orangetravelcat

We'll be at the Crowne Plaza; looking for recommendations within walking distance of the hotel for breakfast.

Jean

Baleen Restaurant at the Hotel Portofino overlooks the marina. It's about 1/4 mile from the Crowne Plaza. When you get to the Portofino Hotel, Baleen is in a small building opposite the hotel entrance.

http://www.hotelportofino.com/portofino_dining.aspx

With a less traditional menu in a funky setting is Catalina Coffee Company about 1/2 mile from the Crowne Plaza. Furniture is all thrift-shop finds, and the building is an old dry cleaners that had drive-thru service. On the weekends, big groups of cyclists stop after their rides, and once a month a book club meets in a corner called The Library. A real local's place, and I emphasize funky. Food's good.

http://www.catalinacoffee.com/index.html

The closest place to the Crowne Plaza is the Cheesecake Factory, practically across the street.

lvk

Me again. There is also a Ruby's (1940's-style chain of diners) right across from the Crowne Plaza, overlooking the Seaside Lagoon. www.rubys.com

I think Samba, the Brazilian churrascaria, does a Sunday Brunch www.sambaredondo.com

Other than that, if you would like a longish (but pleasant) walk along the beach, you could try the Hermosa Beach breakfast places, such as Scotty's, Good Stuff, the Beach Hut or Martha's. There are many other places in on Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach as well.
www.scottysonthestrand.com
www.eatgoodstuff.com

Jean

Just drove past the Crowne Plaza this morning and saw Ruby's Diner. Not my kind of place, so I'd forgotten all about it.

The walk to Pier Avenue in Hermosa is about 1.25 miles from the Crowne Plaza. Flat as a pancake, some bits more pleasant than others. Bicycle rentals available across the street from your hotel, and it's bike lane or path all the way!

Or you could ride the Beach Cities Transit bus #109 north to Hermosa and Manhattan Beaches. I think there's a bus stop almost in front of the Crowne Plaza. Martha's is at 22nd Street in Hermosa; expect long waits on weekends. If you go all the way to Manhattan Beach, try Uncle Bill's, the Kettle or Le Pain Quotidien. Long weekend waits at Uncle Bill's too.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/marthas-22nd...-hermosa-beach

http://www.unclebills.net/

http://thekettle.net/

http://www.lepainquotidien.com/

BCT #109 also goes south from the Crowne Plaza (right past Catalina Coffee Co., I think) through an area called Riviera Village. Verify this route with the hotel, and if I'm correct that would be a nice direction too. The Yellow Vase serves breakfast daily, and H.T. Grill only on the weekends.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/yellow-vase-redondo-beach

http://htgrill.com/

The BCT website isn't as helpful as it should be because it doesn't list all of the many stops and the map is practically a cartoon, but at least you can get a general idea of timing. The Crowne Plaza should also be able to help with route and timetables.

http://www.redondo.org/depts/hbt/tra...09Schedule.pdf

LA's Metro 130 line also runs between the area of the Crowne Plaza and Pier Avenue in Hermosa Beach.

http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/bu...images/130.pdf

How many days are you here? I think you have a week or two of breakfast recos!

orangetravelcat

We'll only be there 2 days, and during the week, so hopefuly the waits won't be too long. Don't really want to take a bus, (we'll have a car so can drive somewhere) but prefer to walk to wherever we eat.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Jean

I hope the sun's out for you when you're here! Today was cool but beautiful.

RogerGrant

Polly's on the pier - right behind "On The Rocks" - about a 1/4 mile from the Crown Plaza - has a nice breakfast and you can sit outside on the pier or enjoy nice ocean views from inside. It's a little rough around the edges, but it's where I typically take people from out of town for breakfast. http://www.rbmarina.com/pollys.html
For a more upscale breakfast, as mentioned, Baleen at Portifino Inn is good. Sit downstairs by the boats. That's also about 1/4 mile away.
If you're there on Sunday, the best deal in town is the champagne breakfast/brunch at Lou-e-lueys on the Redondo Pier International Boardwalk. For something like $20.00 each person gets breakfast and a bottle of Champagne. Also about 1/4 mile from the Crown Plaza
http://www.lou-e-lueys.com/

orangetravelcat

Thanks for all your suggestions; however, we decided to stay in Pasadena instead.