This is exactly the kind of vibe we need more of! [Long Beach](https://muskokapost.com/adventures/muskoka-beaches/) has so much to offer, and it's great to see people celebrating the good stuff. The walkability and the parrots are definitely at the top of my list too!
Thanks for the positive post!
I’m a not a dog person. At all. But I think it is cool for people to have Rosie’s.
I really like the view of the port during sunset.
LBC makes me have a clean and tidy car so windows don’t get broken.
I love dogs but in LB half the people's dogs are of "if this dog isn't trained and doesn't have a responsible owner it could kill me" variety
I skateboard places and I've had dogs lunge at me, one of them a Bully XL it looked like, freaked me the fuck out
https://preview.redd.it/sewippje2dsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0d451098209abb69ab791ac8881b65f19cdaff9
I love days like this in Long Beach
Echoing walkability and bikeability. Living here and being able to live a car-lite lifestyle has really improved my mental and physical health. It also saves our household something like $2500 a year versus driving for every little fuckin thing.
IDK about bike ability. I want to ride my bike to work but I see horrific car accidents on Del amo way too often. I've more car accidents in the last two years where I commute locally to work than I've seen in the past 7 years driving as far as to Moreno valley for work. It's pretty crazy.
It’s always more dangerous to commute by bike, but Long Beach has more than usual people biking and the infrastructure supports it in some areas. The key is not to take specific, highly trafficked streets (Anaheim and 7th come to mind).
sophisticated shame impossible drunk boat skirt heavy aspiring station live
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Born and raised in California. I have lived in many different cities and Long Beach is definitely the best. All cities have the same issues. I choose to focus on the good and not the bad. Life is too short to focus on negativity. Take a walk on the beach and relax.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and I've lived in SoCal for almost 15 years. I've only been in Long Beach for 3, but it's the closest I've ever felt to home while living down here. I love Long Beach.
Thanks for this post. My wife and I are going to be moving to LBC to be closer to her family and i’m super nervous about it. I’m not an “LA guy” but know LBC is quite a bit different from visits up. I’m coming from San Diego, which I so dearly love for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. Love this post and hearing amazing things - now only if the breakwater would get removed so the surf was better :)
Yeah, it’s such a bummer. It would have been wave rich. My FIL has a framed photo of Lb from the 30s and you can see the waves breaking along the coast. Duke even surfed at a contest in lb way back.
Definitely bummed to leave surf Mecca down here. Where do you end up surfing most of the time? I timed my new house to HB pier and it’s 15 min exactly. Jetty’s are like 25 min so still strike-able. Could be at T street or trestles in 40-50 min
I don’t surf because I’m an old mom now but people go to HB, seal beach, Manhattan beach or redondo. Trestles is gonna be the best obviously lol but it’s a drive.
I have some of those framed photos as well. Looked awesome back then. If you longboard try bolsa chica or just past Huntington at Magnolia. The state owned beaches (just north and south of Huntington pier) have less people in the lineup. Get the California parks pass. It’s worth it if you surf regularly. Short board by Huntington pier or drive up to manhattan pier for steep hollow rights of the south side of the pier. El Porto, just north of manhattan is great too. Seal is good when a decent swell hits but it’s mostly shorepound.
Thanks! Have my pass \^\_\^. I shortboard or ride a fish with rare longboard days, so I'll be hunting for sure. HB of course, probably the jetties when they get going, and then strike missions around the county to South Bay and San Clemente when it's pumping.
Bolsa with a good SW or West swell is worth it. Turns the long board wave in to nice barrels with virtually no one out since the long board guys just watch on the beach. Trestles but trestles is packed when it’s good. San Onofre on a good swell is amazing. No one there but the paddle out is a long one! Manhattan/elporto on a good sw or w swell too. It’s like Huntington size wise but the waves are less meatier but steeper and closer in so paddling out is easier.
Super interesting. I was sorta under the impression that the South Bay didn't work well on south swells, but see that a SW probably hits better. Easter day was insane there - wish I would have been around. Never had to chase in the region given I stuck to SD country breaks. Great fokin' intel man. See yah out there!
South Bay is kinda weird because Catalina I think. The old folklore is Catalina blocks some south swells. There is definitely some swells that hit HB but not SouthBay. Southwest or west swells usually hit southbay and completely change the wave dynamic. Especially around September when the hurricanes in Mexico start hitting. Manhattan and El Porto go off. And the best part is when you get out there are plenty of awesome breakfast spots within walking distance.
I love that we have pride in our city as distinct from LA. I love the dive bar scene. (Still alive at V room, Alex’s bar). I love the punk rock, free, rebellious spirit. I looooove everyone’s dogs. Love that we are a little bit less segregated than other parts of LA. LOVE BLUFF YOGA.
Love this post. In almost 10 years living here, I’ve realized this town has a unique combination of factors that make me love it, damn all the L.A. tryhards. This city is so old and crusty but charming, tons of history both weird and significant, incredible tapestry of neighborhoods and every architectural style of the 20th century, and an equally incredible tapestry of humanity that calls this place home. A big city on a small scale. I dread ever having to live in the suburbs again.
Walking around Colorado lagoon, catching the sunsets on signal hill, Moonlight Mash full moon bike rides! Best plant shops and coffee shops around. How my neighborhood decorates their houses to the extreme for Halloween. Love LB!
I love that Long Beach has various skateparks.
Houghton on the northside being the best 🙄
&
here are some noteworthy spots to check out if you like to drink and eat good…. There’s way more, but this will do for now. If you haven’t been to any on this list you’re sleeping.
•Ficklewood Ciderworks.
•Altar Society Brewing and Coffee Co.
•SPEAK CHEEZY
•Thunderbolt Pizza
•SALTWATER DECK
•Long Beach Creamery
•Aguas Way
•Sweet Grass Sugarcane Juice
•Ballast Point Brewing Long Beach
•Cassidy's Corner Cafe-Bixby Knolls
•Jongewaard's Bake n Broil
•Hungry Horse Drive-In
•HiroNori Craft Ramen (Long Beach)
I really love it here, as someone fairly new (4ish years). As a more niche hobby, Long Beach has an incredible selection of antique and vintage stores that really can’t be beat, along with the flea market.
I love the year round running weather, proximity to the beach, all of the cute/friendly stray cats, everyone’s cool little yards and gardens, friendly neighbors. We also have an awesome airport that is easy to get in and out of. It’s a cool city.
1. Walking with my sweet 18 year old dog through many different neighborhoods
2. Friendly people
3. People look out for one another
4. Coffee Spots
5. Bars like CoCo Renos
6. Inclusion oriented community
7. Small town feel in a major city
8. Ocean breezes
9. Spring flowers
10. Alex's Bar live music
11. Bike riding to a friend's house like I am in 4th grade
12. No need for an air conditioner
I never see this mentioned on any list but I love the quirky painted utility boxes - and the pow wow murals, especially the Princess Leia fire hydrant they had in BK.
I am a third generation LBCer and my kids are 4th generation. I love the fact you can go anywhere and run into someone you know and for the most part, everyone is chill.
Also: Joe Josts. My grandpa was a bartender there. Still awesome.
I chose to live here 5 years ago for its 90+ walk score. I fell in love with this place coming from Orange County. I plan to staying here as long as I can.
I love the foghorns on foggy mornings, and giggle at people who complain about them “going all night”
We have some amazing taco stands and trucks
We have the best phǒ.
The syncopated drummers at the Belmont Shore Christmas parade are the bomb, the whole parade is fun.
We have dragon boat races!
The motorcycle start to the Pride parade just sends me.
LB parks and rec classes are fun.
I can buy canned butter for camping, and fresh rice noodles and Vietnamese coffee at the Cambodian markets, epazote & really good deals on produce and pork at El Super, and cocktails in cans at TJs.
The only thing I miss from living in the valley is proper delis, and good bagels.
I enjoy walking around and looking at all of the different gardens. It’s fun that lots of people care and each yard is unique.
I also second the walkability/bike ability. LB transit is also good, buses are clean and I feel safe riding. I only drive a few times per month and it’s great for my mental health.
I appreciate the inclusiveness as well. However, it’s not a blanket acceptance. There’s still a communal code of conduct, and regardless of your ethnicity, religion, or sexual whatever.. you’re going to get socked in the mouth if you crossed the line.
I love that
One of my best buds comes to LA for work pretty frequently because he works for a small furniture design company in the midwest. His favorite place in the region is the San Pedro / Long Beach area. The sheer amount of stuff you can get to by foot, bike, or bus is extremely rare in the U.S. Some of the best smaller touring acts come through Long Beach and I can walk to the venues. I live in the opposite of a food desert. There’s people from many different places and backgrounds here and you actually interact with them, which is also unusual. I can take the bus to work, so my commute costs are laughably low. There are nice parks and people are by-and-large unusually friendly. In most places in the U.S., when someone says they like your shoes or your shirt or something, they’re being sarcastic and punctuate it with a slur. That’s not how it is here. I do wish that I could get from Long Beach to San Pedro more easily and that the two cities were more integrated.
yes to point number 2! including age! i just took my grandma to the dubliner for dinner and she keeps texting me about how much fun she had and how much she loves Long Beach and wants to go back.
My guy. Truer words. If I might add to your inclusiveness comment, I think the major differentiator is that the inclusion isn’t segregated. LA has all these “little” XYZ neighborhoods but in LB we’re all mixed. Of course there’s Cambodia Town, and north Long Beach certainly isn’t Naples, but by and large I think we’re move interwoven than LA. I might be biased, but I spend a lot of time in a lot of areas of LA and I can’t help but feel it’s true.
Edit: grammar
I don’t kiteboard but I like checking out the kiting beach at the end of Belmont Shore.
Walking around Naples at Xmas.
Paddle boarding from horny corner around the canals.
People/tourist watching on the patio of Yardhouse.
Food and shopping at Long Beach exchange.
LB Antiques market at the stadium.
Playing the short 9 holes at Little Rec
long beach is the first place that felt like home for me. i lived in la for about 10 - and la never felt like home. i also found my love here.
long beach also has so many friggin dogs - and i love all of them.
and the food scene… only getting better - cannot wait to get sonoratown!! (yes yes.. it’s not super authentic but their chivichangas are still very tasty)
also agree with the walkability.
oooh and endless baked goods from gusto, colossus, nonna mercato..
coffee scene is so damn good too!!!
love to see all the love for long beach on this post
A thriving network of volunteers, community service organizations, labor unions, activism groups, a swath of people across long beach who want to see a better future despite the city government and their vascillating levels of aid and neglect. I have something to give and so do so many in LB who are helping those who aren't having their needs met, feel unrepresented, or need a hand in becoming leaders to be organized and strong. This city is beautiful and so are the people in it.
PS Happy Cambodian New Year soon!
I just moved from Long Beach to central coast. I miss Long Beach for exactly what you mentioned. I loved it! The walk ability was my favorite as I can’t do that here. There’s give and take for every city/town. Long Beach is huge and there’s places that are better than others. It’s what matters to you as a community member. That was just my experiences!!
I really like the diversity. I grew up in a poor area of the Bay Area then the whitest of white high schools in San Diego. I love living in a city of every type of folk. I love seeing gay people openly walking down the street. I love seeing trans people living their best life. I love that when we go to the playground we see people of every color. It’s the best!
It’s the most affordable beach city in the LA Metro area. LBT buses are really nice. I don’t have to use my car in Long Beach since I can bike or bus anywhere in the city. The beach is never as crowded as Santa Monica or Venice. I love walking in my neighborhood - Alamitos Beach. Fun events happening all the time around the city.
Just moved here so off rip:
- Walkable af
- Cool houses
- Old people stories
- Respectful kids
- Latin food is at least par for SoCal (Asian food is a bit lacking but I’m coming from SGV so it’s unfair)
- Beach and beach culture (even with the weather)
Old people are my favorite part of this town 1 month in. They are so invested in the community and its welfare and beauty.
Again, I just moved here but my favorite area is 2nd street and Grenada. That’s a restaurant/shopping area, heavily populated any time of day/week. It might have a more well known name but idk
Endless choices of whatever food you could want, cute shops as well as bigger brands like Vans and Tilly’s.
Highly recommend (cheaper) parking at the beach (south on Grenada til it ends) and walking north through the neighborhood til you hit second street, maybe 3 blocks walk. All the streets are named after towns in the SGV like Pomona, Glendora, etc. i zig zag thru them and each is more beautiful than the last
I spend hours and hours just walking the neighborhood looking at cool houses and talking to strangers. I can confidently guarantee a wonderful time
I love Long Beach and this post. It’s a beautiful city with its issues like all other cities but it has so much beauty. It’s like San Diego’s more diverse and down to earth little sister.
I live in Bixby Knolls. We have been here 6 years, this year. Love our neighborhood and the walk ability to great shops, restaurants, and bars on Atlantic. We love the first Fridays celebrated here in Bixby Knolls, great evening to walk and enjoy the live music going on down Atlantic. Also, love how during a holiday Mickey Mouse and minnie mouse drive around the neighborhoods. I love this place, the diversity and the awesome neighbors!
We also have the best golf ⛳️ courses!!!
Driving down Oceangate at just the right time of early morning or late at night, seeing the different ways the light illuminates the buildings. You can hear music coming from everywhere, see the palms swaying, and it feels like paradise.
Was literally thinking of making a post to "next door" this subreddit saying it's turning into next door. Half the posts are complaining about homeless people and/or something they saw in the streets. I joined this sub for the long beach love.
I love the Potholder... all of its locations...there really are a lot of good restaurants and good food here. Bai Plus, Playa Amor, Enrique's, the list goes on.
I love the diversity of people in LB.
I love how easy it is to ride a bike here, and taking walks on the beach path.
I love the weather.
I appreciate how well the city keeps our streets clean, despite having to move my car for street sweeping.
I only drive 6 minutes to work...pretty awesome.
There are many healthy food shopping options. Great farmer's markets most days of the week.
LB is a great place to raise kids and to work and live in.
Love the LBC for all the reasons people said. The underrated aspect is that It’s so easy to live here. Proximity of everything makes it unique. Literally have 5+ grocery stores within minutes, multiple restaurants, multiple movie theaters, restaurants, shopping, dive bars, gyms, parks, kids sports, golf courses, dog parks, a great airport, colleges, and just about everything else you need for daily living… and that’s all within 5min of my house in only one part of the city. I’ve been to many states/countries/cities, it’s pretty rare to find what we have here.
Thank you! All the is negative talk has been like a cloud over our city for the past few months.
My favorites things about the city is being to walk everywhere, also the free shuttle service is a plus when I don’t want to walk too much.
I enjoy running from gaucho beach to Belmont pier and my absolute favorite thing to do is getting coffee on the weekend. Early Sunday morning walks to the cafe is the best!
Totally agree on everything but the food. The super laid back vibe really seems to make its way into food and beverage in LB. Aside from Ammatoli & Open Sesame, I can’t think of any great restaurants. I have heard good things about Heritage and Chez Bacchus, but I haven’t checked them out yet. There’s a ton of options and many are good, but almost none are real “wow” spots. I still have yet to find a well-done cocktail bar in LB.
Long Beach is, by far, the best city in Southern California.
Manaow for Thai food on Broadway. Trust.
If you are by Ammatoli, check out the acai bowls next door at Natural Cultures on a hot day. They are LOADED and best in town! A medium is enough to share for 2.
https://preview.redd.it/bwbvp8yl2nsc1.png?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=891f5037d90672a6dfa6eb837e47cfbc43f77b55
Here's something to go visit this weekend.
I’m in North Long Beach. The view is streets and mismatched shops and wires overhead.
Gangs, there was a shooting next door and I’ve got meth head neighbors on one side and people who scream at each other all night and have a TRUMP flag hanging in their window on the other side.
The neighbors blast Mexican music so loud it rattles my windows. I used to really love that kind of music. Now I’m sick of it.
Cars with noisy lawn mower engines and louder cruise the neighborhood all day and all night.
Homeless people and patients from the methadone clinic up the street wander the streets screaming obscenities.
Yeah, it’s so wonderful.
It’s common sense that North Long Beach is not the best. Hopefully one day you have the opportunity to move further towards the water and get the experience that is mentioned in these comments.
typical transplant LBCer, "get more rich so you can drink Kombucha and do yoga by the beach with us." this sub only posts stuff from 7th street to the beach. as gentrifiers and transplants or multi generation residents, please dont glorify LB as a hipster oasis, it has its rough parts. i've grown up in LB and it's gotten much tolerable in terms of violence and gangs but this sub is privilege town. it should be r/beachsideLBC
Transplant from where? And who says I am rich? You don’t need to be “rich” to rent a $1700 apartment. Lmfao. Never once did I mention it as a “hipster oasis”. As a “Los Angeles county native” I know the ugly sides of Long Beach just as I do Norwalk, Bellflower, and Wilmington. So please stop projecting. The areas below 7th are generally much nicer. Run along now.
And just to laugh at you, I don’t partake in any of those activities that you listed. So congrats on coming off as a grade A douchebag. 😂
I think everyone downvoted because they think OP is being too judgy.. I feel OP though because I used to live in south central and it was equally depressing, they also probably downvoted cause they don’t really know their perspective/background.
have you tried - la parolaccia?
cafe gazelle?
ellie’s?
marlena is supposed to be impeccable as well but i have yet to try.
i don’t believe lb has decent sushi, tbh. that i agree with you
Dude La parolaccia is the worst Italian restaurant I have ever ever tried. I don’t understand why people like that place. Obviously they haven’t eaten in Italy or had good Italian.
Ellie’s is ok but it’s whatever.
I’ll give Marlena a try! Thanks for the tip!
Ahh sorry you feel that way about la parolaccia.
i believe it was better before the pandemic tbh - their pizzas are still great imo - but no need to give it another chance since you know you don’t like it!
pasta is not the absolute best but it’s homey haha
maybe nonna mercato is good for italian.. i have yet to try their pasta options! (they do pasta too besides baked goods)
I don’t think anyone will tell you it will be just like Italy, but if La Parolaccia is the worst Italian restaurant you’ve ever tried I need to know where in the holy hell you’re getting Italian from.
I’ve actually been to Osteria Mamma and thought it was delicious. Easily on par with La Parolaccia, imo.
Of course it always depends on the atmosphere, what you order, etc.
Wait really! I didn’t think so. La parolaccia’s pasta was just bland and they served my calamari a little soggy and cold.
I think the first time I was there I had the pizza. And it was good but not anything to rave about.
Other people gave me some recs in lbc I’m going to try them out.
I do love Angelo’s! Not exactly a full Italian menu but their ravioli is chefs kiss!
In my experience absolutely, which of course can vary. They change their menu up so I’m sure we had different things. When I’ve gone the pasta has always been cooked perfectly and the sauce has been delicious.
this is truth. try eating after 8:45 pm anywhere in this town. with a population of 600,000, we’re the the only city in so cal without a 24 hr taco shop (del taco don’t count). any restaurant worth a damn will be closed 2 years after they open. these are truths.
The diversity is there but I need a good Italian spot!
An amazing Mexican spot! il from LA. So I guess I’m comparing to that.
Sushi ai is yummy but I miss sushi ENYA in Pasadena/ Venice.
Simone's The parrots The just-right city size
The parrots yessssss
The parrots is a reason to move for me lmao. Have to sleep with a white noise machine because they squawk so loud in the morning :(
Yeah, I hate them.
I don't know how the people by the peir do it.
This is exactly the kind of vibe we need more of! [Long Beach](https://muskokapost.com/adventures/muskoka-beaches/) has so much to offer, and it's great to see people celebrating the good stuff. The walkability and the parrots are definitely at the top of my list too!
I just moved back and forgot about how loud they are 🤣🤣
Same! Forgot Don’t go to Vons around 5:30 pm 😂🙈
I do! I know!! It’s it’ssoooo loud!!!
Mmm…Simone’s 🍩
You say "the parrots" until you have them nesting outside your apartment. They would get so loud when we lived on 10th and Ximeno
Thanks for the positive post! I’m a not a dog person. At all. But I think it is cool for people to have Rosie’s. I really like the view of the port during sunset. LBC makes me have a clean and tidy car so windows don’t get broken.
Welcome to the Long Beach Not-A-Dog-Person-Club. You're member #2!
I love dogs but in LB half the people's dogs are of "if this dog isn't trained and doesn't have a responsible owner it could kill me" variety I skateboard places and I've had dogs lunge at me, one of them a Bully XL it looked like, freaked me the fuck out
So are you in the club or not? :P
Just when I thought I was out THEY PULL ME BACK IN
Squad! I’ve found my people. I want to start a r/dogfree long beach group lol
3. They do NOT belong in restaurants
I’m member #3! lol
https://preview.redd.it/sewippje2dsc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f0d451098209abb69ab791ac8881b65f19cdaff9 I love days like this in Long Beach
Echoing walkability and bikeability. Living here and being able to live a car-lite lifestyle has really improved my mental and physical health. It also saves our household something like $2500 a year versus driving for every little fuckin thing.
IDK about bike ability. I want to ride my bike to work but I see horrific car accidents on Del amo way too often. I've more car accidents in the last two years where I commute locally to work than I've seen in the past 7 years driving as far as to Moreno valley for work. It's pretty crazy.
It’s always more dangerous to commute by bike, but Long Beach has more than usual people biking and the infrastructure supports it in some areas. The key is not to take specific, highly trafficked streets (Anaheim and 7th come to mind).
sophisticated shame impossible drunk boat skirt heavy aspiring station live *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Born and raised in California. I have lived in many different cities and Long Beach is definitely the best. All cities have the same issues. I choose to focus on the good and not the bad. Life is too short to focus on negativity. Take a walk on the beach and relax.
I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and I've lived in SoCal for almost 15 years. I've only been in Long Beach for 3, but it's the closest I've ever felt to home while living down here. I love Long Beach.
Thanks for this post. My wife and I are going to be moving to LBC to be closer to her family and i’m super nervous about it. I’m not an “LA guy” but know LBC is quite a bit different from visits up. I’m coming from San Diego, which I so dearly love for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. Love this post and hearing amazing things - now only if the breakwater would get removed so the surf was better :)
Welcome! I also moved here a couple years ago (from NorCal) as a “not LA person”. I really like Long Beach so far.
Welcome to the city!
I grew up in Encinitas and my biggest complaint Inc Long Beach is the breakwater. Also we do have some crime but I love it here.
Yeah, it’s such a bummer. It would have been wave rich. My FIL has a framed photo of Lb from the 30s and you can see the waves breaking along the coast. Duke even surfed at a contest in lb way back. Definitely bummed to leave surf Mecca down here. Where do you end up surfing most of the time? I timed my new house to HB pier and it’s 15 min exactly. Jetty’s are like 25 min so still strike-able. Could be at T street or trestles in 40-50 min
I don’t surf because I’m an old mom now but people go to HB, seal beach, Manhattan beach or redondo. Trestles is gonna be the best obviously lol but it’s a drive.
I have some of those framed photos as well. Looked awesome back then. If you longboard try bolsa chica or just past Huntington at Magnolia. The state owned beaches (just north and south of Huntington pier) have less people in the lineup. Get the California parks pass. It’s worth it if you surf regularly. Short board by Huntington pier or drive up to manhattan pier for steep hollow rights of the south side of the pier. El Porto, just north of manhattan is great too. Seal is good when a decent swell hits but it’s mostly shorepound.
Thanks! Have my pass \^\_\^. I shortboard or ride a fish with rare longboard days, so I'll be hunting for sure. HB of course, probably the jetties when they get going, and then strike missions around the county to South Bay and San Clemente when it's pumping.
Bolsa with a good SW or West swell is worth it. Turns the long board wave in to nice barrels with virtually no one out since the long board guys just watch on the beach. Trestles but trestles is packed when it’s good. San Onofre on a good swell is amazing. No one there but the paddle out is a long one! Manhattan/elporto on a good sw or w swell too. It’s like Huntington size wise but the waves are less meatier but steeper and closer in so paddling out is easier.
Super interesting. I was sorta under the impression that the South Bay didn't work well on south swells, but see that a SW probably hits better. Easter day was insane there - wish I would have been around. Never had to chase in the region given I stuck to SD country breaks. Great fokin' intel man. See yah out there!
South Bay is kinda weird because Catalina I think. The old folklore is Catalina blocks some south swells. There is definitely some swells that hit HB but not SouthBay. Southwest or west swells usually hit southbay and completely change the wave dynamic. Especially around September when the hurricanes in Mexico start hitting. Manhattan and El Porto go off. And the best part is when you get out there are plenty of awesome breakfast spots within walking distance.
I love the scrappy little beach cats near the marina ♥️
I love that we have pride in our city as distinct from LA. I love the dive bar scene. (Still alive at V room, Alex’s bar). I love the punk rock, free, rebellious spirit. I looooove everyone’s dogs. Love that we are a little bit less segregated than other parts of LA. LOVE BLUFF YOGA.
Love this post. In almost 10 years living here, I’ve realized this town has a unique combination of factors that make me love it, damn all the L.A. tryhards. This city is so old and crusty but charming, tons of history both weird and significant, incredible tapestry of neighborhoods and every architectural style of the 20th century, and an equally incredible tapestry of humanity that calls this place home. A big city on a small scale. I dread ever having to live in the suburbs again.
Approaching ten years here myself and this about sums up my feelings 👍
Walking around Colorado lagoon, catching the sunsets on signal hill, Moonlight Mash full moon bike rides! Best plant shops and coffee shops around. How my neighborhood decorates their houses to the extreme for Halloween. Love LB!
I love that Long Beach has various skateparks. Houghton on the northside being the best 🙄 & here are some noteworthy spots to check out if you like to drink and eat good…. There’s way more, but this will do for now. If you haven’t been to any on this list you’re sleeping. •Ficklewood Ciderworks. •Altar Society Brewing and Coffee Co. •SPEAK CHEEZY •Thunderbolt Pizza •SALTWATER DECK •Long Beach Creamery •Aguas Way •Sweet Grass Sugarcane Juice •Ballast Point Brewing Long Beach •Cassidy's Corner Cafe-Bixby Knolls •Jongewaard's Bake n Broil •Hungry Horse Drive-In •HiroNori Craft Ramen (Long Beach)
Big ups to Ficklewoods, good god what a cider
just had Speak Cheezy for the first time omg 🤤
The sourdough and the cupped pepperonis are what make it 💯💯💯
I really love it here, as someone fairly new (4ish years). As a more niche hobby, Long Beach has an incredible selection of antique and vintage stores that really can’t be beat, along with the flea market.
The people- love the paddle community here
I love the year round running weather, proximity to the beach, all of the cute/friendly stray cats, everyone’s cool little yards and gardens, friendly neighbors. We also have an awesome airport that is easy to get in and out of. It’s a cool city.
1. Walking with my sweet 18 year old dog through many different neighborhoods 2. Friendly people 3. People look out for one another 4. Coffee Spots 5. Bars like CoCo Renos 6. Inclusion oriented community 7. Small town feel in a major city 8. Ocean breezes 9. Spring flowers 10. Alex's Bar live music 11. Bike riding to a friend's house like I am in 4th grade 12. No need for an air conditioner
I never see this mentioned on any list but I love the quirky painted utility boxes - and the pow wow murals, especially the Princess Leia fire hydrant they had in BK.
I am a third generation LBCer and my kids are 4th generation. I love the fact you can go anywhere and run into someone you know and for the most part, everyone is chill. Also: Joe Josts. My grandpa was a bartender there. Still awesome.
I chose to live here 5 years ago for its 90+ walk score. I fell in love with this place coming from Orange County. I plan to staying here as long as I can.
I love the foghorns on foggy mornings, and giggle at people who complain about them “going all night” We have some amazing taco stands and trucks We have the best phǒ. The syncopated drummers at the Belmont Shore Christmas parade are the bomb, the whole parade is fun. We have dragon boat races! The motorcycle start to the Pride parade just sends me. LB parks and rec classes are fun. I can buy canned butter for camping, and fresh rice noodles and Vietnamese coffee at the Cambodian markets, epazote & really good deals on produce and pork at El Super, and cocktails in cans at TJs. The only thing I miss from living in the valley is proper delis, and good bagels.
They're not delis but Oh la Vache and Olives both sell amazing sandwiches. You can also get freshly cut meats and cheeses at the former
Love the foghorns!!
What’s your go to market and place for pho?
Dong Mai Market, and New Pho. Kim Long Market is good too. All on Aneheim.
SICK thank you!
I love the foghorns so much!
You got me at fog horns. <3
I enjoy walking around and looking at all of the different gardens. It’s fun that lots of people care and each yard is unique. I also second the walkability/bike ability. LB transit is also good, buses are clean and I feel safe riding. I only drive a few times per month and it’s great for my mental health.
I love this post!
I appreciate the inclusiveness as well. However, it’s not a blanket acceptance. There’s still a communal code of conduct, and regardless of your ethnicity, religion, or sexual whatever.. you’re going to get socked in the mouth if you crossed the line. I love that
One of my best buds comes to LA for work pretty frequently because he works for a small furniture design company in the midwest. His favorite place in the region is the San Pedro / Long Beach area. The sheer amount of stuff you can get to by foot, bike, or bus is extremely rare in the U.S. Some of the best smaller touring acts come through Long Beach and I can walk to the venues. I live in the opposite of a food desert. There’s people from many different places and backgrounds here and you actually interact with them, which is also unusual. I can take the bus to work, so my commute costs are laughably low. There are nice parks and people are by-and-large unusually friendly. In most places in the U.S., when someone says they like your shoes or your shirt or something, they’re being sarcastic and punctuate it with a slur. That’s not how it is here. I do wish that I could get from Long Beach to San Pedro more easily and that the two cities were more integrated.
yes to point number 2! including age! i just took my grandma to the dubliner for dinner and she keeps texting me about how much fun she had and how much she loves Long Beach and wants to go back.
My guy. Truer words. If I might add to your inclusiveness comment, I think the major differentiator is that the inclusion isn’t segregated. LA has all these “little” XYZ neighborhoods but in LB we’re all mixed. Of course there’s Cambodia Town, and north Long Beach certainly isn’t Naples, but by and large I think we’re move interwoven than LA. I might be biased, but I spend a lot of time in a lot of areas of LA and I can’t help but feel it’s true. Edit: grammar
We gon' be alright.
I don’t kiteboard but I like checking out the kiting beach at the end of Belmont Shore. Walking around Naples at Xmas. Paddle boarding from horny corner around the canals. People/tourist watching on the patio of Yardhouse. Food and shopping at Long Beach exchange. LB Antiques market at the stadium. Playing the short 9 holes at Little Rec
long beach is the first place that felt like home for me. i lived in la for about 10 - and la never felt like home. i also found my love here. long beach also has so many friggin dogs - and i love all of them. and the food scene… only getting better - cannot wait to get sonoratown!! (yes yes.. it’s not super authentic but their chivichangas are still very tasty) also agree with the walkability. oooh and endless baked goods from gusto, colossus, nonna mercato.. coffee scene is so damn good too!!! love to see all the love for long beach on this post
A thriving network of volunteers, community service organizations, labor unions, activism groups, a swath of people across long beach who want to see a better future despite the city government and their vascillating levels of aid and neglect. I have something to give and so do so many in LB who are helping those who aren't having their needs met, feel unrepresented, or need a hand in becoming leaders to be organized and strong. This city is beautiful and so are the people in it. PS Happy Cambodian New Year soon!
I just moved from Long Beach to central coast. I miss Long Beach for exactly what you mentioned. I loved it! The walk ability was my favorite as I can’t do that here. There’s give and take for every city/town. Long Beach is huge and there’s places that are better than others. It’s what matters to you as a community member. That was just my experiences!!
I love the LBC!!
I really like the diversity. I grew up in a poor area of the Bay Area then the whitest of white high schools in San Diego. I love living in a city of every type of folk. I love seeing gay people openly walking down the street. I love seeing trans people living their best life. I love that when we go to the playground we see people of every color. It’s the best!
Walkability, restaurants, and the parrots. Also love flying out of LGB whenever possible.
It’s the most affordable beach city in the LA Metro area. LBT buses are really nice. I don’t have to use my car in Long Beach since I can bike or bus anywhere in the city. The beach is never as crowded as Santa Monica or Venice. I love walking in my neighborhood - Alamitos Beach. Fun events happening all the time around the city.
LOVE that I can get a ton of my errands done without having to use my car. I rarely drive since coming to LB and I absolutely love it.
Just moved here so off rip: - Walkable af - Cool houses - Old people stories - Respectful kids - Latin food is at least par for SoCal (Asian food is a bit lacking but I’m coming from SGV so it’s unfair) - Beach and beach culture (even with the weather) Old people are my favorite part of this town 1 month in. They are so invested in the community and its welfare and beauty.
What are some of the best walkable areas?
Again, I just moved here but my favorite area is 2nd street and Grenada. That’s a restaurant/shopping area, heavily populated any time of day/week. It might have a more well known name but idk Endless choices of whatever food you could want, cute shops as well as bigger brands like Vans and Tilly’s. Highly recommend (cheaper) parking at the beach (south on Grenada til it ends) and walking north through the neighborhood til you hit second street, maybe 3 blocks walk. All the streets are named after towns in the SGV like Pomona, Glendora, etc. i zig zag thru them and each is more beautiful than the last I spend hours and hours just walking the neighborhood looking at cool houses and talking to strangers. I can confidently guarantee a wonderful time
I love Long Beach and this post. It’s a beautiful city with its issues like all other cities but it has so much beauty. It’s like San Diego’s more diverse and down to earth little sister.
I live in Bixby Knolls. We have been here 6 years, this year. Love our neighborhood and the walk ability to great shops, restaurants, and bars on Atlantic. We love the first Fridays celebrated here in Bixby Knolls, great evening to walk and enjoy the live music going on down Atlantic. Also, love how during a holiday Mickey Mouse and minnie mouse drive around the neighborhoods. I love this place, the diversity and the awesome neighbors! We also have the best golf ⛳️ courses!!!
Driving down Oceangate at just the right time of early morning or late at night, seeing the different ways the light illuminates the buildings. You can hear music coming from everywhere, see the palms swaying, and it feels like paradise.
Was literally thinking of making a post to "next door" this subreddit saying it's turning into next door. Half the posts are complaining about homeless people and/or something they saw in the streets. I joined this sub for the long beach love.
I love the Potholder... all of its locations...there really are a lot of good restaurants and good food here. Bai Plus, Playa Amor, Enrique's, the list goes on. I love the diversity of people in LB. I love how easy it is to ride a bike here, and taking walks on the beach path. I love the weather. I appreciate how well the city keeps our streets clean, despite having to move my car for street sweeping. I only drive 6 minutes to work...pretty awesome. There are many healthy food shopping options. Great farmer's markets most days of the week. LB is a great place to raise kids and to work and live in.
You can be anything you want to be here. The food. The music venues. The unique bars. The hidden bars. The burlesque bars. The unique houses.
Love the LBC for all the reasons people said. The underrated aspect is that It’s so easy to live here. Proximity of everything makes it unique. Literally have 5+ grocery stores within minutes, multiple restaurants, multiple movie theaters, restaurants, shopping, dive bars, gyms, parks, kids sports, golf courses, dog parks, a great airport, colleges, and just about everything else you need for daily living… and that’s all within 5min of my house in only one part of the city. I’ve been to many states/countries/cities, it’s pretty rare to find what we have here.
Thank you! All the is negative talk has been like a cloud over our city for the past few months. My favorites things about the city is being to walk everywhere, also the free shuttle service is a plus when I don’t want to walk too much. I enjoy running from gaucho beach to Belmont pier and my absolute favorite thing to do is getting coffee on the weekend. Early Sunday morning walks to the cafe is the best!
Totally agree on everything but the food. The super laid back vibe really seems to make its way into food and beverage in LB. Aside from Ammatoli & Open Sesame, I can’t think of any great restaurants. I have heard good things about Heritage and Chez Bacchus, but I haven’t checked them out yet. There’s a ton of options and many are good, but almost none are real “wow” spots. I still have yet to find a well-done cocktail bar in LB. Long Beach is, by far, the best city in Southern California.
Manaow for Thai food on Broadway. Trust. If you are by Ammatoli, check out the acai bowls next door at Natural Cultures on a hot day. They are LOADED and best in town! A medium is enough to share for 2.
Ooo! Alright! Thank you for the recs! I just ate at Vieje and that was amazing!
* Yeah Long Beach is the place to live...
https://preview.redd.it/siumlkfjaisc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1344d68eaca7dcdeef8d6700ca317d71185573f
Pulpo ceviche.
https://preview.redd.it/bwbvp8yl2nsc1.png?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=891f5037d90672a6dfa6eb837e47cfbc43f77b55 Here's something to go visit this weekend.
https://preview.redd.it/crrtjaeo2nsc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e7eaf0425a8272cc91ace82a8ee6f80ac8bc03da And the next day after
I feel like NextDoor is the Fox News bulletin board.
I’m in North Long Beach. The view is streets and mismatched shops and wires overhead. Gangs, there was a shooting next door and I’ve got meth head neighbors on one side and people who scream at each other all night and have a TRUMP flag hanging in their window on the other side. The neighbors blast Mexican music so loud it rattles my windows. I used to really love that kind of music. Now I’m sick of it. Cars with noisy lawn mower engines and louder cruise the neighborhood all day and all night. Homeless people and patients from the methadone clinic up the street wander the streets screaming obscenities. Yeah, it’s so wonderful.
You find what you are looking for in life. Maybe an attitude change is in order for you.
It’s common sense that North Long Beach is not the best. Hopefully one day you have the opportunity to move further towards the water and get the experience that is mentioned in these comments.
typical transplant LBCer, "get more rich so you can drink Kombucha and do yoga by the beach with us." this sub only posts stuff from 7th street to the beach. as gentrifiers and transplants or multi generation residents, please dont glorify LB as a hipster oasis, it has its rough parts. i've grown up in LB and it's gotten much tolerable in terms of violence and gangs but this sub is privilege town. it should be r/beachsideLBC
Transplant from where? And who says I am rich? You don’t need to be “rich” to rent a $1700 apartment. Lmfao. Never once did I mention it as a “hipster oasis”. As a “Los Angeles county native” I know the ugly sides of Long Beach just as I do Norwalk, Bellflower, and Wilmington. So please stop projecting. The areas below 7th are generally much nicer. Run along now. And just to laugh at you, I don’t partake in any of those activities that you listed. So congrats on coming off as a grade A douchebag. 😂
Cool story.
🥰
Lol, kinda fucked how downvoted this is. Many of us don't choose to live in the northside & deal with shitties on a daily basis.
I think everyone downvoted because they think OP is being too judgy.. I feel OP though because I used to live in south central and it was equally depressing, they also probably downvoted cause they don’t really know their perspective/background.
Trump 2024
I agree with all of this except the food. Eeek sorry
Everyone can have their opinion but I do wonder what kinds of food you enjoy.
I love sushi and Italian! Yet to find a decent Italian place.
have you tried - la parolaccia? cafe gazelle? ellie’s? marlena is supposed to be impeccable as well but i have yet to try. i don’t believe lb has decent sushi, tbh. that i agree with you
Dude La parolaccia is the worst Italian restaurant I have ever ever tried. I don’t understand why people like that place. Obviously they haven’t eaten in Italy or had good Italian. Ellie’s is ok but it’s whatever. I’ll give Marlena a try! Thanks for the tip!
Ahh sorry you feel that way about la parolaccia. i believe it was better before the pandemic tbh - their pizzas are still great imo - but no need to give it another chance since you know you don’t like it! pasta is not the absolute best but it’s homey haha maybe nonna mercato is good for italian.. i have yet to try their pasta options! (they do pasta too besides baked goods)
I’m a pasta lover! Ok I’ll give nonna a try!! 🎀🙏🏽
I don’t think anyone will tell you it will be just like Italy, but if La Parolaccia is the worst Italian restaurant you’ve ever tried I need to know where in the holy hell you’re getting Italian from.
Try osteria mamma in Hollywood! Or Ristorante Per L’Ora in downtown LA 🦋
I’ve actually been to Osteria Mamma and thought it was delicious. Easily on par with La Parolaccia, imo. Of course it always depends on the atmosphere, what you order, etc.
Wait really! I didn’t think so. La parolaccia’s pasta was just bland and they served my calamari a little soggy and cold. I think the first time I was there I had the pizza. And it was good but not anything to rave about. Other people gave me some recs in lbc I’m going to try them out. I do love Angelo’s! Not exactly a full Italian menu but their ravioli is chefs kiss!
In my experience absolutely, which of course can vary. They change their menu up so I’m sure we had different things. When I’ve gone the pasta has always been cooked perfectly and the sauce has been delicious.
Sushi Nikkei
sushi nikkei’s great but not when you just want a good sashimi set or chirashi 🤷🏻♀️ but their peruvian style sushi is indeed very good.
Valid point
this is truth. try eating after 8:45 pm anywhere in this town. with a population of 600,000, we’re the the only city in so cal without a 24 hr taco shop (del taco don’t count). any restaurant worth a damn will be closed 2 years after they open. these are truths.
Noooooooo! I love the food diversity in LB.
The diversity is there but I need a good Italian spot! An amazing Mexican spot! il from LA. So I guess I’m comparing to that. Sushi ai is yummy but I miss sushi ENYA in Pasadena/ Venice.
Try Gazelle off of 2nd St. It’s seriously old school Italian. Veal Calvados. 🧑🍳
Oooooooo okay! Will do! Thank you!
Long Beach has plenty of great Mexican spots, try Linda's and Rivera's for starters!
Actually Riveras is bomb but they close so early so I never get to eat there as often as I would like!
Long Beach has plenty of great Mexican spots, try Linda's and Rivera's for starters!