenty more. Check hours before heading out, and see the LA munchies guide and the late-night LA guide.

Things to do baked in Long Beach

Retro Row on 4th Street is a stretch of vintage shops, used record bins, thrift stores and little cafés. Lose an afternoon flipping through old jackets and band shirts. It's the most Long Beach street in Long Beach.

Belmont Shore along 2nd Street is the beach-town main drag, a long walk of shops and food. Right next door, the Naples canals wind around tiny islands lined with old houses, boats and bridges. Walk the canals at dusk with your eyes on the water, and you'll feel like you snuck into somebody's Italian daydream.

The Aquarium of the Pacific in Downtown is genuinely great, with jellyfish rooms that seem made for a slow, toasted stare. Across the harbor, the Queen Mary sits docked for good, a historic ocean liner turned landmark. Wander the decks and the old art deco rooms; whether you believe the ghost stories is up to you.

More ideas across the region in things to do high in LA.

Movie and music spots

The Art Theatre of Long Beach on 4th Street is the neighborhood movie house, a restored old single-screen right in the middle of Retro Row. Indie films, classics, special screenings. Pair it with a vintage-shopping afternoon and dinner nearby, and that's a perfect day. See the movie theaters for stoners guide for the rest of the region.

For music, Long Beach has a deep local scene (the city gave the world a few legends of ska, punk and hip-hop), and small bars and clubs Downtown and along 4th host bands and DJ nights. Walk around and follow the sound.

Sunset and chill spots

Bluff Park is the move. A long strip of grass along the top of the bluff above the beach, benches facing the ocean, the Queen Mary and the port cranes off to the west. Sunset here is gorgeous and nowhere near as crowded as Santa Monica. Bring a blanket.

Signal Hill gives you the big view: the whole city, the port, the ocean, Catalina on a clear day, and the basin glittering at night. The little park up top is perfect for watching the lights come on. Get a ride up.

The Naples canals at dusk, when the water goes still and the lights on the boats come on.

Keep the sesh at home and the chill in the open air; see the where to sesh guide and chill outdoor spots in LA.

The good and the annoying

The good: It's relaxed. Nobody's trying to be seen, and the people are friendly in that beach-town way. The A Line drops you right Downtown. The food is honest and real, especially the Cambodian noodle shops. Retro Row and the Art Theatre are great together, Bluff Park sunsets are underrated, and you can walk or bike along the water for miles.

The annoying: The 710 is a parking lot of big rigs headed to and from the port, and it's no fun to drive. The A Line ride down is long, so bring a podcast. Parts of the beach face the port breakwater, so the waves are basically a bathtub (great for paddling, sad for surfers). Parking in Belmont Shore on a weekend is a sport. And everyone in Long Beach will tell you, firmly, that it's not part of LA.

Next door

Downtown and the Arts District: straight up the A Line, for Grand Central Market and the Broad.
Culver City: up the 405, for old-school burgers and the strangest museum in town.

See all LA neighborhood guides or the LA by season guide.