Hermosa Beach sits between Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach and is the most compact of the three beach cities: small enough to walk or bike almost everywhere, with Pier Plaza, The Strand and a wide, flat beach at its heart.
Neighborhoods in Hermosa Beach
Agents usually split Hermosa into three areas. They aren’t official city boundaries, but they’re a useful way to think about the town.
- Sand Section: from the beach east to roughly Valley Drive, with Strand homes, walk streets and the downtown blocks around Pier Avenue.
- Valley Section: between the Greenbelt and Pacific Coast Highway, close to Hermosa Valley School and the parks along the Greenbelt.
- Hill Section and East Hermosa: east of PCH, rising toward Prospect Avenue, where some streets have ocean views.
Schools
Hermosa Beach City School District runs the public schools for transitional kindergarten through 8th grade: Hermosa View School (TK to 1st grade), Hermosa Vista School (2nd to 4th) and Hermosa Valley School (5th to 8th). For high school, Hermosa students choose each year between Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach and Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, under an arrangement set by state law.
Beaches, parks and the outdoors
Life here revolves around the sand. The beach is wide and flat, with plenty of volleyball courts, and The Strand runs about two miles through town as part of the coastal path between Torrance Beach and Pacific Palisades.
The Hermosa Beach Pier at the end of Pier Avenue is the place to watch surfers and the sunset, and the Surfers Walk of Fame adds new bronze plaques to the pier every April. Inland, the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt is a soft wood-chip path of about 1.9 miles that runs the length of the city between Valley Drive and Ardmore Avenue and links up with Manhattan Beach’s Veterans Parkway. It’s popular with walkers and runners; bikes aren’t allowed.
Dining, nightlife and shopping
Pier Plaza and Pier Avenue are the heart of Hermosa’s restaurant and bar scene, and Hermosa Avenue has more cafes and shops a block from the beach. Everyday errands are easy at Plaza Hermosa on Pacific Coast Highway.
Jesse’s picks:
- Cafe Bonaparte on Pier Avenue: French-inspired, California-casual brunch and desserts.
- Palmilla Cocina y Tequila on Pier Avenue: Mexican seafood and steaks, a big tequila list and a patio.
- The Lighthouse Cafe near the pier: a long-running live music venue, also seen in the film La La Land.
Events through the year
- Fiesta Hermosa: arts, crafts and live music downtown over Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
- Hermosa Beach Ironman: a local Fourth of July tradition on the beach.
- International Surf Festival: late July to early August.
- Hermosa Beach Open: pro beach volleyball each September.
- Farmers market: Fridays from 12pm to 4pm at Valley Drive and 11th Street.
Getting around
The Pier Avenue area is about 7.5 miles from LAX and about 21 miles from Downtown Los Angeles by road. There’s no freeway inside Hermosa: Pacific Coast Highway runs through the middle of town, and the nearest I-405 on-ramps are at Artesia Boulevard, Inglewood Avenue and Rosecrans Avenue. Plenty of residents get around town on foot or by bike.
Buying a home in Hermosa Beach
Homes range from condos and townhomes to beach cottages and newer single-family homes, often on small lots, especially in the Sand Section. Parking and walkability change a lot from block to block, so it pays to compare a few streets before you decide. The live figures at the top of this page show what’s on the market now, and you can browse every Hermosa Beach home for sale.
Frequently asked questions
What high school do Hermosa Beach students attend?
Hermosa Beach City School District covers TK through 8th grade. For grades 9 to 12, students choose each year between Mira Costa High School (Manhattan Beach Unified) and Redondo Union High School (Redondo Beach Unified).
How far is Hermosa Beach from LAX?
About 7.5 miles by road from the Pier Avenue area. Travel time depends on traffic.
What is the Hermosa Valley Greenbelt?
A wood-chip walking and running path of about 1.9 miles through the middle of Hermosa Beach, on a former railroad right of way. It connects to Manhattan Beach’s Veterans Parkway. Bikes aren’t allowed.
When is the Hermosa Beach farmers market?
Fridays from 12pm to 4pm at Valley Drive and 11th Street.
