35+ Fun Things to Do in Hermosa Beach: The Local Guide
Looking for fun things to do in Hermosa Beach? This 1.43 square mile city packs more into its streets than towns five times its size: a historic pier, a real gallery scene, a nationally known comedy club, Hollywood filming credits, and a calendar of events locals plan their year around. Whether it is a first visit or a Tuesday afternoon errand run, this guide covers where to go, what to see, and when to show up.
About this guide: Local Anchor is a South Bay community media platform covering local events, restaurants, and things to do since 2017. We update this list regularly based on firsthand experience and community input.
Hermosa Beach at a Glance
Hermosa Beach covers just 1.43 square miles with about 1.8 miles of ocean frontage, making it one of the smallest and most walkable cities in the South Bay. Nearly everything in this guide sits within a 15 minute walk of the pier, so a day here rarely requires a car.
Start at the Pier and Pier Plaza
The Hermosa Beach Pier extends 1,140 feet from the Strand into the Pacific Ocean. The current structure was built in 1965 and renovated in the early 2000s, and it remains the natural starting point for a visit.
Pier Plaza, the pedestrian stretch leading up to the pier, is where the city’s energy concentrates. Restaurants and bars line both sides, outdoor patios spill into the walkway, and bike and surrey rentals make it easy to continue down the Strand toward Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach. It is also one of the best people watching spots in the South Bay, especially on weekend afternoons.
Explore Downtown Hermosa Beach
Downtown Hermosa Beach runs along Hermosa Avenue and down Pier Avenue to Pier Plaza and the sand. The Downtown Hermosa Beach Business Association keeps the strip filled with independent shops, restaurants, and a few longtime local institutions, making it an easy area to wander for an afternoon.
Shopping Downtown
Stars Antique is one of our favorite spots for vintage finds and antique shopping in Hermosa Beach, tucked in among the newer boutiques downtown. Pair a stop there with a walk down Pier Avenue, where small, independently owned shops change often enough to reward a repeat visit.
Art Galleries and Public Art in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach has a gallery scene that surprises people who think of it only as a beach town.
Shockboxx
Shockboxx is a contemporary gallery located in the Cypress Arts District, showing rotating exhibitions from emerging and established artists. It is a small space, but it consistently punches above its size.
Gallery of Hermosa
Gallery of Hermosa features local and regional artists across a range of mediums and is worth checking for current exhibitions before a visit.
Public Art and the Surfer’s Walk of Fame
The city maintains a public art map tour highlighting sculptures, murals, and even a series of wrapped utility boxes around town. At the pier, the Surfer’s Walk of Fame was created in 2003 to honor individuals and groups who have contributed to the sport of surfing in Hermosa Beach, a nod to the city’s deep surf culture.
Hermosa Beach’s Live Music and Comedy Scene
For a city this size, Hermosa Beach has an outsized live music and comedy legacy. Local Anchor covered the full history in Hermosa Beach: A Tiny Town with a Mighty Music Legacy, which traces the city’s roots as a West Coast jazz destination through today’s lineup of venues.
Where to Catch Live Music
The Lighthouse Cafe has hosted live music on Pier Avenue since 1949 and is known worldwide as a hub for West Coast jazz. Saint Rocke books a regular calendar of touring and local acts, and several restaurants and bars around Pier Plaza feature everything from acoustic sets to full rock bands most weekends. The city’s free outdoor Hermosa Beach Concert Series brings music to the beach south of the pier throughout the summer. For a full rundown of where to catch a show across the South Bay, see Local Anchor’s South Bay Live Music Venues Guide.
The Comedy & Magic Club
The Comedy & Magic Club is Hermosa Beach’s famous, nationally known comedy club, drawing national headliners to a city best known for its beach. It is worth building a night out around, whether that means dinner on Pier Avenue beforehand or a nightcap at Pier Plaza after the show.
Parks, Recreation, and Golf in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach has more green space than its size suggests, with over 20 parks and parkettes citywide.
Neighborhood Parks
Edith Rodaway Friendship Park and South Park are two of the city’s well used neighborhood green spaces, and residents also have access to tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts, baseball and soccer fields, and even a lawn bowling club spread across the city’s park system.
Hermosa Beach Community Center and Skate Park
The Hermosa Beach Community Center is home to several of the city’s social and recreational facilities, including the Five-O senior center, the Community Theatre, tennis courts, and a skate park that draws skaters from across the South Bay.
South Bay Golf Club
South Bay Golf Club rounds out the recreation scene for anyone looking to fit in a round without leaving the area.
History and Culture in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach Historical Society and Museum
The Hermosa Beach Historical Society was founded in 1987 to acquire, preserve, and interpret memorabilia and materials tied to the city’s history, and its collection is open to the public.
Hermosa Beach Community Theatre
The Hermosa Beach Community Theatre seats 502 and is a favorite venue for youth musical theatre groups, film premieres, and dance productions, giving residents regular access to live performance without leaving town.
Hermosa Beach Library
The Hermosa Beach Library, managed by the LA County Library system, offers print and digital collections along with programming for children, teens, and adults.
Famous Hermosa Beach Filming Locations
Hermosa Beach has shown up on screen more than most visitors realize. Scenes from La La Land (2016) were filmed on location in the city, and the TV show The O.C. filmed extensively on the Strand, the pier, and Pier Plaza. The Beach House from Beverly Hills, 90210, used during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, sits on the north end of the Strand. It is a fun detour for anyone walking the boardwalk to see if they recognize the block.
Where to Eat, Drink, and Plan a Date Night
Pier Avenue and Pier Plaza are lined with restaurants and bars covering nearly every craving, from casual beachside spots to sit down dinners with an ocean view. Patrick Molloy’s is one of our favorite spots for an Irish-style pub menu and an elevated cocktail and whiskey list, and it is a good option for a casual night out that still feels like an occasion. For breakfast or an early start before a beach day, the pier area has several coffee and brunch spots within a short walk of the sand.
For date night specifically, book ahead for anything with an ocean view, since patio tables along the Strand fill up quickly on weekends. For a more curated list, Local Anchor’s Best South Bay Date Night Restaurants roundup includes several standouts in Hermosa Beach worth planning around.
Hermosa Beach Farmers Market
The Hermosa Beach Farmers Market runs Fridays from 12 to 4pm at 1035 Valley Drive, at the corner of Valley Drive and 11th Street next to Clark Field. Shoppers can find certified local farmers, fresh produce and flowers, food and drink vendors, and live music most weeks. For more South Bay market options, see Local Anchor’s guide to local South Bay farmers markets.
Signature Events and Local Traditions in Hermosa Beach
Hermosa Beach runs a full calendar of events every year, several of which draw visitors from across the South Bay and beyond.
Spring and Summer
Fiesta Hermosa kicks off over Memorial Day Weekend with carnival rides, four stages of live music, food and drink vendors, and shopping booths along Pier Plaza. Local Anchor has full details in its Fiesta Hermosa guide. The Downtown Business Association’s Summer Sidewalk Sale follows later in the season, and the Hermosa Beach Open, professional beach volleyball’s longtime South Bay stop, brings pro and near pro athletes to the sand each year with free admission for spectators.
Two unofficial traditions round out the summer calendar. The International Surf Festival celebrates the city’s surf culture with contests and community events, and the Hermosa Ironman is an unofficial triathlon held every July 4th: a mile run in the sand, a mile paddle on a surfboard, and a 6 pack finish, with the rule that the first to finish without getting sick wins.
Fall
Fiesta Hermosa returns for a second round over Labor Day Weekend, and Locale 90254’s Oktoberfest brings Bavarian food, beer, live music, and carnival games to the city each September. Local Anchor covers it in Family-Friendly Oktoberfest Returning to Hermosa Beach.
Winter
Hermosa for the Holidays transforms the city into an open-air holiday market each November, combining the traditional Holiday Open House and Tree Lighting with shopping, live music, and community events. Local Anchor has the full rundown in Celebrate the Season with Hermosa for the Holidays. Later in the season, the Sand Snowman Contest and the California Great Santa Stroll add a beach town twist to the holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hermosa Beach known for?
Hermosa Beach is known for its pier and Pier Plaza, its beach volleyball and surf culture, and a live music and comedy scene that punches well above its size, including the Lighthouse Cafe and the Comedy & Magic Club.
Is Hermosa Beach worth visiting?
Yes. At just 1.43 square miles, Hermosa Beach is walkable enough to see the pier, downtown shops, galleries, and the beach in a single day, with enough restaurants and events to fill an entire weekend.
Are there art galleries in Hermosa Beach?
Yes. Shockboxx in the Cypress Arts District and Gallery of Hermosa both feature rotating exhibitions, and the city maintains a public art map tour of sculptures and murals throughout town.
What events happen in Hermosa Beach every year?
Hermosa Beach hosts Fiesta Hermosa in both spring and fall, the Hermosa Beach Open beach volleyball tournament, Oktoberfest, Hermosa for the Holidays, the Hermosa Beach Concert Series, and the unofficial Hermosa Ironman every July 4th, among other annual traditions.
What movies and TV shows were filmed in Hermosa Beach?
La La Land filmed scenes on location in Hermosa Beach, The O.C. used the Strand, pier, and Pier Plaza throughout its run, and the Beach House from Beverly Hills, 90210 was located on the north end of the Strand during the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
Getting to Hermosa Beach and Parking
Hermosa Beach is easy to reach from anywhere in the South Bay and just a short drive from LAX. Street parking fills up fast on weekends and during summer, so plan to arrive early or use one of the public lots near Pier Avenue and Hermosa Avenue. Since most of the attractions in this guide sit within walking distance of each other, one parking spot is usually enough to cover an entire visit.
Plan Your Visit
Hermosa Beach rewards a slow visit. Start at the pier, wander Pier Avenue, and let the galleries, music, and food fill in the rest of the day. For more South Bay guides, check out Local Anchor’s things to do in Manhattan Beach and things to do in Redondo Beach, and subscribe to the Local Anchor newsletter for weekly South Bay event roundups delivered straight to your inbox.
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DISCLOSURE: Event schedules are subject to change. Please contact the event host or venue to confirm event details.
