212 pier

212 Pier Cafe, which has taken over the old Novel on Pier & Main in Santa Monica. Its a great little bohemian getaway with an extensive and delicious menu ranging from burgers and mac&cheese to vegan Indian platters, to breakfasts. Great coffee and fantastic environment: bookshelves and artwork on the walls, great for work and study, poetry nights and live music nights, free wifi, and open until 1am. Pros: late night, free wifi, reasonable prices, great atmosphere more

Sure, the Novel cafe is a quaint place to hang out, drink a coffee, and have some decent chow at a very reasonable price while you are working on your next blockbuster script or studying for an exam. That is why I have been a regular customer for at least a decade and spend several thousand dollars in the cafe each year on food, beverage, and tips. more

So I stumbled upon this place in Santa Monica off of Main Street. I wish it were in a better spot. Its not out of the way, its just that nobody can really see it from the road. But I guess that is to my advantage because if it was, it would be PACKED. There are books lining the walls. I go sometimes now just to pick up a random book and read for a few hours. There are tables both inside and out. Usually busy but never too crowded. They have great drinks, really anything you could want and a good selection of sweets and sandwiches/small meals. If you are looking for a spot to plug in your laptop, grab a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, and peacefully get some work done, this is it. I heard that there are book clubs held there as well. Pros: Wi-Fi, Books, Quiet, Plugs everywhere Cons: Parking more

I really enjoy coming here. It reminds me of the Coffeehouse on Illinois State's campus back in a time when Starbucks didn't exist and you could spend all day tasting different foods, coffees, and listening to the world go by. I don't come here enough because I forget about it due to its location but coming across it today, I definitely will come more often! Don't change! Pros: Tasty food, fresh, nice coffee, fantastic atmosphere and inexpensive. Great breakfast! Cons: parking. more

Although we got lost getting here because we thought it was on the Pier in Santa Monica (go figure) I really liked the atmosphere. We studied upstairs to where it felt like a basement/attic. Parking is a hassle as it is anywhere in LA. Pretty big and cool coffehouse to study or hang out at. more

I held a book club meeting here on a weekday evening, and it was the perfect place. The food was yummy, and everyone (staff and the other patrons) was very courteous. The only weird thing is that it was really hot upstairs in the loft-area for a while, but it cooled down before we left. Need to know: they only take cash. There's an ATM in the cafe. Pros: atmosphere, food Cons: parking more

It's hard to pinpoint exactly what I like so much about this place; the drinks are great, the food is tasty, the people are all Santa Monica eccentricity, but friendly. I think what pulls me back is just the overall character of the place - used books line shelves on both upper and lower levels, and on both sides of the wall that clearly used to divide the room into separate restuarants. The used book ethos is perfectly complemented by intriguing local art, the smells of local (Groundwork) coffees and freshly cooked omelettes and sandwiches, and the perfectly subdued but never dull chaotic din of people talking and ordering. Whether you're looking for a place to soak up the energy of other people studying for class or a good ambiance for a casual tête - à - tête, this is it. more

I LOVE this little cafe. It's just what I was looking for when I moved to Santa Monica! An ecclectic cozy little place near the beach, but off the main drag so that you don't get a ton of the tourist crowd. Pros: atmosphere, service, food Cons: no parking lot more

We stumbled upon this cafe on the last night of our vacation to Santa Monica. It was the end of the day so they ran out of practically everything my fiance wanted so they gave us their last glass of lemonade for free. Low key, quiet, great place to unwind and hang out. more

The novel is one of the best coffee places in town. The service is the best, the staff is very friendly. I had the previlege to talk to the manager, and complimented him for what a great job his doing. The place is unique, with so many books and somewhat antique furniture it gives a feeling of relaxation, while drinking your coffee. Pros: friendly, good environment more

good food, good coffee more