Downtown Santa Monica's Fall Runs on the Farmers Market's Clock
October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026
Two restaurants opened this July on the same block of Santa Monica Boulevard, a few doors apart. Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen held its grand opening on July 16 at 115 Santa Monica Blvd. Its Pakistani and Indian menu is described as 100% halal. At 109 Santa Monica Blvd, Kogen Omakase opened in mid-July in the space that once held Bar Monette, Little Ruby and Bar Pintxo. Its menu leans on seasonal California produce because the restaurant sits steps from the twice-weekly Santa Monica Farmers Market, according to Eater LA.
Kogen's own description makes a useful map for the season. Downtown Santa Monica's ocean end had a busy summer of openings, and its fall calendar lines up with the market's Wednesday-and-Saturday schedule. Block Fest, the Promenade pop-up, the pier's morning workouts and the line dancing at Santa Monica Place all fall on those two days. The new places can all be reached on foot from Arizona Avenue.
Every opening below sits west of Fifth Street, between the pier and Wilshire Boulevard.
| Place | Address | Opened | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raising Cane's | 1401 Third Street Promenade | June 10 | Chicken fingers, in the former Bibimbap space |
| Dragon Alley Coffee | 312 Santa Monica Blvd. | June, ribbon-cutting June 17 | Espresso, Japanese matcha, specialty drinks |
| TMNT Pizzeria | 1444 Third Street Promenade | Grand opening June 20 | Themed pizzeria |
| West Side Oyster Club | 1355 Ocean Ave. | Summer 2026 | Oysters, chowder, lobster rolls |
| Kogen Omakase | 109 Santa Monica Blvd. | Mid-July | High-end sushi counter |
| Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen | 115 Santa Monica Blvd. | Grand opening July 16 | Pakistani and Indian, halal menu |
| Gott's Roadside | 401 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 140 | October 2 | Burgers, seafood, soft serve |
The prices cover a wide range. Kogen charges $295 for its sushi menu and $175 for a wine or sake pairing. Eater LA compared that with Kojima at $240 and Kusano in Culver City at $160 on the Westside, and with Shunji, the longtime Santa Monica counter, also at $295. That puts Kogen in the top price tier. A few blocks away on Ocean Avenue, West Side Oyster Club's lobster roll costs $28, which Eater called "modest (for Los Angeles)." Gott's adds the most kid-friendly option, with soft serve, picnic tables and a kiosk set at kid height.
West Side Oyster Club also restores a familiar spot on Ocean Avenue. Blue Plate Oysterette closed in early 2026 after a run that Eater put at 17 years. Yunnie and Greg Morena, the family behind the Albright on the Santa Monica Pier, reopened the address as a raw bar with a patio facing the Pacific. The bread-bowl clam chowder uses the Albright's original 1977 recipe. Los Angeles Magazine dated the debut to late June, and Eater said early July. The restaurant was serving by midsummer either way.
The City lists the Downtown Farmers Market as year-round, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 155–199 Arizona Ave. It runs rain or shine, apart from holiday and extreme-weather closures. Through October 31, Downtown Santa Monica's Summer Social pop-up runs on the same two days, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Third Street Promenade between Arizona Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. That is directly beside the market.
A Wednesday this month can run from morning to night without a car:
On Saturday, October 10, almost the whole calendar fits into one morning and afternoon. The Santa Monica Pier's Wellness & Waves series meets from 8 to 10 a.m. for a group run and yoga or mat Pilates. October 10 and October 17 are the last two dates this year. The farmers market opens at 8. The Promenade pop-up starts at 10. A September 2026 downtown presentation prepared for the City lists Santa Monica Block Fest VIII for the same day. Santa Monica Place adds a free live-music series in Center Plaza from October 9 to 11.
Block Fest follows the market's schedule over the whole season. The same presentation lists Block Fest VII on September 12, VIII on October 10, IX on November 14 and X on December 12. Each of those dates falls on a Saturday, the busier of the two market days. The Saturday market also runs right beside Third Street Promenade, which ties the morning crowd to the street where the fest takes place.
The new restaurants can absorb the extra Saturday crowd. West Side Oyster Club opens at 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays and stays open until 10 p.m. The Westside Current reported that Gott's added "plenty of room for families, sports teams, neighbors, and beachgoers," along with plenty of bike parking and a heated patio. The City's summer numbers show how much traffic these blocks get. The presentation counted 1.1 million visits to Third Street Promenade between June 1 and August 15, 2026, up 10.9% from the year before. That is about a fifth of the 5.3 million visits to downtown as a whole.
The pier's two biggest October events fall outside the market rhythm, so they need their own spot on the calendar.
Thursday, October 15. Locals' Night marks the 50th anniversary of Dogtown with a drive-in screening of Dogtown and Z-Boys. The pier calls it "just blocks from where the legend began." The night includes a vinyl DJ set by original Z-Boy Tony Alva, live music from Cycotic Youth, a skate ramp by Beyond the Board, salsa lessons, a classic car meet and local vendors. An unlimited Pacific Park ride wristband and sticker pack costs $40, against a $60 retail value. Locals' Night runs every third Thursday from September through May, and the pier lists "Swiss Art + Sound" as November's theme. By that rule, the next one would fall on November 19.
Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1. The pier's Día de los Muertos celebration fills the Merry-Go-Round building with community altars and performances. The November 1 program runs from noon to 5:30 p.m. On October 31, the last scheduled day of the Promenade pop-up, the market, the pop-up and the start of the pier celebration all fall on the same Saturday.
The pier also notes that it and its businesses stay open during current construction, and it posts directions and parking information on its site.
The pop-up ends with October, but the market keeps its year-round schedule. The same City presentation lists an ice skating rink opening in November and holiday programming for winter.
The presentation also lists a set of coming-soon tenants. Several sit on the same blocks as the summer openings:
None of these has a confirmed opening date yet. The Taco Bell Cantina permits were filed for the address the Santa Monica Daily Press described in June as the Britannia Pub's, and no opening day has been announced. Gott's shows how these listings can move. It appeared on that list as "Fall 2026" in September and opened on October 2.
If you own near Ocean Avenue, downtown activity like this plays a quiet part in your home's value, and probate and trust sales in particular depend on getting that context right. Aluna Realty advises trustees, executors and longtime owners on Westside estates with full discretion. Let's Connect: Schedule a Confidential Consultation.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
Ann Marie specializes in helping clients with luxury, investment, and/or distressed properties, offering fast and reliable services across Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, and San Diego Counties. Contact her today to discuss your situation and prepare your property for sale.
2424 Huntington Drive San Marino, CA 91108