If you’ve spent any real time in the South Bay, you already know that the Hermosa Beach Pier isn’t just a structure — it’s the heartbeat of the city. Every morning, joggers and cyclists flow past it on The Strand. Fishermen set up before dawn. Surfers paddle out from the base. By early afternoon on a summer weekend, Pier Avenue is buzzing from one end to the other, and the energy doesn’t stop until well after midnight.
I’ve been working, living, and playing in this stretch of coast for years. Hermosa Beach is half of what this website is named after — Manhattan Hermosa Homes — so I take it seriously. This guide is everything I know about the pier, Pier Avenue, and what makes Hermosa Beach worth showing up for, whether you’re visiting for a weekend or thinking about making it home.
The Pier Itself: History and Facts
The Hermosa Beach Pier has been around in one form or another since 1904, when the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company built the original wooden structure extending 500 feet into the Pacific. It didn’t last long — a violent storm in 1913 broke the pier apart and much of it floated out to sea. The city rebuilt it in concrete the following year, this time stretching 1,000 feet and featuring shaded alcoves that quickly became favorites for fishermen and picnickers alike.
The current structure was built in 1965 and renovated in the early 2000s. Today, it extends 1,140 feet from The Strand toward the Pacific — long enough to feel like you’ve left the city behind, short enough to walk the full length without thinking twice. The city completed a full above-and-below-water structural inspection in early 2025 to identify future repair needs, so it’s being maintained.
There’s nothing fancy about the pier itself. No carnival rides, no shops, no over-developed tourist attractions. Just open air, fishing lines, ocean views, and the kind of quiet you can only find when you’re surrounded by water on three sides.
The Surfers Walk of Fame
One of the pier’s best features is the Surfers Walk of Fame, a series of plaques honoring local surf legends. The tradition started in 2003 and has grown into a genuine celebration of Hermosa’s place in surf history. This city is where Dale Velzy — widely considered the founder of the modern surf industry — grew up shaping boards under the pier as a teenager. Velzy partnered with fellow local Harold “Hap” Jacobs and built custom boards out of a shop near the pier. LeRoy Grannis, born in Hermosa in 1917, became one of surf photography’s most important figures, shooting the South Bay scene starting in 1960. The plaques on the pier are a quiet tribute to all of that.
Fishing from the Hermosa Beach Pier
No fishing license required — California state law exempts licensed public piers. That alone makes the Hermosa Beach Pier one of the more accessible fishing spots in Los Angeles County.
What you’re likely to catch depends on where you set up:
- Near the shore: Barred surfperch, yellowfin croaker, spotfin croaker, corbina, and the occasional round stingray or thornback ray
- Mid-pier and toward the end: Queenfish, jacksmelt, walleye surfperch, silver surfperch, white croaker
One note: white croaker is on the California “Do Not Consume” list due to water quality concerns in Santa Monica Bay. Catch and release if you’re pulling those in. The pier is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bikes, skateboards, and scooters need to be walked on the pier, not ridden. Smoking of any kind is prohibited on the pier.
The View from the End
Even if you don’t fish, walk to the end at least once. On a clear morning, you can see the Santa Monica Mountains curving north toward Malibu, Catalina Island to the south, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula framing the coastline to your left. Looking back toward shore, the low-rise character of Hermosa Beach is immediately obvious — no high-rises, just beach bungalows, the Strand, and palm trees. It’s one of the cleanest views of what the South Bay actually looks like from the water’s perspective.
Pier Avenue: The Strip
Pier Avenue runs from Pacific Coast Highway down to the beach, ending at Pier Plaza — the pedestrian open space right where the pier meets The Strand. The last several blocks nearest the beach are where everything happens: restaurants, bars, boutiques, surf shops, coffee, and foot traffic that keeps going late into the night on weekends.
The energy shifts throughout the day. Mornings are mellow — locals walking dogs, grabbing coffee, heading to the beach. By early afternoon the restaurant patios start filling up. Evenings belong to the bar crowd. It’s a small-town main street with a beach town heartbeat, and the fact that it’s all walkable from the sand is part of what makes it work.
Restaurants and Food on Pier Avenue
Pier Avenue has solid dining. A few highlights:
- Tower 12 — Right at 53 Pier Ave, steps from the pier itself. Wood-fired pizzas, a rotisserie, classic American dishes, and a second-story deck with a wraparound outdoor balcony overlooking the beach. The vibe leans midcentury surf-bungalow — vintage boards on the walls, laid-back atmosphere, strong cocktail program. Weekend brunch is packed. This is the place to take out-of-town guests who want ocean views with their meal.
- The Lighthouse Cafe — 30 Pier Ave. I’ll cover this more in the nightlife section, but the food and cocktails are genuinely good. Don’t just show up for the music — the full experience is worth it.
- Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila — Mexican food and an extensive tequila list, right in the heart of the strip.
- Fritto Misto — Casual Italian, big portions, solid value. A local standby.
- El Tarasco — A reliable Mexican food choice that’s earned its following.
- Rok Sushi — Solid sushi option near the pier end of the avenue.
The dining scene here skews more casual than what you’ll find in Manhattan Beach — fewer white tablecloths, more open patios and bar seating. That’s not a criticism; it’s a feature.
Bars on Pier Avenue
This is where Hermosa Beach has its own identity, fully separate from anything happening in Manhattan Beach. Pier Avenue on a Friday or Saturday night is genuinely lively — multiple bars within a block of each other, outdoor patios, live music spilling onto the street. The crowd skews younger than Manhattan Beach but it’s a mix.
- Patrick Molloy’s — Classic Irish sports bar with a large outdoor patio on Pier Avenue. The patio is ideal on sunny afternoons, and it stays packed during any major game broadcast.
- Hennessey’s Tavern — 8 Pier Ave, open daily 8am–2am. One of the most consistent spots on the strip — food, drinks, indoor and outdoor seating. They’ve been a fixture on Pier Avenue for decades.
- Sharkeez — The classic South Bay surf bar that’s been a ground zero for the younger weekend crowd for years. Packed on weekend nights, not subtle about it.
- VISTA — 11 Pier Ave. More of a cocktail bar, slightly more refined than the typical Pier Ave spot.
- American Junkie — Another Pier Avenue staple with live music and a late-night crowd.
- Saint Rocke — A dedicated live music venue a short walk from the pier. If you want to see an actual show with a proper stage and sound system, Saint Rocke is the right call.
Shopping and Boutiques
Pier Avenue has a genuine independent retail scene — not chains, not cookie-cutter. Some of what you’ll find:
- Spyder Surf — Boards, apparel, gear, and actual surf knowledge. This is the kind of surf shop where the people working there actually surf.
- Curious — Eclectic boutique gifts, home decor, and the sort of thing you’d never find at a mall.
- Wicked+ General Store — Clothing, accessories, home goods with a quality-first sensibility.
- Uncorked — Boutique wine shop with regular tastings.
- Maison Luxe — Seaside home design, shells, lighting, furniture. Useful if you’ve just moved to the area and want to figure out how to make your place look like it belongs at the beach.
- Gum Tree — An Aussie-inspired shop with a lovely café inside. The food is genuinely good and the vibe is warm and relaxed.
The Lighthouse Cafe: A Historic Venue Worth Your Time
If you live near Hermosa Beach and haven’t been to The Lighthouse Cafe, fix that. It opened in 1940 as a bar at 30 Pier Ave, and on May 29, 1949 — a specific date worth knowing — bassist Howard Rumsey started a Sunday night jazz jam session that changed the history of American music. The Lighthouse became the epicenter of West Coast jazz. Miles Davis performed here. Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Art Pepper, Cannonball Adderley — the list of musicians who played this room is staggering.
The jazz era faded after 1971, and the club went through a quieter period. But jazz programming came back in the mid-1990s, and today The Lighthouse Cafe runs nightly live music — blues, reggae, rock, jazz depending on the night — along with solid food and cocktails. It’s a genuinely special venue that most tourists walk past without knowing what they’re missing. Locals know better.
The Comedy and Magic Club
Just a short distance from the pier at 1018 Hermosa Avenue, the Comedy & Magic Club has been running since 1978. Owner Mike Lacey built something that has lasted: this is where Jay Leno tested his Tonight Show material every Sunday night for over three decades. Robin Williams has been on that stage. Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Bill Burr, Jo Koy, Gabriel Iglesias — the alumni list reads like a comedy hall of fame.
Leno still performs there regularly. If you haven’t been, it’s worth going once just to understand what a real club comedy show feels like — intimate room, no filler, no gimmicks. Book in advance on weekends.
Fiesta Hermosa: The Biggest Event of the Year
Twice a year — Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend — Hermosa Beach puts on the largest arts and crafts fair in Southern California. Over 300 vendors line Pier Avenue and the surrounding streets. Live music runs on multiple stages, including one on the pier. There’s a beer and wine garden. The crowd is enormous.
Fiesta Hermosa is legitimately fun and genuinely well-run, but I’d be doing you a disservice if I didn’t warn you about the parking situation. It is a mess. The city and organizers have a solution: take the shuttle from Mira Costa High School or Northrop. Free remote parking, continuous shuttles, no circling for 45 minutes. I’ve made the mistake of trying to drive in — learn from it.
Other Events at and Near the Pier
Hermosa Beach Open (Beach Volleyball)
The Hermosa Beach Open has been one of professional beach volleyball’s most important events since the AVP was founded in 1984 — the first AVP tournament was held right here in Hermosa Beach. The 1990 Hermosa Open was the first ever beach volleyball broadcast on NBC. After some scheduling conflicts caused the AVP to pause the Hermosa event, Day at the Beach Events brought the tournament back in 2024 and has it running through at least 2027. It’s held on the beach near the pier, and if you’ve never watched elite beach volleyball in person, this is the place to do it.
Hermosa Beach Summer Sunset Concerts
Free concerts on the beach south of the pier, held on the two Sundays following Labor Day. Bring a blanket, pick up food on Pier Avenue first, and walk down. It’s exactly what beach living is supposed to feel like.
Movies on the Beach
During summer, Hermosa Beach runs a sunset film series on the sand. Dates vary by year — check the city calendar closer to summer. The setup is simple: outdoor screen, bring your own chair or blanket, free admission.
Hermosa Beach Farmers Market
Every Friday, 12pm–4pm, not on a weekend. The farmers market runs near downtown Hermosa and is a genuine neighborhood institution — local produce, prepared food, flowers.
Beach Volleyball at the Pier
Hermosa Beach didn’t just host the AVP — it helped create it. The permanent courts near the pier are among the most storied in the sport. The sand here is some of the best in Southern California for volleyball — consistent, not too soft, the right kind of resistance.
Hermosa Beach volleyball varies widely in skill level, so don’t feel intimidated if you’ve never played before. Plenty of people on the beach are just there to have a good time playing jungle ball — laughing, smiling, and enjoying the afternoon. Groups of friends meet up after work for round-robin games. Classes are also offered through the city if you want to learn technique and make new friends to play with on non-class days.
The Strand and the Pier
The Strand — the 26-mile paved path running the length of the South Bay — cuts right past the base of the pier. This is where you’ll see the full spectrum of beach life on any given morning: families on cruiser bikes, rollerbladers who’ve been doing it since the 1980s, people walking their dogs, people doing nothing but watching the ocean. The intersection of Pier Plaza and The Strand is one of those places that makes you understand immediately why people fight hard to live near here.
From the pier, The Strand connects you north to Manhattan Beach and south toward Redondo. It’s completely flat, easy for any fitness level, and one of the best free things to do in the South Bay.
Active Life Near the Pier
The pier is a hub for more than just watching waves. A few things happening regularly nearby:
- Yoga on the beach at 15th Street, almost daily. Classes are run through Soho Yoga — drop-in rates apply, instruction included.
- Hermosa Cyclery — founded in 1974 by Harold “Schu” Schumaker, located near The Strand, and known for offering free air for bike tires to anyone who stops in. That kind of thing says something about a place.
- Surf lessons — Multiple operators offer lessons on the beach near the pier. The break here is approachable for beginners at normal tide, which is why it’s popular for instruction.
- Paddleboarding and kayaking — The water inside the pier break is calmer on low-wind mornings, making it a good spot for beginner paddlers. Rental options are available near the beach.
Parking Near the Hermosa Beach Pier: The Honest Version
I’m going to be straight with you: parking near the Hermosa Beach Pier is a genuine challenge, especially on weekends and any major event day. The city has two lots directly at the pier, one on each side, plus a lot across from the pier on Pier Avenue — but they fill early and the turnover is slow. Metered street parking runs $2.00/hour from 10am to 8pm and $2.50/hour from 8pm to 2am. Contactless payment through ParkMobile is accepted.
Your best options in order:
- Bike or walk if you’re local. If you live in Hermosa or nearby Manhattan Beach, this is always the right answer. The Strand connects the whole area.
- Arrive early. Before 9am on weekends, you can almost always find parking within a few blocks. By 11am in summer, the lots are full.
- Park north or east and walk. Free parking exists on residential streets further from the beach. A 10–15 minute walk is worth avoiding the stress of circling.
- Beach Cities Transit Route 109 runs through Hermosa and drops near the downtown area for $1 per passenger.
- For Fiesta Hermosa specifically, use the shuttle from Mira Costa High School or Northrop. There’s also free remote parking and shuttles near Aviation Blvd and Space Park.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming you’ll find a spot right at the pier on a summer Saturday afternoon. Plan for a walk and you’ll be fine.
Hermosa Beach Pier vs. Manhattan Beach Pier
People ask me to compare them. Here’s my honest read: they’re very different experiences and that’s a good thing.
The Manhattan Beach Pier has the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab at the end, is newer-looking, and is surrounded by a quieter, more residential beach scene. The area around it has restaurants and shops but nothing that compares to the density and energy of Pier Avenue.
The Hermosa Beach Pier is longer, older, more storied, and surrounded by significantly more activity. Pier Avenue has real nightlife, a historic jazz venue, a famous comedy club, and a surf culture history that runs decades deep. The vibe is more social, more varied, and frankly a bit louder — in the best possible way.
The energy around each pier is also different. Hermosa’s Pier Plaza fills up in summer — bikes, walkers, and joggers flowing north-south on The Strand, the plaza itself concentrated with people. Manhattan Beach’s version is more spread out; the area around the MB Pier has a road running to the pier and a parallel parking lane, and Manhattan Beach Boulevard runs through town behind it, which pulls the energy in different directions. MB’s gathering spot is Metlox Plaza — the old pottery factory site a block off the beach — which has a different, more curated feel than the raw energy of Pier Avenue.
Neither is better. They serve different moments. Manhattan Beach is for the Sunday morning walk with coffee. Hermosa Beach Pier is for the Friday night you don’t plan too carefully.
Living Near the Hermosa Beach Pier
Homes in the Sand Section of Hermosa Beach — which is what surrounds the pier and Pier Avenue — carry a premium for exactly the reasons described above. Walkability to the pier, The Strand access, and Pier Avenue all within a few blocks is genuinely rare. The median sale price in Hermosa Beach runs around $2.4–$2.5 million, with averages closer to $3.1 million when larger homes are included. Properties with direct Strand frontage or pier views command significantly more.
Hermosa Beach is a separate city from Manhattan Beach with its own school district. High school students here choose between Redondo Union High School or Mira Costa High School — both are options. This is a meaningful distinction that I always make sure buyers understand early.
If you’re thinking about buying in Hermosa Beach — whether you’re drawn to the pier lifestyle, the volleyball scene, or just the energy of Pier Avenue — I’d love to show you what’s here. The South Bay is not one market; it’s several, and Hermosa Beach has its own personality. I’ve been working this market long enough to know where the value is, what the different sections feel like, and what to look for before you make an offer.
Ready to Explore Hermosa Beach?
Whether you’re a first-time visitor trying to figure out what to do on a Saturday afternoon, or a buyer seriously considering life near the pier, I’m happy to talk. I’m Cecilia Agraz, a real estate broker with Bayside Real Estate Partners / Stroyke Properties Group, and Hermosa Beach is a place I know well and genuinely care about.
Cecilia Agraz
DRE #01974999
310-803-9338
cecilia@manhattanhermosahomes.com
Also Worth Reading
- Hermosa Beach Sand Section Guide
- Hermosa Beach Valley Neighborhood Guide
- Hermosa Beach Hills Neighborhood Guide
- The Manhattan Beach Pier: A Local’s Guide
- Moving to Manhattan Beach: Complete Guide
- Manhattan Beach Sand Section Guide
Cecilia Agraz
South Bay neighbor and Realtor® focused on clear guidance and low‑stress moves in Manhattan Beach & Hermosa Beach.