1212

This blog is called “The Santa Monica Restaurant Connoisseur” and it would not be complete without reviewing 1212 Santa Monica, which, in my opinion, encapsulates what Santa Monica is all about. From brunch, happy hour to nightlife, 1212 excels in every aspect of what it has to offer as the establishment functions with one of the most efficient business models out there.

Located right on Third Street Promenade, 1212 is geographically at the heart of downtown Santa Monica. The restaurant stands out at the end of this busy area as it is the most prominent eatery on the street. 1212 offers both indoor and outdoor seating with a live DJ booth separating the two areas. The main dining room has two floors and an open bar with wooden interiors and chandeliers hanging from the tall ceiling. 1212’s outdoor patio, my personal favorite, is perfect for people-watching during the day as tables are laid among trees on the street and sidewalk, next to an enormous fountain at the end of Third Street. At night, string lights are lit up on the trees, transforming the outdoor area into a romantic getaway. 1212 opens for service from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday.

The best thing about 1212 is its all-night happy hour on weekdays. Happy hour here basically starts from opening to closing time Sunday to Thursday. The menu is to die for with a wide variety of cocktails and wines for $8, including spicy margarita with black salt rim (my personal favorite), firecracker, el pepino, sangria, as well as white, red, rose wine. Happy hour here also offers small plates such as parmesan fries, mushroom arancini for $6; popcorn shrimp, stuffed peppers, cheeseburger sliders for $9; flatbread, charcuterie, hummus bowl, tacos for $14. I have tried most of the cocktails here and loved them all. The popcorn shrimp and hummus bowl are very delicious. In addition, 1212 does offer a regular dinner menu alongside happy hour all night.

Besides happy hour, 1212 does phenomenal brunch and is one of the very few restaurants in LA that carries brunch on Friday. Brunch here runs from 11 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Bottomless mimosa is offered with a range of cocktails and a diverse food menu. I have been at 1212 for brunch a few times with friends and we loved their crostini with different choices of toppings such as prosciutto, sun-dried tomato, tuna tartare and more. The avocado toast, carbonara pasta and eggs benedict are some highlights on the menu. Having brunch here is personally my ideal way to spend a weekend day as I lounge away under the sun with friends, sipping on cocktails with the ocean breeze lingering in the air.

Rounding up this blog with a review on 1212 is the only way it should be done because 1212 was really one of the main reasons why I fell deeply in love with this vibrant area. This page could not have existed without my weekly visits to 1212 Santa Monica with friends as we talked for hours over spicy margaritas. With this post, I can finally say The Santa Monica Restaurant Connoisseur is now complete.