There is a stretch of the Southern California coast where Santa Monica and Venice seem to flow naturally into one another.
Surfers move between neighborhoods. Cyclists follow the coastline. Dog walkers fill the sidewalks. Locals grab coffee before work, while visitors start making their way toward the beach.
And right in the middle of that morning rhythm is Dogtown.
Located at Main and Bay in Santa Monica, Dogtown Coffee is an easy starting point whether you are heading north into Santa Monica, south toward Venice or simply walking toward the Pacific.
This time of year also brings a seasonal reason to stop in: pumpkin lattes are back for fall.
That means you can enjoy one of autumn’s favorite coffee flavors and still be only a few blocks away from the beach.
Southern California fall has its advantages.
Start With Breakfast Before the Coast Gets Busy
There is something satisfying about starting a beach-city morning before the day really gets moving.
Grab breakfast.
Order coffee.
Sit for a little while.
Then decide where you want to go.
For anyone who enjoys making breakfast part of the morning rather than something to rush through, HelloFreshly has previously looked at choosing the right cafe for breakfast in Santa Monica.
Dogtown Coffee fits that idea particularly well because breakfast, coffee, Main Street and the beach can all become part of the same outing.
You do not have to drive somewhere else after eating.
Finish your coffee, step outside and start walking.
Breakfast Burritos Built for a Santa Monica Morning
If you are heading toward the beach, spending time in Venice or planning a long morning outdoors, sometimes you want something substantial.
That is where Dogtown’s breakfast burritos come in.
The Munchies Burrito combines organic eggs, white cheddar, tater tots, avocado, pico de gallo and Dogtown’s chipotle sauce, with protein options available.
The Classic Burrito keeps things a little simpler with organic eggs, white cheddar, avocado and pico de gallo.
There are also options that take breakfast in different directions, including the Vegan Munchies, Steak, Egg & Tater, Ranchero, Chorizo and Goaty Spinach burritos.
A breakfast burrito and coffee may be one of the simplest combinations on the menu, but it also happens to make a lot of sense in a beach neighborhood.
Eat.
Caffeinate.
Head outside.
Looking for Something Lighter?
Not every morning calls for a big burrito.
Dogtown also offers options for people who want something lighter before walking, biking or spending time near the water.
An açaí bowl gives you fruit, granola and other toppings in a refreshing breakfast.
Organic oatmeal provides another classic morning choice.
Avocado toast is always an easy fit for a Southern California breakfast.
If avocado is already part of your regular routine, HelloFreshly’s article on why avocados are the real deal takes a closer look at one of California’s favorite foods.
HelloFreshly has also explored some interesting facts about oatmeal, making it another good option for anyone who prefers a familiar breakfast before starting the day.
Fall Means Pumpkin Lattes—even by the Beach
Fall in Santa Monica does not necessarily involve heavy coats and freezing mornings.
You may still be wearing shorts.
You may still be heading straight to the beach.
You may even order your seasonal drink iced.
But that does not mean you have to miss out on fall coffee.
Dogtown Coffee’s pumpkin latte gives the season a Southern California twist.
Have it hot when the morning is cooler.
Order it iced when the sun has other plans.
Pair it with a breakfast burrito for something hearty, avocado toast for a lighter morning or one of the café’s bowls when you want breakfast that still feels fresh.
There is something uniquely Santa Monica about drinking a pumpkin latte while planning a walk toward the Pacific.
Coffee for Every Kind of Morning
Of course, pumpkin is only one option.
Dogtown Coffee has a broad drink menu for people whose coffee preferences change depending on the day.
There is Organic House Brew for traditional coffee drinkers.
Espresso.
Americanos.
Lattes.
Cappuccinos.
Flat whites.
Twenty-four-hour cold brew.
Nitro Cold Brew.
And then there are more distinctive choices, including the Salty Dog, made with cold brew, caramel and sea salt foam.
If you want to understand the options before deciding what to order, Dogtown has put together a complete guide to espresso, lattes, cold brew and more.
That variety makes Dogtown a useful meeting place when one person wants a hot latte, another wants cold brew and somebody else has been thinking about pumpkin coffee since September.
Heading North? Explore Santa Monica
After breakfast, heading north gives you plenty of ways to continue the morning.
Walk Main Street.
Browse the neighborhood businesses.
Head toward the water.
Continue farther into Santa Monica.
Or keep things simple and spend some time near the beach.
One of the advantages of starting early is that you do not need to pack every Santa Monica attraction into the same morning.
Sometimes breakfast, coffee and a long walk are enough.
Dogtown Coffee’s local guide to Main Street Santa Monica offers more ideas if you want to explore the immediate neighborhood.
Heading South? Venice Is Just Down the Coast
Go south and the personality begins shifting toward Venice.
That makes Dogtown Coffee particularly interesting because the story of Dogtown itself is closely tied to both communities.
The surf and skate culture that emerged from the area did not care much about modern neighborhood boundaries.
It grew from the coastal communities around Santa Monica and Venice.
The young surfers and skateboarders associated with Dogtown took inspiration from the waves and translated that style onto concrete.
That culture eventually helped influence modern skateboarding around the world.
And Dogtown Coffee occupies a historic location connected directly to that story.
Where Coffee Meets Skateboarding History
Before it became Dogtown Coffee, the location at Main and Bay was associated with Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions.
That name means something to anyone familiar with skateboarding history.
The Zephyr team—the legendary Z-Boys—included names that would become synonymous with modern skate culture.
Tony Alva.
Jay Adams.
Stacy Peralta.
Peggy Oki.
And others who helped take skateboarding in an entirely new direction.
Today, the building serves coffee and breakfast instead of surfboards.
But the history is still part of the experience.
Historic imagery, memorabilia and the character of the space remind visitors that this is not just another café created to look vintage.
The story actually happened here.
Coffee Shops Are Part of a Neighborhood’s Personality
Every neighborhood has places that become part of its daily rhythm.
The local coffee shop is often one of them.
People stop in before work.
Friends meet for breakfast.
Surfers grab something before heading toward the water.
Visitors discover the neighborhood for the first time.
Regulars already know what they are ordering before they walk through the door.
That is why finding a good coffee shop in Santa Monica can tell you something about the neighborhood around it.
Dogtown’s mixture of coffee, food, surf history, skate culture, dogs, bikes and beach life reflects this particular corner of Santa Monica remarkably well.
Breakfast Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
There are plenty of arguments about what makes the ideal breakfast.
Some people want something light.
Others want enough food to keep them going until lunch.
Some want coffee and nothing else for the first half hour.
The important part may simply be making enough time to enjoy it.
HelloFreshly has previously explored why breakfast can be an important part of the day.
And when your breakfast happens to come with Santa Monica sunshine and an ocean walk afterward, setting aside a little time becomes even easier.
A Simple Santa Monica-to-Venice Morning
You do not need a complicated itinerary.
Try this instead.
Start at Dogtown Coffee.
Order breakfast.
Get your usual coffee—or try the pumpkin latte while it is available.
Spend some time on Main Street.
Then start walking.
Go north if Santa Monica is calling.
Go south if Venice sounds better.
Or head straight toward the beach.
That is the advantage of starting in Dogtown.
You are already in the middle of the experience.
Start Your Morning in Dogtown
Santa Monica and Venice each have their own personality.
Dogtown connects pieces of both.
That makes Dogtown Coffee a natural place to start whether you are planning a beach morning, exploring Main Street, heading toward Venice or simply looking for breakfast and coffee somewhere with a little more character.
Come for a breakfast burrito.
Try the seasonal pumpkin latte.
Order cold brew if Southern California decides fall should feel like summer again.
Then step outside and see where the coast takes you.
Dogtown Coffee is located at 2003 Main Street in Santa Monica, at Main and Bay.
For coffee, breakfast and a piece of authentic coastal history between Santa Monica and Venice, Dogtown is a pretty good place to begin.
