If Manhattan Beach had its own magazine, it would surely be called Gorgeous Living. It's filled with classy beachside cottages, bougainvillea-lined streets, bustling sidewalk patios, friendly boutiques, surfers silhouetted against the setting sun over the ocean, and babies who never seem to cry – all within half a mile of a portrait-worthy pier. It’s that impossibly perfect.
Its downtown area along Manhattan Beach Blvd has seen an explosion of trendy restaurants, boutiques and hotels, yet north and south of the pier it remains a serene seaside enclave with prime surf.
Founded in 1912, Bruce's Beach was a popular private African American beach. Driven by racism, the town of Manhattan Beach seized the beach from the Bruce family in 1924. In 2022, LA County returned the area bounded by Highland Ave and 27th St to the family, who then sold it back to the county so it can continue to serve as the popular public park it is today. Markers recall the saga.
