A Designer’s Guide to Venice, California

We get the design scoop on the other Venice, the one that’s only a short trip away.

The Vancouver-born, L.A.-based founder of design studio Chinese Jesus knows a thing or two about timeless cool. When he’s not crafting handmade furniture or designing stunning SoCal interiors, he can be found hitting some great spots in his home base of Venice, California.“At the end of a busy day there’s no better place to clear my head than the Venice Pier (pictured above). Fresh ocean air and a killer aerial view of the surf.” The Ferrari and Maserati of espresso machines.”My favourite coffee place in Venice is the owner-operated Menotti’s Coffee Stop. It has a beautifully simple interior—subway tile, natural live-edge wood slab counters—and is dominated by a retro La Marzocco machine with a custom aqua finish. A classic vinyl LP is always playing.”“A seat at the bar of the Tasting Kitchen is a prime spot—bartenders are friendly and expert at their craft. Both food and drink are excellent across the board, but I especially like their barrel-aged negroni and the bucatini all’amatriciana.”“Tortoise is a gorgeous Japanese home goods store and gallery in a converted bungalow. Walk through the cozy room to find a high-ceilinged back gallery that features sculpture (look for the amazing wood pieces by Ryosuke Yazaki) and vintage ceramics by Japanese artists.” This is how they do vegan at Cafe Gratitude.”Abbot Kinney Boulevard gets a lot of love from everyone, but for my money Rose Avenue is where it’s at: Moon Juice (cold-pressed juices), Oscar’s Cerveteca (try the Norma’s Chipotle Beer Shrimp), Cafe Gratitude (überhealthy vegan food served with unironic affirmations) and Superba Snack Bar (sidewalk dining) make this street a must-stroll.”