The fact is, if you have kids, Annenberg is the only beach that is kid friendly and clean. Sadly the situation on LA beaches has gotten worse and worse over the years with the rise of poverty and homelessness, resulting in a severe homeless problem. The beaches are particularly bad because this is where thousands of homeless sleep and take showers. But here at Annenberg they keep things clean and safe for families. And its a great beach too where the water is often a little more calm and shallow. Weve been going here for years and even as adults this will always be our top pick.

My family and I normally use the beach house and splash pad when open, but its closed temporarily. We still like parking in this lot as its convenient for short bike rides with my 3 and 5 Y/O. The restaurant here also has some take out options and water. Great location especially earlier on, before 10am, before it gets crowded.

Love this place... so sad is close for now but still can park there and go to the beautiful beach. Restaurant is also open.

This is a great place to go spend a day at the pool, have a private event or meeting, or to go and take a tour of the Marion Davies House. The tour of the house is awesome and very historical. The tour guides were great and gave a lot of fantastic information about the historical significance of the house and the area. Come check it out and spend some time in the sun at the beach. You can not go wrong!

Nice beach. Parking is $3 per hour. Get on the bike path and ride to Santa Monica pier and back easily.

Great place for beach and pool outings for the entire family!!!! In addition to the pool and beach, there is also a cafe, a playground, tents for shade and serving food, volleyball nets. The prices are very reasonable, but entry is on a first come first serve basis. This place is definitely a jewel!!

I LOVE Annenberg Beach House. If you get overwhelmed with the event at the Beach House, you simply go to the beach and relax. Or if you are like me you make friends with Volleyball hall of famers playing on the beach and you can improve their volleyball game by using analysis of every move and every millisecond without any app.The beach itself is very nice and does have a somewhat downward slope, but nothing that would be a concern as it is not a drop off, you have to walk down the slope to the beach. It really is a nice area. I hope you like the picture I took.

This place is remarkable. I have a 9 year old niece that has terminal cancer and has never been to the beach. Shes lived in Vegas her short life. While visiting LA, she asked to go and we found this wheel chair accessible beach, that offered specially designed wheelchairs for the beach, free of charge. My niece was so excited and found a handful of shells, she took to Vegas. Thanks to the two wonderful ladies who work there.

So many things to love about Annenberg! The heated swimming pool, splash pad, summer activities on the beach like bubbles, sand volleyball classes, kids play area, cleanliness of bathrooms and entire area, cafe has great cookies, sandwiches, coffee. The restaurant has great brunch foods and mimosas!

Perfect spot to park (small lot) in the middle of Santa Monica beach — halfway between the Pier and Will Rogers. Best services on the sand: restaurant, bathrooms, playground. The Annenberg also offers a lap pool ($). Terrific spot for sunsets too.

Beautiful pool warm water by solar clean bathroom very nice location Front of the beach Lifeguards on duty Fun for the entire family

Very clean and well organized. Cute little splash pad, perfect for rinsing off when kids are done at beach. Pool looked great, although with parking fee and a large family, it could add up. We stuck with the beach and had a great time. Would like to come back another time and use other amenities such as the game room. Bathrooms clean. Cute cafe. Easy to lug stuff onto the beach on the pathway provided. Free sunscreen dispenser on beach.

Miracle of tax payer dollars at work. A public beach house? It is the best! We just competed in the cardboard boat race which was a riot. There is even a sun screen station. Bravo #santamonica!

Such a great place for families and all! It is a recreation hub. If you have not been to this historic pool yet, it is a must visit. Take a yoga class, visit the game room, rent a canopy on the beach, go stand up paddle boarding with friends, splash in the pool. This place has it all! And a fantastic staff to match it!

Great day pool for familys looking for nice spot. Website gives all info and you must reserve for 10 bucks. Parking is 12 all day, good food, nice beach, and tour the Davies guest house.

We went to the beach and was there for 4 hours. It was good and that day was good to

My first visit here. Took the tour. Our guide Linda Black was informative and entertaining. Beach and facilities were clean and welcoming. Cant wait to go back!

Fine place to park. Close to walking path and beach

For the last three years this facility had been our go-to place for every spare moment we’ve had when we lived in Brentwood - my three year old daughter has grown up there and told me last night “mommy I love the beach”.From the playground, to the splash pad, to the restaurant where she can dig in the sand while mommy has “mommy juice”, every component of this place is a joy.Weekends in the summer are a challenge tho, with the pool and parking passes selling out early, make sure you reserve on Reserve SM and get there before 11 am or the parking people will tell you the lot is full (when it’s not).I had daughters third birthday party there at the splash pad as it’s too darn fun. The facility is super accommodating.We love this place - it’s the FUNNEST.

Great spot to stop by for Beach activities, feel safe and easy to accommodate everyones need especially while the whole family members want to go together, not so crowded during week days. Liked the cafe food a lot..

We love love love the Annenberg Community Beach House the photos show the joy and glee on my students and childrens face says it all. The best kept secret in Santa Monica. So heres my tip on how to fully enjoy yourself when you decide to go. Go early I mean whilst the rest of LA is sleeping we arrive by 8.30am then you can park close, easy to unload the car. Secondly take lunch with you because children get hungry i mean really hungry so pack the igloo with drinks, snacks real food and munchies. Finally take two lots of swim wear one for the pool a second fit when they want to head to the beach. Finally its all the comfort once your there with your own sun bed, umbrella little table, the games room when there done with swimming, the art gallery and Marion Davies guest house for those who wish to be further educated!! Hope to see you there we normally go on Monday its half price!!!!

Nice access to the beach. Convient parking!! Pool, restaurant and FREE SUNSCREEN

Beautiful beach area for families to enjoy. The restaurant in the sand is great for adults and kids. I live coming here each time I visit the So. Cal area!!

Just a fun beach house love the views

Beautiful house and surroundings that will take you back in time.

Great time with the family. The staff is knowledgeable and welcoming.

Great resource. Nice cafe, pool, patios and quiet spaces to enjoy the ocean and beach.

Beautiful facility open to the public right on the beach. Great place to enjoy the ocean and many outdoor activities.

Such a great family spot. The beach amenities are free to use and open year-round. The pool has a small fee and closes a few months a year (pity), but it’s totally worth it. I recommend getting there early unless you have a reserved spot.

Beautiful picturesque location for events and receptions by the pool, the beach, and the Pacific.

Cool place, Ive worked a couple of Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvahs there. The kids love the Airbrush Art

We have been here several times for events and gallery openings. Make sure to sign up with Santa Monica cultural departments mailing list. I always love coming here and enjoy the value of public arts.

Perfect for a day a the beach with all the comodities, bathroom, lockers... and if you are tired of the beach you have the pool...Ths lifeguards are a bit agressive which kinda ruin the moment...

My favorite place to spend alone time at the beach.....perfect location close to private beach clubs....clean and safe...a very nice pool, a great play area for kids, a family beach area, bathrooms, a big parking lot (you can pay by the hour or do the all day rate/well worth the money spent) and a great Back on the Beach restaurant/excellent food. You can even make online reservations for parking. Go early if you dont make online reservations. This place is very popular. There is a paved walkway to the beach nearby that leads to a lifeguard station. I love this place and have been going there for years. Take the family and have a great time. Its a hidden gem.

Annenberg is an absolutely great way to enjoy the beach, especially on an off season cooler day. Lots of comfortable easy to walk to seating which was great for my mom whos had knee surgery, the cleanest beach bathrooms Ive ever seen, easy to get out on beach itself, theres even a paved / accessible path most of the way down the beach to the ocean with benches at the end. Its free admission unless you are using the pools (closed this time of year) but even those prices seemed reasonable especially with how clean it is. This is my new favorite beach place in Santa Monica.

Really nice place to take the family. Fun things to play on. Nice restrooms. Safe parking. Right close to the ocean but far enough away to not have to worry. Fun fun place !

We love the convenience of all day parking, nice beach, restrooms/changing rooms, and beachside cafe.

Super cool facility for events or gathering or just to come chill and play. I attended a week long professional training and everything from technology provided to the staff we interacted with was top notch.

Easy to access, wide spacious beach, volleyball, not too crowded, and a historic home to tour on weekends. Whats not to love?

Great food! Great service! And the great view will be back when construction is done.

Family park and beach. With reasonably priced restaurant, swimming pool, kids playground. Weekend lifeguard on duty. Events as per prearranged reschedule.

Lovely, casual beachside restaurant. Good food and good, pleasant service. Closes at 3p.

I love Annenberg Community Beach. Its really pretty, clean, and super relaxing.It feels like a resort in the middle of the city.I also love the history and game roomThanks City of Santa Monica for creating a one of a kind place for us locals. Stellar Job.

Beautiful venue with amazing ocean views, great weather and excellent facilities.

I really love this beach. I almost do not want to review it and keep it a secret.

Great place for events! Location is perfect, plenty of parking, very friendly staff

A small, personal exhibition of some of Americas greatest photographs. Highly educational and informative. If you love photography, youll love this museum!

I absolutely love this place! It is a bit expensive but Heath an Kim are just amazing at what they do.The Annenberg offers different activities such as a sand area for kids with swings and community toys. They have an upstairs play room, a pool and the beach a short walk away. You can rent paddle boards and/or canopies. You do have to pay for some activites but its well worth it.This is a place you can spend the whole day with the family.

A community beach house... FOR FREE!!!!!??? This is nowhere in Los Angeles. It is an experience of a life time.. you must go.. pool and all.

Hourly parking at the beach, convenient place for families to get easy access to the beach with nearby amenities.

A cheap option to have family fun. Pack food and go to this beach. You pay a small fee to use the pool but its totally affordable. Right on the beach.

This is a great place to bring the kids for a day at the beach. There is a restaurant, splash pad, and if you want to pay for it, access to a pool. Got to come early or reserve parking... But totes worth it.

We love this place. Come down from norcal to visit family and we get to go here every few years. Beach is right there. Food near or bring in your own. A local favorite. Will continue going as possible everytime we come down. Hot showers to wash off also. Very nice accommodations and changing areas. Upper deck area also.

The small cafe nearby had good food and drinks!

The small cafe nearby had good food and drinks!

My family enjoyed our outing in this beautiful area.

Splash pad is a joke. Pool was at capacity on a Monday. We ended up enjoying the beach. Parking $ was reasonable.

The small cafe nearby had good food and drinks!

A must-go during the summer - sign up for a space 3 days ahead of time and enjoy a day at the pool!

DJL7 in the mix with a room full of young scientist!

I can only speak to parking and use of outside bathrooms and shower. Very clean facilities and if you time it right people will likely let you use their parking space (get the receipt) so you dont have to pay. It is a 200 or so yard walk to the ocean. Prepare for this.

Very family friendly. Had bathrooms, outside showers to rise off. Swings, rock climbing on a small dome. Clean beach. Food, drinks. An a small walk way thru the sand.

Great for summer. Great for the whole family. Parking is tight.

Great food and atmosphere. I would suggest salad dressing on the side for those watching your sodium and calories.

A gorgeous place to enjoy ourselves, great for family fun.

We have our annual family get together at Back at the Beach in the back room. The service is always great, plenty of parking, and a place for kids to play just outside.

The best place in Santa Monica to spent your time with family. Nice, clean, you can grab some food and enjoy your time.

Today we decide to visit this swimming pool with my whole family, right at the moment when we were getting to take a shower this horrible, racist woman showed up and started telling us to leave, according to her we didnt paid to enter. We showed to her our wristband and she didnt believe us, she spoke Spanish to us so the other guess couldnt understand her. She told us that always the Latinos are the one who never want to pay to get in, I was very upset because I showed to her even the Receive where it showed that we paid 6 entrance, also we spent over $120 in food. I dont recomend this place it all, and if you are Latino be careful, this woman is so racist.

Easy (paid) parking and a wonderful section of the beach.

Very nice, wish I lived closer so I could visit every day!

Historic spot with great views and places to hangout

Such a nice and clean beach. We also love the walkway as it makes it easier to schlep all of our stuff without the pain on walking in soft sand.

Very relaxing and great for both children and adults. Just remember to bring a towel and a change of clothes for the young ones, as they will likely find the wet patch irresistible! Theres a decent restaurant on premise as well (and service is very good when they place isnt overwhelmed with families).

We find this place fantastic. Parking is a little costly, but it’s a clean parking area and easy access to the beach. The facility is well maintained. Will have to try and make a session of floating yoga one of these Saturdays! And we love the cafe. The menu has a good variety of dishes. The smoked trout arugula salad is simply wonderful. Huge portion. As are the grilled salmon salad, breakfast pasta!

For a chill day at the pool with option to step over to the beach, or vice versa, this is the place. Reasonable fee to use pool, all other amenities are free, including game room upstairs.

Used at the Malibu Sands Beach Club in Saved By The Bell.

Easy beach day, close parking, bathrooms, cheap rentals, game room, and public pool, all within a few yards of the beach. Kids love the splash pad, and you can grab a table watch them play while eating a snack from the on-site cafe, really takes the work out of going to the beach, and everything is inexpensive, even parking on a Sunday was only $6.00, and a 5 minute wait for a spot.

We took 4 children to the Annenberg Community Beach House in June. The water is a long walk from the Beach House which worked out nicely with the toddlers. There is a restaurant adjacent to a sand playground with an outside shower for cleaning sand toys and sandy children/people. It was a great place to take the children for a beach lunch or breakfast. Go early because parking is limited and costs $12 per day.

It is the best beachy restaurant I know from its comfort food (try pasts mama) to its salads.

Always a great time at the Annenberg Beach House! Splash pad, playground, swimming pool, cafe & takeout, picnic, steps away to the beach, parking (reserve the day before. The lot can be packed on a nice day). Go online for children activities & events.

Gorgeous public property in Santa Monica. Parking, clean restrooms, a restaurant on site and great access to the Beach.

My favorite beach to spend the time at evening ♡

A very pretty location for a conference but there is no wifi, which seems like a strange limitation in Santa Monica in 2019. Its a long, but doable walk from any hotel near the 3rd Street Promenade.

What a jewel of a place! Hard to park in the lot after 10:30-ish on a summer weekend, but worth the effort it takes to get there.

Hollywood at the beach! This is the renovated and revised property of the once opulent beach mansion of silent screen star Marion Davies and newspaper tycoon W.R. Hearst. Only the original Olympic-size pool and a guest cottage remain from the original estate, and the Annenberg Family funded the 27.5 mil resurrection as a community gathering property just a decade ago. You pay parking, $6 for 2 hrs. or $8 for all day. No entrance fee, and even the tour of the cottage is free. Great place to eat on the beach inexpensively, there is a childrens playground, and in and outdoor party spaces for rental. A must see for SoCal visitors.

A truly amazing and inspirational place

Lots of great history behind it. Great place to bring kids

Wow. What a comfortable way to spend the day at the beach with the kiddos. Nice parking available, clean, some shade & cute little splash pad

Love this place,best of both worlds,pool and beach.reasonably priced and parking was only $12 for day.

The grounds are quite nice. I’m not sure why they charge $10 a person for the use of the ‘community’ pool. So a family of 5 would have to spend $50 to use it for a day. I wish they did more film and music events but ehi it’s Santa Monica, they don’t even do concerts at the Auditorium and they pretty much stopped the ones at the pier. But it’s ok for a city of retirees that managed to turn down the Broad Museum that was going to be built and managed free by the Broad Foundation but spent 40 millions on a park only used by the homeless. Hopefully in the future, all these out of touch old farts will give room to young bright minds that will get their jobs based on merit and not nepotism.

This playground at Annenberg Community Beach is great. Not only do you have access to a great restaurant but also access to the beach and the ocean, all in one.

Very clean and friendly staff, quiet place for family

Great for families. Year round theres a playground and restaurant. During the summer theres a pool and splash pad. The pool offers showers, changing facilities, and lockers. The pool and parking fill up fast each day.

The Annenbergs donated this and its beautiful

Nicest beach nearby Santa Monica. I prefer it to the pier one.

Great location and very clean.

I love cycling down to the Annenberg Beach House via the Marvin Braudy Bike trail along the shore of the Pacific ocean. Theres a public swimming pool and tour of the museum, which is an old restored mansion once owned and frequented by celebrities of the Hollywood golden era. Theres a playground for children and an outdoors restaurant right on the oceanfront. Various rooms can be rented for special events.

Its a great, convenient location to hold an event directly on the beach.

Great place for family day at the beach

Lol! These trolls got kicked out because they were being overly aggressive and rude to the other people around them. Believe me when I say that this place is a great place to hang out at. These one star reviews don’t mean anything. Please ignore them!