Rae’s Restaurant
Rae’s Restaurant on Pico Blvd. has been a Santa Monica staple since it first opened up in 1958. It has had its ups and downs with the times and changes of owners, but it endures despite its seemingly out-of-date cash-only policy and no “personal” presence on the web. It has been used as a filming location in movies like “Win A Date With Tad Hamilton” and “Lords of Dogtown”, TV shows like “Starsky and Hutch” and music videos by Elton John and others. SoCal Landmarks is not a review site, but we’ll include comments from two that seem appropriate. “Welcome to 1958 and have a seat at the counter of this little turquoise time capsule of a diner.” “What Rae’s lacks in size and sleekness, it makes up for in character. Red, pint-sized booths and blue bar stools punch up the interior’s already cheerful turquoise backdrop.”
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt