---------- SECOND STREET ----------
Less tourists and bros…read morethan Huntington Beach's Main Street.
Less spread out than Santa Barbara's State Street.
Better weather than similarly sized Mill Street in Tempe.
Compares well with little sister Seal Beach's Main Street since they both have annual car shows, marathon events, and Christmas parades. Bonus to Seal Beach for the pier and movie theatre, but Second Street has the edge in festivals and nightlife, though it's heavy on sports fans and beer bros.
I walk down Second Street at least twice a week and frequent it most often for restaurants.
RESTAURANTS:
5-STAR AMERICAN: Nick's* and Saint & Second*
GASTRO-PUB AMERICAN: Simmzy's*, Tavern on 2*, Brix at the Shore*
CLASSIC AMERICAN (BARS): Riley's*, Legends, Panama Joe's, Dogz, Quinn's (all bars)
CAFE: Aroma di Roma, Babette's Feast, Pandor, Cafe Gazelle
MEDITERRANEAN: Boubouffe*, Open Sesame, Magic Lamp*, and George's Greek Cafe*
ITALIAN: Cafe La Strada*, Domenico's*, Buono Gente, Papalucci's
ITALIAN DELI: Gallo's, Angelo's Deli,
PIZZA: 2nd Street Pizzeria, Z Pizza (Michael's of Naples* down the street)
MEXICAN: Taco Surf*, Super Mex*, Rubio's, Baja Fish Tacos
FAST FOOD: Archibald's*, Jack in the Box, Subway
FRENCH: La Creperie*
ASIAN: Pho-Nominon*, Shabu
THAI: Thai Gourmet*
INDIAN: Natraj*
SUSHI: Sushi on Fire*, AI, Yen
DESSERT: Paradis, Yogurtland*, Sweet Jill's, Creamistry*, Frosted, Le Donuts, Powell's and Rite-Aid ice cream
JUICES: Jamba Juice, NatureWell
COFFEE: Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Peet's, Polly's
BARS: Acapulco Inn, Riley's*, Legends, Panama Joe's, Dogz, Murphy's, Quinn's, Shannon's Bayshore
Wanna cruise Second Street? Try Long Beach Pediwagon* (pub crawl by bike), Big Red Bus* (pub crawls and excursions by double decker) and Long Beach Trolley* (pub crawls and Christmas fun).
Salons, flower shops, clothes... there's also lots of businesses you can find at belmontshore dot org. I've reviewed Schools First Federal Credit Union*, Billings Hardware*, and McCarty's Jewelry*.
---------- THE BEACH ----------
Unbelievably once the site of pre-war surfing competitions, the breakwater now keeps waves from hitting the beach, so bodysurfing and boogie-boarding are nonexistent. But, the recreation is pretty good. The bay allows for game courts, Long Beach Hydrobikes*, Kayaks on the Water*, Gondola Getaway* and the start of a bike path that runs through Belmont Shore, past Granada Beach where Alfredo's Beach Club plays films outside every summer, past volleyball courts, past Belmont Pier which hosts the Aqualink* and many festivals (Pirate Festival, Buccaneer Days, Great Sand Sculpture*, Long Beach Beerfest*,etc) and onto Shoreline Village near the Queen Mary.
*ASTERISK designates businesses I have Yelped, if you have an hour or two to spare.