Even if you live in Santa Monica, you might not know about breakfast and lunch spot Tiato. Located on the ground floor of an office building on Colorado Blvd at Harvard Street, it is a daily destination for people who work in the area. But, even if you don't work in this area, Tiato is worth a stop for breakfast or lunch.
For the amount of the restaurants and businesses in Beverly Hills, it is not a nighttime destination and by 8pm the streets are quiet, almost deserted. But, just south of Santa Monica Blvd on Canon Drive, the new Wally's Vinoteca, open until 2am, is bringing the area back to life.
Wally's Vinoteca is the sister to Wally's Wine Shop on Westwood Blvd which has been in business for 20 years. But, while the wine shop only sells wine, Wally's Vinoteca is a wine bar, retail shop and restaurant all in one. Located in the former Monsieur Marcel location, in between Wolfgang's Steakhouse and Nic's Martini Lounge, Wally's Vinoteca is reminiscent of a a food hall, like Harrod's or Eataly (but much smaller).
There are ceiling-high shelves of more than 2,500 wine bottles for sale, ranging in price, as well as rare spirits and craft beers.
Chi Spacca is over one year old now but I finally made it....barely! I knew it was near Mozza but managed to pass it three times before I gave up on Waze all together. I found a spot on the street and walked past the Osteria Mozza entrance to where there is a small sign with just the image of the cleaver on it (Chi Spacca means "cleaver" in Italian). Without a noticeable sign, especially one without words, it was a bit difficult to find.
A little further down is a door to Mozza-To-Go. Enter Mozza-To-Go and then through another door and you come to the intimate Chi Spacca with the open kitchen. Tables are rather close so you have to maneuver yourself through the space to your table. We had a lovely little table next to the window but throughout our meal at least three different passers-by on the street stuck their heads into the small square to look into the restaurant and ended up giving us a little shock.
Wally's Vinoteca is the sister to Wally's Wine Shop on Westwood Blvd which has been in business for 20 years. But, while the wine shop only sells wine, Wally's Vinoteca is a wine bar, retail shop and restaurant all in one. Located in the former Monsieur Marcel location, in between Wolfgang's Steakhouse and Nic's Martini Lounge, Wally's Vinoteca is reminiscent of a a food hall, like Harrod's or Eataly (but much smaller).
There are ceiling-high shelves of more than 2,500 wine bottles for sale, ranging in price, as well as rare spirits and craft beers. 
A little further down is a door to Mozza-To-Go. Enter Mozza-To-Go and then through another door and you come to the intimate Chi Spacca with the open kitchen. Tables are rather close so you have to maneuver yourself through the space to your table. We had a lovely little table next to the window but throughout our meal at least three different passers-by on the street stuck their heads into the small square to look into the restaurant and ended up giving us a little shock.