Review #1023 2026-093…read more Free Wi-Fi: "City W-Fi" Parking: free event parking in SMC Parking Structures (refer to Review #1022); no parking in staff marked spaces Women's Locker Room: restrooms, showers, open changing area My daughter's swim club had a swim meet at Santa Monica Swim Center: 2026 SCY TSM Season Opener. The swim center was fairly easy to find, located on 16th St. near Pico Blvd. However, I wasn't aware of the parking situation for the event, & found a limited 15-min. metered spot a block away so I could drop-off H. One of the parents said the event's parking is free in the structures, which I confirmed with the swim center's info window. He advised that event parking is free except for the staff marked spaces. Check-In for the swim meet was a bit chaotic since it was our 1st time, & I was wandering around trying to find the check-in desk. There is none... it's with our own club under the ST logoed canopies. I also didn't know that we needed to provide portable chairs if we wanted somewhere to sit. Luckily ST was located on the 2nd floor near the snack station, so there were round tables with chairs available. I was able to grab 2 chairs for us to sit in-between events. There's an app: MeetMobile that allows you to track the events, & check heat & lane assignments. It only worked on day 1 (Saturday), but not on day 2 (Sunday). One of the parents said if swim meet is short staffed, there's a printed schedule posted on the exterior fence near the Fitness Pool. Most of the individual events had several heats consisting of 12 swimmers, up to 9 heats for the more popular 50 YD races. Santa Monica Swim Center is part of the City of Santa Monica Community Aquatics that offers learn-to-swim classes, training programs, water aerobics, lap swim, & fun events for community members. Everyone pays an entrance fee to use the pool, with Santa Monica residents paying a 50% discount. Fees (as of September 2026): Adults: Single Entry: $4.50 (resident); $9.00 (non-resident) 20 Swim Pass: $68.25 (resident); $137.00 (non-resident) Children (free for under 2 YO): Single Entry: $2.00 (resident); $4.00 (non-resident) 20 Swim Pass: $25.00 (resident); $50.00 (non-resident) Family Weekend Day Pass (Fri - Sun for 2 adults & 2 children): $10.25 (resident); $20.50 (non-resident) Seniors (60+ YO) & Students: Single Entry: $2.25 (resident); $4.50 (non-resident) 20 Swim Pass: $37.50 (resident); $75.00 (non-resident) Note: Swim Passes are non-refundable. There's 2 pools: fitness & splash. Fitness Pool, for training & competitions, is 50 meters x 25 yards with depth ranges: 6.7' - 13' & 1 meter & 3 meter diving boards. Splash Pool, for shallow, warm instructions, is 25 meters x 25 yards with depth ranges: 2.5' - 4.5'. The women's locker room was surprisingly clean & well-stocked during the busy swim meet weekend. That's a major plus in my book! According to my teen, the pool was too cool (per website, average temp is 78° - 80°) for her so she was a l'il stiff between events. Considering the unfortunate hit & run en route to the swim meet on Saturday, she managed to hit 3 PBs in all strokes except for her specialty freestyle in her 1st club swim meet. Yay!

I have been swimming at the SMC pool facility since 2019 and feel that there is quite a bit of…read moreconfusion about the reservation policy after 3:00PM Mon-Friday in the 25 yard lap pool. Also the staff is rude and poorly trained to interact professionally with the paying customers. I ran into this problem on Aug 24 2026 at 7:00PM with one of the staff, Misael Bowman who interrupted my swimming in the lap pool demanding that I make a reservation and insisting that I pay twice to continue swimming. However, when I pointed out to him that reservations are encouraged but not mandatory, he still insisted that a reservation was required for the lap pool. Consequently, I went to the splash pool shortly thereafter and asked the life guard on duty if a reservation was required for the splash pool. He replied, "no", but Mr. Bowman then interrupted again and insisted that a reservation was required for the splash pool when there is no mention of this requirement anywhere in the pool policies. I feel this policy is not well understood at all amongst the staff. Also Mr. Bowman was rude and misinformed in trying to enforce them. The purpose of these policies remains unclear as well. I know that they were first implemented in the 2020 Covid era, but some how where never rescinded once the pandemic ended. Also the shut down of the 50meter lanes since that time remains a mystery as well. What is the SMC organization trying to achieve by continuing to enforce these archaic policies that should have been abandoned with the end of the pandemic in 2022?

I had the most pleasant Saturday morning and afternoon here!! I did arrive around 9:30 and there…read morewere only three parking spots left so definitely plan for that. But the bathrooms are clean! And the pool was so nice. Most of the kids stayed in the shallow end so it was really peaceful to read near the deep in and take a dip. 10$ for an all day pass, pretty hard to beat.

Somehow have never heard of this before last week and now, I wouldn't want to go to the beach…read moreanywhere else in the Santa Monica area! We got there about an hour after they opened on a hot, sunny Sunday, and the parking lot was already pretty full, so I would recommend getting there on the earlier side. Parking was $15 for the entire day. We rented a canopy for 4 hours for $60. They are permanently set up pretty far from the shore, but it was really nice to have a big, shaded area for an affordable price (though I think the advertised capacity of 30 people would be pretty tight). Though the pool would've normally been closed for the season, it was super hot, so they did a pop-up day. Passes are very reasonably priced -- $10 for adults, $4 for kids under 17, $5-$7 for seniors (NOTE: You must have your entire party with you when you buy wristbands--you cannot buy them for someone not present). The pool was pretty full for the time we were there, but there was still plenty of room for the kids to play. There were also plenty of lounge chairs around. There's also a little restaurant that's basically right on the beach. Prices trend on the higher side for the fare that's offered, but it's not outrageous. All of the facilities and the stretch of beach were super clean and well organized, and the staff was very kind and accommodating.

I've been to the Jonathan Beach Club twice now, once for each of Melissa K.'s babies. The first…read moretime was a full baby shower, the second a smaller, more casual sprinkle. Both celebrations were seated brunches, where we got to enjoy the beachfront view and hit the extravagant buffet. The setting is prime and beautiful, a club on the beach in Santa Monica. I can see why people might want to join, though I can only imagine how much it costs. There's valet for members and comped parking for guests in the adjacent public lot. The buffet is genuinely impressive. The centerpiece is the bountiful seafood bar, where you can load up on oysters, crab claws, and shrimp cocktail, as well as lemon wedges, horseradish, and cocktail sauce to go with them. I skip the pancakes and most other brunchy items, in part because I'm not a brunch person, but also so I can make multiple visits to the seafood station, getting a reasonable amount per trip to disguise my greed. There's also a carving station, where I've gotten some delicious herb-crusted salmon. They have beef, too, and a few feet away, you can order an omelet from a guy who is there just to make people omelets. I prefer the salads, which go better with unlimited crab claws. There were two on my last visit, a Caesar and I think a garden salad with cheese crumbles and bacon. Something tasty and not boring, in any case. I also picked up some minestrone with orzo and a mini eggs Benedict, both of which were okay, plus a bit of smoked salmon. The dessert section is its own little buffet, with too many offerings to be sampled by one adult with a limited sweet tooth. I went for the fresh cut fruit on my last visit, then saw the lovely strawberry buttermilk pie. I couldn't finish the rich custardy filling, but the juicy strawberry topping was delicious. I also took a bite of my friend's tiny chocolate crème brûlée. I'd love to come back to the Jonathan Beach Club, though that might require Mel to have another baby. Maybe she and her husband will play ball so I can have all-you-can-eat seafood at the beach.

JBC is a fanfare experience (restaurant). I feel biased since I had accommodations but at the same…read moretime the service was lackluster. Food was tasty but also tiny. Ceviche comes in a "bowl" meant for dipping. Almost as if everything was placed with tweezers. The food was quality, but for the price you can get better value elsewhere and taste just as good if not better. We enjoyed ceviche, sushi, shrimp tacos and steak. Again all good, but hard to justify.

Management worked for me. A former martial artist, with empathy and awareness. I enjoyed my time…read morethere - by the water, my favorite. Maintenance people and staff are kind and down to earth. Low frills, a place for me to train (until I was asked to take it easy on the bags). If you are looking for a gym to train, you can do that here. Depending on your preference. Not one cell phone in the steam room. Actual privacy, and a gym. Which is what I was paying for. Westside people tend to be more chill. Minding my business was easier for me to do at this location than city Los Angeles. I have been earthbaring since it was good earth. The corporate takeover, hashtag wellness trend definitely changed things. Still on the search for a space that has heavy bags that I can train on and not be asked to be less strong... with fresh air / natural outdoor options. Maybe throw a little tai chi in the mix. Stay well.

The GENERAL MANAGER , name "Mike Smith" Very disrespectful,…read moreunethical, and unprofessional. Today I stopped by at this location to grB a shake and tKe a picture of the back examination machine, so I can search for a home version one. I am a former member , with 6 years of continuous membership, and due to my recent injury on a treadmill on BH location , I had to cancel my membership since 2 months ago, when I arrived today at SM , I explained to this general manager that all I need is to be accompanied by one of the available employees to the back extension machine, for me to take couple of pictures. This rude , non-gentleman manager told me about the policy of the club being exclusive to members only , and refused to help me. I walked out feeling disappointed, disrespected , and betrayed. I don't think people such this guy name "Mike Smith" can present equinox club properly, instead they would make the reputation of the company jeopardized . He definitely needs to address his behavior, and instead of only following the polices , practice some leadership manners, as well as kindness and compassion. I would never visit this club again because of this general manager's poor skills of management, and terrible customer service. I strongly believe he doesn't fit the culture of Equinox club at all.

LA Surf & Swim has been amazing! Our son, Sebastian, has been coming since he was 18 months old,…read moreand now at 3 years old, his confidence in the water is incredible. A special shoutout to Coach Brandon--our family's "Baby Whisperer!" His patience and ability to teach toddlers is truly impressive. Thanks to him, Sebastian is confidently jumping into the pool and swimming underwater across it. If you have a baby or toddler you want to teach to swim, ask for Coach Brandon. You won't regret it!

Can't say enough good things about LA surf and Swim! Both are boys learned to swim here and…read morereceived lessons for five years from their instructions. Each instructor was great with our boys and they really enjoyed their lessons. Also the team has great communication for any last minute changes.

I taught my son and daughter how to swim at the Venice High School Pool decades ago, so this review…read moreis based on a multitude of swim sessions. The locker room is what you'd expect in a facility open to the public, but the pool itself, water quality, staff attitude and lifeguards are all first class. The pool water temperature and chlorine levels are nearly always right where they should be. At times when I've forgotten my goggles, I have completed my workout without great eye discomfort. Currently, October 2022, the pool is not open as many hours as it was prior to the pandemic. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, the pool is divided in half with four lanes for laps swimmers ; the balance of the pool is reserved for recreational swimmers. There is a diving board for those that pass the swim test. Be sure to check the schedule before heading to the pool as swim lessons can intrude on lap swimming lanes. Children's and adult swim lessons are offered for a modest price, and the classes tend to be small. Most all of the staff wear face masks at all times. As of now, masks are not required for entry. The entry fee has varied over the years, but it has always been very affordable. Right now, 2022, seniors get in for one dollar.

I write this review with trepidation because I do not want this pool to become crowded, but I've…read morebeen searching for a good local pool and hope that this review can help others who are doing the same. This pool is located on the campus of Venice High School, and is open to the public during various hours (see website for details). Also, it is the only indoor pool in that area that I know of beside the one at the Santa Monica 24 hour fitness. The locker rooms, like any public pool, leave much to be desired, and are built like concrete bunkers. The walls and floor are all concrete, thus cold pools of water cover the entire floor and it is freezing in there, especially when you're wet. However one thing I liked was that rather than having actual lockers, there is an attendent behind a cage window that you hand your items to kind of like a coat check. They also have these mesh bags that you can use which hang on these metal poles they set up so that you don't have to put your stuff onto the wet bench or floor. Once you put everything in the bag you simply hand it to the attendant for you to get later. This way you don't have to cram everything into a little locker or worry about bringing your own lock. There are also lifeguards on duty and they have kickboards and poolbuoys available for use. The structure itself is also very well ventilated so though it gets colder than a smaller building, there is less of that strong chlorine smell. All of the attendants and lifeguards on duty are friendly and helpful. The crowd is mixed, though I would say it skews toward the older side. All in all, this is a great place if you're looking for a no frills swim. While you do have to suck it up while you're undressing/dressing before and after swimming if you're going during the colder months (and wet floors and benches are annoying), the pool is spacious and well kept. I also love that it's less than 2 miles from my apt.

Great facilities and the staff is friendly, but I don't know what they put into this pool that…read moremakes my teen all sniffly and sneezy after swim. It doesn't happen at any other pool than this one. And it doesn't happen every time either. So weird.

We love the pool in Culver City. It is outdoor and there is very little place to find shade so…read morebring your sunscreen. During the summer it is filled with kid, but they do have times for lap swimming, just look at their website site. It is always clean, the lifeguards are super nice. The price is fair and you can be there all day. They have a diving board and it is just fun. It has been there forever, I went there as a kid when it was 25 cents. The pool is huge and you will love it. Parking is easy in the lot for the playground which is a bit behind it. Have fun.

I simply cant get enough of this great Space that you can truly enjoy with your family. The…read moreactivities, fit gym, yoga, kids camps, youth basketball, swimming, rocket ball, and other attributes are the reason for all the laughter and memories the YMCA continue to bring. They go out of their way to keep the place clean with lovely house keeping staff on duty. Any concerns that you may have, are quickly addressed and solved. You may often see posted sighs and news sent directly to your email to keep you inform. The staff are respectful and hold great customer service with a smile. I like being part of this positive leadership role they play in my life. The monthly fee is affordable and they offer scholarship for all those in need. join them!

The cardio room at the Y needs to have the air conditioning turned up. People working out there are…read morejust dripping wet. Tried to make a comment about the AC but was told had to message the facilities manager. The bottom line here is the AC IN THE CARDIO ROOM NEEDS TO BE TURNED UP. Not complicated, Just Do It so people can be a bit more comfortable.

I switched to TriFit after years at Equinox, and I wish I'd made the move sooner…read more At Equinox, I got used to rude front desk staff and paying a premium for perks that never actually applied to me. TriFit is the opposite. The front desk team is genuinely friendly every single time, no attitude, no upsell pressure, just people who seem happy to help. The equipment is excellent, well-maintained, and there's always enough of it that I'm not waiting around during peak hours. But what really won me over is the locker room. It's spotless every time I go, well-stocked, and the steam room is one of the best amenities I've had at any gym, ever. It's clean, comfortable, and actually relaxing, not something I ever expected to say about a gym locker room. If you're paying big-box gym prices for a big-box gym experience, do yourself a favor and check out TriFit instead. Highly recommend!

This facility is small but has the bare minimum in terms of equipment, showers, sauna, pool. The…read morecycling room was a selling point to paying almost $200/month, yet half the bikes don't work. When you ask the employees, they say "I don't know, I don't really cycle". I'm not sure what that has to do with knowing how to use the equipment at the gym that you do in fact work at. The staff is the primary reason I decided to cancel my membership. They are simply bodies in a chair. They won't help, they don't say hello or greet you, they seem like they'd rather be anywhere else. They act like you're interrupting their personal conversation when you need to buy a water or ask literally anything. Cycling classes come and go without wiping the equipment. The cleaning standards here are 7/10. The best selling point here is the pool. It's nice to swim indoors, but there are only 3 lanes. Also, the cycling instructor, (Bernard I believe?) is the reason this gym gets a third star vs 1. Overall, the staff not knowing how equipment works, saying you're SOL when none of their bikes work, and being overall rude and unpleasant really kill the energy here more than I imagined. When I first signed up, I felt like it did not matter if the staff was rude- but here we are. I would rather pay less, knowing i'm going to get sub par service. If I'm going to pay almost $200, I would expect cleanliness and employees who know anything about the gym.

Its cheellll Its one…read moreof the only notorious skate parks on the Westside really besides Venice. Its also a park park. There's a skate park in Westchester and in Culver City but they're not like destinations for some reason. I've met people internationally here and Venice tho. But like I said it's a park park too with a playground bball the other bball with the bat and like grass and stuff like that.

Went to Stoner Recreation Center for my son's basketball game and liked what I saw. When I drove…read moreup, some young guys were outside playing volleyball, so I watched that for a bit before heading in. This is a great center for kids and families. They have a skate park, pictured, as well as courts and fields where people can play and work out. It is a nice spot in the middle of the city where people can be active and do positive things. I am giving Stoner Recreation Center 4 stars.