Don't get stroppy with me... I know VERY WELL that Venice is not Santa Monica. You're on the bike path enjoying the sun, the wind in your hair and before you know it you're in Santa Monica...
or you get off the 10 at Pico and there ya are- Santa Monica.
So really- it's okay to stop for a drink- after all- you're almost home!
Two of my favorite fancy-dancy places are giving us a deal lately. I dearly doubt that it will last into the summer when the tourists return, but in the meantime the ShangriLa and the Viceroy have flung open there doors to us locals.

Dig it:
SANTA MONICA-- Hotel Shangri-la introduces Speakeasy Sundays inside the property's rooftop bar, Suite 700. Think black and white movies and vintage cocktails, follow the hotel on Twitter for a weekly password that will land you one gratis cocktail.

Poolside Happy Hour at Whist
 
Say it’s the end of a long day... for the record, 4pm is close enough. Wrap it up poolside at Whist—their new happy hour has $7 plates of mussels, meatballs and chicken wings, along with $7 wines and spiked punch. Your office just ran out of spiked punch.
 

411:Mon-Fri, 4-7pm, Whist at the Viceroy, 1819 Ocean Ave, 310-260-7511, see the menu