We had friends visiting from Switzerland and we met in Santa Monica for a fun day of sun, food, and drinks. After an afternoon visiting the pier, we decided to stop by to get some afternoon libations. We were greeted right away by Sophie. It was unusually hot outside and we weren't sure where we'd most like to sit, and one member of the group of five was recovering from recent spine surgery and could not sit at a high top table. Sophie was super kind and helpful letting us know what options were available and we found the perfect seating for our group. We just had drinks, but the service was top notch! We had a really nice time at The Whaler. While our friends won't be back in the near future, I look forward to stopping by again. read more

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Sunday morning 10/4 walked in to have an appetizer and drink before dropping off a friend at the airport. I would have rather picked anywhere else as this was not along the way and parking is usually rough. When we walked in the place was already a bit warm, but being they had the doors open and it's been warm in Southern California. At least the beer will be cold. No, just the service. We sat at the bar and the bartender gave us menus and didn't ask if we wanted a drink. 2 bar backs were cleaning. When a couple guys walked in one of the backs turned into a bar tender after they had seen us waiting there. We waited another 5 minutes watching a couple of plays and I just looked at her and said "yeah, were done here." read more

Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Ordered happy hour oyster, which was very fresh and delicious. Also ordered seafood platter for two. It seems like a lot of food at first glance but it just loaded with fries. Service was great. She check in frequently and make sure I have everything I needed. They have live music at night so I need to come back again. Overall experience was great and I will repeat. read more

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The Whaler is right next-door to our hotel so we wanted to give it a try today for lunch. We enjoyed a few cocktails. I har the West side vibe which is a smoky mezcal drink, a pina colada on the rocks served inside a fresh coconut, and askinny margarita. All 3 drinks were very good! We split the whaler cheeseburger smash burger that was very juicy and had a wonderful flavor with pickles, Whaler sauce, tomatoes and lettuce. We also enjoyed a cup of clam chowder that was very good with chunks of potato, bacon and clams. Service was great, our waitress was very knowledgeable and quick! read more

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My husband and I went here while on vacation upon seeing that they had the World Cup up on the TVs. Unfortunately we were initially told that they only had standing tables (bizarre, we were trying to eat). Hungry and with a lack of options in the area (everywhere was packed) we agreed to stand to order. Luckily, they brought out chairs within a few minutes. We ordered a bowl of clam chowder ($12) which came with bacon and sourdough bread. We thought this was just okay - I'm from New England so my standards for clam chowder run pretty high, and I wasn't particularly impressed with this one. It was fine though. We also got the fish taco trio ($21) to split. On the tacos were cabbage, chipotle, pico de gallo, and cotija cheese. You can mix and match between crispy cod, grilled cod, and shrimp. We got two crispy cod and one grilled. They came on corn tortillas which aren't my favorite but they held up decently well. It also had a small side of chips and salsa which was a nice surprise as it wasn't explicitly listed on the menu. I thought prices were reasonable for the area of Santa Monica and the food was okay. I would possibly go back if convenient, but I wouldn't rave about it. read more

The Whaler - Clam Chowder Bowl and Fish Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We got to sit on the patio with a great view of the beach for an early weekend lunch. It was a wonderful setting. Generally you either get a nice view or good food, but not both. I was surprised because the food was actually good too. I got the fish and chips and it was delicious, crispy outside and perfectly cooked with a variety of sauce options and coleslaw. I would definitely get it again and the location and view of the beach are a big bonus. read more

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Food was good (if you're coming for happy hour). Unfortunately they got my order wrong (3 tacos on a slow day) but food was still good so I chowed down. Lovely to see the ocean and feel the breeze while eating some cod. Ladies!!!Bring your own TP and liners cuz they are out here! Waiters were super friendly tho, I'm down to give this place another try on a better day. read more

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We had lunch here when we were in LA for the World Cup. Great location right on the beach. Service was great. I had a Caesar salad with chicken and it was fresh and tasty. Great portion size. read more

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My friend and I came here after our walk at Santa Monica and had our girl dinner. The bartender was really nice and service was really good read more

The Whaler - Girl dinner - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We popped in for a drink just around lunch time for something simple. It just opened not that long ago so it wasn't busy just yet. The whole inside was emptied as everyone was utilizing the front patio off of ocean blvd. Location wise, it's great as it's right across the street from the beach and pier. Perfect for people watching and having a meal or drinks. There's hi top tables along the side, tufted bar seating hi top on the opposite side. One corner was a little seating area with a fire pit. Menu wise, your usually lunch spot. Sandwiches, salads, shareable, pizzas, some specialty items and breakfast served. Not a lot in that but a few items. We just had drinks which were the mimosas served with a slice of orange. Portion wise was great. And the Bloody Mary. A pickle brine which was quite tasty and that had the adornment of olives, jalapeño and cucumber. It was quite tasty if I say so. We've been a few times and it's normally for drinks. Sometimes a plate to share of some sort. The service has been great. Amazing location and its prefect for lounging with friends and people watching. read more

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It was good. Nothing crazy not bad- just good Service I have experienced wasn't my favorite We were seating right away which was nice and great ocean view. Waitress came and we ordered drinks. I had Hugo/ I barely felt any alcohol there but okay. Was it good? Yes Did it taste like Hugo? NO! We waited for food 20+ minutes to come and no one came to ask us if we want another drinks so / or water so I had to sip on melting ice(thanks God). I had to share a napkin with my son because no one came to ask if everything is okay or we want another drink or water! I will not be coming back if you want to give a shot and had better experience please update it, but I'm giving a three star.. generally - disappointed Ps: it wasn't so full when I came in. I had to ask twice to pay the bill ..... (maybe it was a sign to leave? lol ) read more

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I'm a longtime customer of The Whaler and love coming here for causal drinks/food right by the Santa Monica pier and ocean. They are always playing sports games and have a steady crowd gathered with both indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a DJ and sometimes live music. Service can be a little slow because it's usually very full but food is good and their menu has a variety of options from burgers to chicken tenders to soups and salads. Today I got the taco trio and enjoyed all 3 types (grilled cod, fried cod, and shrimp). The grilled cod was my favorite and the shrimp was a little too salty in my opinion so next time I would skip that one. read more

The Whaler - Tacos - Grilled Cod, Fried Cod, and Shrimp - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Owner/Manager, please read. I've been to both the Venice and Santa Monica locations multiple times, and unfortunately, my experiences have consistently been disappointing. After this most recent visit, I feel compelled to share what happened. My friends and I ordered the battered fish and chips. We ate some of the food before realizing that what we had been served was actually chicken covered in the restaurant's fish batter. We immediately brought the issue to the staff's attention. The manager told us that he would offer a 20% discount because we had already eaten some of the meat. My concern is much bigger than the discount. What if one of us had a serious chicken allergy? What if one of us followed a pescatarian diet for religious or personal reasons? We ordered fish, and we should have received fish. At the very least, this raises a serious concern about proper food handling and potential cross-contamination. The food was technically cooked, but that does not make the situation acceptable. We were served something completely different from what we ordered without being informed, and we had already consumed some of it before discovering what it was. After a frustrating discussion with the manager, I ultimately paid the bill for two plates of what I can only describe as "chicken fish." The entire experience was extremely disappointing and, frankly, disgusting. I understand that mistakes can happen in a busy restaurant, but this is not a minor mistake when it involves serving a completely different type of meat than what a customer ordered. I sincerely hope the owner and management take this seriously and review how food orders are being prepared and checked before reaching customers. I would strongly encourage management to address this, because this could have had much more serious consequences for a customer with an allergy or dietary restriction. read more

February 6, 2026 | Santa Monica | After an enjoyable evening over dinner, we decided to extend the evening to light drinks & lively conversation at a new location! The Whaler had a relaxing vibe, tropical drinks, and wonderful customer service! Mocktails | The Passionfruit drinks were perfectly tasty, a pretty orange shade, and garnished with an actual slice of dried passionfruit! He & I both ordered the same drink! Lounge Vibe | The outside front patio was ablaze with a fire pit, relaxing sofa seating with plush cushions & an excitable view by passer-buyers on the oceanfront! Inside | Spacious! I was immediately attracted to the numerous record covers displayed on the wall, which included Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and a number of names that were new to me! Customer Service | Friendly, and inviting! Even as we were leaving, security/Doorman complemented the energy, as well as a friendly goodbye! Good vibes here! Overall | Customer service, relaxing vibe on this particular night, tasty drinks and especially the fire pit, I would easily return! read more

The Whaler - February 6, 2026 | Friday Night | Scenery | Outside Patio! | - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Jeee-zus. Sadly, this is one of the tripe-F-restaurants (Triple F: Find em | F*** em | Forget em. My wife and I came to have a good time - and a nice lunch. We did not expect the Ritz, but this.... I ordered a soup as a starter and two sandwiches for my wife and myself as entrees, one with fries, one with breakfast potatoes. Our entrees were served a minute after the starter, so I had two spoonfuls - and then went to the entree, which looked delicious, as you see. Sadly my meat was far from the medium rare I had ordered - it was ultra well done. My wife's fish looked delicious but was drained in oil. Here fries were cold - and so were my country potatoes. I would not go again. A shame really, as the ambiance was appealing. read more

The Whaler - I wish it had tasted as good as it looks - the meat was totally overcooked and the potatoes were cold and far away from being crisp :-( - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Right off the beach this is a loud fast pace place with lots of folks. My wife went with buttermilk chicken strips. While I chose the fish and chips. If your looking for place to drink this is you place. This is not a Military friendly restaurant. read more

The Whaler - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really great food, good vibe, everyone is always friendly here. Perfect place to stop by for lunch after a beach day read more

The Whaler - Fish & Chips Whaler Smash Burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Not bad! A great happy hour deal and a nice little meal. Vibes here are kind of barlike no matter the time of day and it was a little loud. But the food was solid, service was good, and there was a michelob ultra brand activation. read more

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This place appeared to be more of a bar / hangout spot than a place to eat with the family. I came here on a Saturday and it was loud with 90s music, which was fine! This place serves alcohol and has pretty good "bar" foods. Parking was bad, so just find local street parking. This place is right off the cost. The clam chowder has a bacon flavor. For the cost.c they give you only a little. I'd recommend the pizza and the poke nachos read more

The Whaler - Poke nachos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

From the service to the food, everything was amazing. Got the Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice and the Captain's Table for Two. You can taste the freshness in everything that was made. Coconut shrimp had to be the star of the dish. Additionally, we may have had a hiccup with our food initially, but management handled it promptly and professionally. Will be back when in the area. Views of the Santa Monica pier were a plus +1 read more

The Whaler - Captain's Table for Two - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great location with views, nice patio, solid food and good DJ. We appreciated they let us sit outside with our dog, staff was friendly & helpful. Fries are delish. Love that they have cider on tap. Only downside I added a shot of rum to a mocktail - turning it into a $23 mule (and seemed to miss the passionfruit)?! I didn't see the email receipt until after, and feel it should have mentioned given cocktails are in the $16ish range here. read more

Came here craving garlic bread and somehow left emotionally attached to the customer service The manager was SO nice and genuinely went out of his way to make sure we had a good experience. You can tell the staff actually cares instead of just going through the motions. Bartender was cool too and the vibes were immaculate. Good drinks, good energy, great service, and right by the beach?? Yeahhh I get the hype now. Definitely coming back. read more

The Whaler - Classic martini and Siete Lenguas on the rock - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The Whaler Wings. $20 (or $19 to be exact). For 6. As an appetizer. This is a rip off. The wings are so tiny, the dressings so spare, that to pay $20 for this appetizer is appalling. I know that most people go here probably for the drinks and in a wasted state I probably wouldn't care that I was paying this much for so few a morsel, if all I wanted was a crispy bit of chicken....that I can go to the grocery store and buy a bag of 30 wings for the same cost....but this cannot be overlooked. Maybe just don't order this particular app. We come here for the fish and chips and sometimes the captain's platter, which seems to be the best The Whaler has to offer. Their fish and chips is very good but the cost of these apps has got me. Comparatively, the other apps are digestible in price, I don't understand this markup on these tiny pieces of bird.... Service is fine. Our waitress abandoned us halfway through and seemed bored, which is fine, its a bar. We weren't ordering drinks. read more

Bar on the beach that is always busy, especially during football season. Just steps to the sand. The only downside is how crowded it gets. I have not tried the food, so cannot comment here. read more

We went here for dinner during dineLA and they had 3 courses for $35. We made a reservation online and were seated quickly when we arrived. We ordered the shrimp cocktail and oysters to start - both came with 2 pieces of food so a little on the small side. Ordered both the Cesar salad and shrimp Louie salad (they were out of Brussels sprouts), which were the size of a small side salad. The main entrees were pretty large - ordered the steak frites and the fish and chips. I think the fish and chips is the most bang for your buck and they both tasted great. Street parking or lot parking in one of the lots near 3rd street. read more

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I am on a recreational trip to California this Christmas season. I stopped in here on Christmas Day. There was heavy rain from the atmospheric river yesterday, but today the sun is out and people were enjoying Santa Monica. I walked but I think there's a reasonable parking nearby. The setting is spectacular. From the patio there is a view of the ocean and beach. The decor is casual. Staff was friendly and prices are reasonable. I had steak and eggs. The chimi sauce with the steak was really delightful. The scrambled eggs were moist and tender. I enjoyed the diced potatoes as well. They had a crisp exterior and creamy interior, just what I like. This is a great way to enjoy Santa Monica! Good food, great view, nice people. I'm on an alcohol free kick for a while but if you choose, it looks like they have an outstanding bar. read more

The Whaler - Steak eggs and potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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A bit of a tourist trap, but good service and food with an excellent view. A little on the pricier side, but standard gastropub fare. The staff if very accommodating and the food quality is good. Sort of a Yardhouse with a lot more seafood options. read more

The Whaler is a pleasant surprise we found when looking for a restaurant with French Fries for our 3 year old. We couldn't justify Fogi de Chau, there were too many Mexican restaurants nearby, and we had just finished an early morning charity walk so we wanted to get away from the pier where there were throngs of hungry folks from the same event. The menu looked tasty but I couldn't decide between healthy (The Scramble) and comfort (Chicken and Waffle Benedict). Most benedict places drown the food in hollandaise sauce or give me dirty looks when I tell them no sauce or sauce on the side. My wife wanted the Whaler Burger but eas open to getting a 3rd dish if we split it. Luckily for her I had a big appetite this morning. Our son, of course, devoured the fries from her burger. The food was delicious! My wife loved her burger. I loved the scramble with chorizo. We both enjoyed the chicken and waffles. If you want to experience an amazing taste explosion, get a bite of the rosemary potatoes with the waffle. We are talking one of those moments from the movie Ratatouille where your tastebuds will cheer. The waffles are sweet and possibly sprinkled with sugar. They kind of make me think of a danish type of dough but when you take a bite you get some salt from the chicken that was on top and factor in the seasoning from the potatoes creates a flavor explosion of sweet, salty, umami and more. Amber and the staff were friendly. She found us a table outside on one patio helping us keep our kid from running amok. She also brought him crayons and a menu to color as well as a to go cup of water when we asked. We also noticed some other guests who had dogs at their table with a bowl of ice. Kudos for being dog friendly Whaler staff! The inside was nice with TVs to watch games, a nice bar if you want to grab a drink, easy to get a table at lunch time on a Saturday. The glass lined patio was a win for us because we could people watch, enjoy our meal, and keep our son out of mischief! read more

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Welcoming with a great location. Not a large selection of specialty cocktails but if you're a Mezcal fan... look no further - the Westside Vibe is delicious. Sad to report the spicy tuna on crispy rice was average. Overall a cute spot to hop in for a few cocktails at the bar. read more

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Wow !!! I casually walked in and right of the top people were so sweet Allie was AMAZING what true customer service should be

The chicken was great! Though I was dealing with a heavily caffeinated brain, I was still able to enjoy the meal! The mashed potato and the garlic, wow! I wished I'd settled for a beer, oh well, next time. Good restaurant with great vibes! Nice outdoor space! Server--fantastic! read more

The Whaler - Brick Chicken - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

What stood out here was the great service. The food was average, but the prices were fair, considering the area and made to order quickly. We did enjoy their drinks and they do have a good happy hour as well. Not my first option when in the area, but a solid happy hour. read more

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Great spot for drinks. I ordered the captains table for two which brought a lot of food, could've fed 4 honestly, but was tasty read more

The Whaler - Captain's table for two - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

There are no words to describe, how I love going to, and just being, in Santa Monica. So once again, I grabbed another opportunity, this time to savor the fruits of the Dine LA weeks (we are fortunate to have two, numerous cities around the country have one, maybe 10 days). This is what brought me to the Whaler, in Santa Monica. Yes, there is outdoor seating, but being a chilly day, I requested an indoor affair albeit, the warmest seat available. Once again, a hard to find choice, all doors are open, still cannot understand why establishments like to suck in the cold air and take down the temperature of your warm food. I have heard the fire escape explanation. But if so, why is it that other restaurants do not open their doors and roofs :) Answer: Many do not. The Whaler offered a three-course Dine LA Lunch menu for $35. My choices were in order, the Clam Chowder, the Shrimp Louie Salad, the IPA Fish and Chips. So how was it? The clam chowder had more potatoes than clams, but too"was well balanced on the thickness of cream and flavor. The shrimp louie salad was super, even though it had only 3 small shrimp (which by the way were prepared perfectly). The fish and chips was a winner. Generously proportioned (3 pieces), an optimally seasoned batter that revealed a flaky inside fish that upheld flavor and taste. What is unique about this place is its interior decor. Several wall spaces are adorned with album covers of the music greats. One cannot help but be awed, or even tear up, to see Johnny Cash, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and so much more. Wow and Wow. read more

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Perfect place to come with friends or family! Atmosphere was amazing if you're sitting inside or out there's just a nice coziness here. I was lucky enough to get the fire pit outside with some friends on New Year's Day. Some breakfast meals were ordered some calamari, quartile and chips and some burgers. The burgers are so juicy and filling I opted to get grilled onion instead of raw I was in heaven I loved it here. All of the appetizers we ordered and shared were great. Everything about this place is just chefs kiss our server was super sweet and so were the other staff. If you're in the area with friends and want to grabs some drinks and amazing food easy choice you have to come to Whaler! read more

The Whaler - Whaler smash burger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Nice place. I had the fish n chips but substituted clam chowder for fries. It was good size of food, tasted good, good service and we would definitely be back. I forgot to take a picture but it was good. My son had fish tacos that he also liked. read more

Food was good, the place had indoor and outdoors seating, the server was nice, tho took a bit long to give us the final check. For the location, expect expensive pricing. At least the portions are filling. read more

The Whaler - 3 tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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I stumbled across this gem about two weeks ago and I've already returned like three times. The view of the Pacific, the friendly and prompt service, combined with the incredible food all brought this experience together very nicely. They have a great happy hour menu as well. read more

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Im not a meat eater but every now and then I like a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. It's nothing better than the cheesesteak sandwich you "used" to sell? I went there the other day and got one of your sandwiches. The bread was not toasted. It did not include the jalapeño that normally comes with it. It was pickles. And the cheese was on the bread, not throughout the sandwich. They usually put it on top and it melts into sandwich. I will not be back for that sandwich. Uf you make it the old way ....definitely! read more

The Whaler is a cool spot located perfectly for a fun night in Santa Monica - walking distance to the pier and many other bars. I want to start by saying we went on a very busy night and I know that that is a huge strain on the kitchen and staff. Our waitress (whose name I didn't catch but was blonde with curly hair) was so attentive and communicative despite it being a crazy night! She was awesome and took great care of us. The food was just OK! The Brussels came out cold and very very salty, the fried pickles had too much batter, the ceviche was good, the drinks were good, the sliders were okay! The prices I thought were fair. Nothing really wow'd us food wise, but again, maybe it was just because it was a crazy busy night. I'd come back to Whaler for another try. Shout out again to the great staff! read more

The Whaler - Fried pickles, ceviche, brussels - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Santa Monica, California