If you’re a young professional in your 20s or early 30s – or are forever young at heart – the energy of this picturesque oceanside community may be it for you. 

The middle point between neighboring Manhattan and Redondo beaches, Hermosa Beach has a younger feel than both. The large beach and oftentimes larger-than-life party scene give it a reputation as one of the best spots in the area for nightlife. In summer months, gatherings around the Pier turn into 'ragers. The active Pier Avenue scene offers everything from dive bars to nicer spots to grab a bite to eat. On Pier Ave, some lively restaurants like [Baja Sharkees](https://sharkeez.net/hermosa-beach/) and [American Junkie](https://www.americanjunkiehb.com/) turn into some of the local's favorite “nightclubs,” as well as a pub called [Underground](https://undergroundpubandgrill.com/) a little further from the beach.

It’s worth noting that just because the party never stops here doesn’t mean the beach looks it. Locals pride themselves on the pristine and soft sand that makes beach volleyball games and hanging in the sun feel all the more luxurious.

When your hometown is known for its nightlife, it’s no surprise the two main complaints are drunk bros and limited parking. But if the nickname “Bromosa” doesn’t scare you off, and you’re okay walking rather than driving to the beach (as many here do), this shouldn’t be an issue. Being a party town, cops are on the lookout for drunk driving so choosing to walk is to your advantage. Not to mention, it feels safe enough that you can comfortably walk home alone at 2 a.m. (a.k.a., no need to have that bro walk you if you don’t want him to).

Do you feel like you want day drinking to be more of the exception than the rule? Check out [Manhattan Beach](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/manhattan-beach) just two miles north, where locals joke kids from Hermosa Beach go to grow up. It’s affluent and very family-centric, with the bonus of a good food scene and a laid-back lifestyle. Or, slow down and spread out even more by heading south to [Redondo Beach](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/redondo-beach).


The Nightlife

LookyLOO Review of Hermosa Beach

Behind Hermosa’s bars and beach bros is a rich punk rock heritage. During the 1970s, bands like Black Flag helped solidify Hermosa Beach as the punk rock heart of the West Coast. 

Some say the city has lost its roots and some of its edge, but there’s still plenty of spirit. Thought of as one of the best places to live in California, this small city received an “A+” from Niche.com in the following categories: Nightlife (obviously), Weather, Health & Fitness, Outdoor Activities, Good for Families, and Public Schools. 

If you like getting up close and sweaty with folks on the dance floor, chances are you probably don’t mind that the housing options are a bit more compact here as well. The good news? You get to know your neighbors. The market is more renter-friendly than surrounding Manhattan and Redondo which trend towards more single-family homes. Fifty percent of residents rent while the other half own, creating an interesting urban-suburban mix.

Beyond the bars, Hermosa is a comfortable and laid-back beach town. It’s not walkable in the New York sense where you can walk to everything you need – groceries, household items, entertainment, dining – but walkable in the sense that you can get to restaurants, bars, and a couple of the essentials on foot. You do have to be careful in some parts as sidewalks can disappear for no reason and cars take stop signs as a suggestion, but the Sand Section and green spaces are intentionally laid out to make an outdoor lifestyle feel not only natural but unbelievably enjoyable.

Most of the residents are remote workers as the freeway isn’t super close and a commute to downtown LA would look something like a nightmare. But when they aren’t logged onto their laptops, folks love getting out and chatting with each other at the local coffee shops, parks, and of course, bars.

To see what locals get up to for fun in Hermosa Beach check out the [calendar of events](https://www.eventbrite.com/d/ca--hermosa-beach/events/). 

We highly recommend visiting Hermosa Beach and staying in the community in a [VRBO](https://vrbo.com/affiliate/p4JS4ZC) rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can receive discounted fares on travel via our [partnership with Expedia](https://expedia.com/affiliate/9NZ8LBQ) as well.


Beach Vibes with an Edgy Past

Lifestyle 

We’ve made a big deal about the nightlife, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t happy families living their best lives in Hermosa. The Hermosa Beach City School District is highly rated, receiving an “A” from [Niche.com](https://www.niche.com/k12/d/hermosa-beach-city-school-district-ca/), and includes options for preschool through 8th-grade students. Residents ready for high school have the option of choosing between the top-rated Mira Costa High School just north in Manhattan Beach or Redondo Union High School just south in Redondo Beach. Private schools in the area are also quite impressive. If you’re willing to drive outside of Hermosa to neighboring cities like Torrance and El Segundo, then [Vistamar School](https://www.vistamarschool.org/), [Bishop Montgomery High School](https://www.bmhs-la.org/), and [Ambassador Christian School](https://www.ambassadorchristian.com/) are great options.



Highly Rated

Schools 

As remote work becomes a more cemented reality for young professionals, some of the highest paid among them are looking to enjoy a constant state of “summer vacation.” In Hermosa Beach, residents believe your youth is best spent drinking craft beer, playing beach volleyball and watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. It’s certainly one way to do it. When else in your life will you get to live moments from the beach in a slightly rundown apartment building with all your friends and some furniture that it’s totally fine to spill beer on?




YOLO

Why You Should Move Here Now?

**TerdFerguson2112**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I live in Hermosa and work in downtown LA so I do the 1+ hour commute everyday and understand the drain but I’d prefer to live here than closer to work

I used to live in Brentwood and Culver City but I prefer Hermosa to all. of them.

It’s the smaller stuff that I like here, no having to park in a structure to go to the grocery store or Target. I rarely if ever drive on the weekends. Everywhere I want to go is walking or biking distance. I can fall asleep to the oceans crashing at night and hearing the sea lions barking. It was a great choice moving here.

For more reviews of what living in Hermosa Beach is like from locals, check out [The Reviews](https://lookyloomove.com/locations/hermosa-beach/reviews).



Reviews of Hermosa Beach from Locals

Similar to the Sand Section of Manhattan Beach, homes here are walking distance to the beach, downtown Hermosa, Hermosa Pier and the walk streets. The walk streets in Hermosa, like the name implies, are closed to car traffic. They run west to east and are typically flatter than those of Manhattan Beach. Living in the Sand Section means paying a high premium for the view and the walkability. Homes here are some of the most expensive in the whole city. According to property managers in the area, this section offers some of the coolest and most unique architecture in the South Bay. Instead of quaint beach cottages you’ll find large multi-level homes, condos and townhomes. It is important to keep in mind that there is a flip side to being walking distance to the party: you can’t necessarily get away from it all when lots of people are wanting to experience their slice of heaven at Hermosa. 


Families/Young Professionals/DINKs

The Sand Section

Homes in Hermosa Valley are close enough to the beach and downtown shops without being in the thick of it all. They offer striking ocean views at a relatively affordable price and great access to green spaces like Valley Park and the Green Belt, as well as the local middle school, Hermosa Valley School. Valley Park is the largest and most frequented park in all of Hermosa. Its 5+ acres include a playground, basketball courts, playfields, picnic tables and facilities. The “Green Belt” is also very popular and offers dog walkers, runners, bikers and parents pushing strollers nearly 4 miles of landscaped trail to enjoy surrounded by nature. Access to these spaces are a huge perk for those in the Valley.


Families/DINKS/SINKs

Hermosa Valley

Perched above the Pacific Coast Highway, homes in East Hermosa often come with excellent coastal views. Like Hermosa Valley, these properties have easy access to the Sand Section, but with lower price tags. East Hermosa is also sometimes called Hermosa Hill. Here the circa 1905 architectural styles meet upgraded and modern interiors for families and individuals who appreciate both. This is a quieter part of Hermosa that is great for families and those who like having access to the action without being in it.


East Hermosa

Hermosa Beach

**TerdFerguson2112**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

I live in Hermosa and work in downtown LA so I do the 1+ hour commute everyday and understand the drain but I’d prefer to live here than closer to work

I used to live in Brentwood and Culver City but I prefer Hermosa to all. of them.

It’s the smaller stuff that I like here, no having to park in a structure to go to the grocery store or Target. I rarely if ever drive on the weekends. Everywhere I want to go is walking or biking distance. I can fall asleep to the oceans crashing at night and hearing the sea lions barking. It was a great choice moving here.

**dilletaunty**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉🦉

As someone born and raised in HB who lived near UsC for a year then moved to the Bay Area.

Pros:

weather is consistently bearable. beach is right there

good Japanese food, decent options for most other cuisines

relaxed vibes. reasonably easy to meet people at the beach. burgeoning art scene

going along the coast is a pleasant drive along the 1 that literally is as fast as 405 even with lights

bar scene is chill

lots of locals but were used to tourists / new people and welcome them (only partly because we want your money)

pretty big emphasis on local culture & a strong sense of identity in each of the beach cities

decent funding for local programs / aid

I have heard more than one person describe it as “heaven on earth”, literally using those words

decent number of apartments and condos in a small area compared to some cities, making it very walkable/bikable - a number of people use a golf cart to get around.

Cons:

our museums and art scene absolutely suck compared to miracle mile

humidity can be a little much to people not used to it

**Anonymous**
1y ago
🦉🦉🦉

South Bay is cool. And Hermosa Beach is really nice, I would love to live there. But there's something about the whole vibe of the mile. There's never a dull moment. You can step outside your door and bump into a celebrity. Lots of interesting people around. Lots of places to go and things to do. It's right in the heart of the city, so you could get to downtown or koreatown or Hollywood or Santa Monica etc with relative ease. It's just a fun place to be. Downside, the traffic and parking.

Hermosa is a more laid back energy. Beautiful beach, no doubt. And friendly people. But it lacks the excitement factor that the miracle mile has.

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Hermosa Beach, California

For the Young and Young at Heart

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