The Neighborhoods & Businesses of Manhattan Beach

Within the four-square miles that comprise the community of Manhattan Beach, there are four distinctly different and uniquely defined neighborhoods.

The Tree Section features majestic rows of shady oaks that inspire a slower, more suburban pace. East Manhattan Beach is made up of larger lots and bigger homes with extensive city views. The Hill Section is renowned for spectacular architecture, lush, sustainable landscaping and panoramic ocean views. The Sand Section, with its classic California beachfront lifestyle, ever-inviting walkability and landmark oceanfront homes make it one of the most coveted neighborhoods to live in in the entire South Bay.

Each of the four neighborhoods features its’ own life-style, speeds, scenic views, lot sizes, house deigns, street characteristics, and school districts. Few cities of its size (only 36,000 residents) possess such clearly defined neighborhoods, plus an iconic pier, white sand beaches, and a bustling culturally diverse, food-and-drink friendly downtown - the four neighborhoods are a significant part of what makes Manhattan Beach unique.

> EAST MANHATTAN BEACH

Because East Manhattan encompasses the most considerable amount of land, there’s room for mega-lot homes and spacious floor plans. Within the East Manhattan limits, distinct sub-neighborhoods developed over the years. Residents covet the Mira Costa neighborhood for its cityscapes and walkability to the high school. Many families relocate before or during their children’s high school years for convenience and community connection.

East Manhattan includes the Poets Section - a series of streets named for greats like Longfellow, Keats, and Tennyson. It’s the little-known “Bel Air of Manhattan Beach.” Tucked at the bottom of the Longfellow hill, massive lots and hideaway homes nestle under leafy canopies. It feels quite separate from the rest of the city. Just a few miles away, the gated Manhattan Village offers extra privacy. Nearby, two other post-war tract housing developments - Liberty Village and Manhattan Heights - round out the various residential communities of East Manhattan.

With ample space and accessibility, East Manhattan boasts most of MB’s business. PCH/Sepulveda - our longest thoroughfare - with its proximity to the freeways and accessibility to locals makes East Manhattan the likely hub of commerce. The Sepulveda Corridor, as it’s known, has experienced upgrades and redevelopment over the last five years. Two Guns Espresso upped the ante on Goat Hill, Target and Toyota are corporate staples and the state-of-the-art Manhattan Medical Center features a widerange of essential services, while GROW offers a bounty of healthful grocery options to health-conscious Manhattanites.

The Manhattan Village has become region’s premier shopping center, home to top retailers such as Apple, Macy’s, Sephora, and Anthropologie. The parking garage features an ample number of EV charging stations, and the number of stores provide plenty of opportunities to indulge every taste and need. The tasting menu includes beloveds like Sweetgreen, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, and Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee. Check out the Dining Section for even more. The mall is luxurious and chic but, at the same time, laid back and homey - a perfect, Manhattan Beach-style marriage.

The assortment of companies, both local and global, add to the patchwork of our city’s character, each contributing something unique and important to the commercial landscape of Manhattan Beach. The compilation of old and new businesses in East Manhattan, from mom-and-pop shops to international enterprises, elevates Manhattan Beach from a simple beach city to a thriving economic ecosystem.

> THE TREE SECTION

The Tree Section was so named for its streets - Pine, Elm, Oak, and Palm, to name a few - but the name also has historical roots. Rosecrans Avenue, which runs along the northern border of the city and most of the Tree Section, was once lined on either side by stately rows of Eucalyptus trees. Before significant development, trees outnumbered homes in the Tree Section.

The Tree Section includes several sub-neighborhoods, mainly centered around the schools. The areas surrounding Pacific, American Martyrs, and Grand View all have distinct vibes. Because of this, the Tree Section is home to many young families. Families with elementary-aged children often choose homes based on which school their children attend. Walkability, nearby friends, and the suburban, beachy feel make for an idyllic childhood setting.

Because the Tree Section is largely residential property, few businesses are established within its core. But Sepulveda runs along the Eastern border while the Southern side is Manhattan Beach Blvd. On SepulvedaUCLA Medical Center, Exer Urgent Care, and Torrance Memorial Urgent Care bring exceptional health care without the hassle of a drive into LA proper. Law firms, banks, a vet, hotels, and Enterprise satisfy necessities.

Grunions, the legendary sports bar and grill, and Manhattan House, famous for its multi-surface mural, offers homey pub-like environments for locals who don’t need a view. Plus, Two Guns Espresso has added a small shop on Manhattan Beach Blvd between Poinsettia and John. Now, Tree Section residents can walk to coffee on a slow Saturday and then mosey on over to their neighbors in...

> THE HILL SECTION

Some of the grandest homes and most radiant yards of the city belong to the Hill Section. Sepulveda borders the neighborhood to the East, Ardmore to the West, Manhattan Beach Blvd to the North, and the city of Hermosa Beach lines the South. The Hill Section sports a vast array of architecture from spare Mid-Century Modern holdovers to sprawling Spanish Colonial.

The Hill Section’s yards burst with color from indigenous flowers and native plants, many of which are planted by California Naturalist Mike Garcia (read more on Page 30). He prioritizes earth-friendly gardening in his landscape designs to conserve water and promote environmental harmony. “The greatest environmental challenge that Southern California faces is our lack of water,” Garcia says. “Native plants are perfectly suited for our dry climate - they require very little water, and they support local pollinators.”

Flowers like the California Poppy and the official flower of Manhattan Beach - a gorgeous golden Beach Primrose - combine captivating colors and attract local bees, butterflies, and birds. Native grasses, succulents, and shrubs add lush greenery without the need for irrigation. The Hill Section yards blossom with unique, environmentally appropriate flora that highlights the expansive, impressive lots and respects our dry climate.

Hill Section views are widely considered the best in the city. The varied and high terrain allows 360-degree vistas of mountains, city, and sea. Homes in the Hill Section rest on wide lawns overlooking Palos Verdes to the purple mountains of Malibu. Home remodels and development steadily occurred throughout the years, with stunning new builds replacing many older, smaller homes. The Hill Section is also coveted for its wide streets and ample parking - something the Sand Section could use more of.

This neighborhood, like the Tree Section, is mostly residential once you breach the borders of Manhattan Beach Blvd and Sepulveda. But Gelson’s revolutionized the Hill Section, bringing high-end grocery

shopping within walking distance (incredibly valuable during the pandemic). Deep Roots Garden, acupuncturists, masseurs, and small, private gyms provide us with places to get into nature and ourselves, returning to the earth and recentering our bodies. Barsha ups the bougieness of our sleepy beach town, with elegant wine tastings, exotic charcuterie boards, and a cozy hipster vibe.

> THE SAND SECTION

While each neighborhood has something of value, The Sand Section is the marquee feature of Manhattan Beach. It’s home to the downtown district filled with chic boutiques and local restaurants, such as MB staples like the Manhattan Beach Creamery and The Strand House. It includes the Pier ending in the iconic Roundhouse Aquarium. With its unrivaled ocean views, beachfront properties, and proximity to local boutiques and restaurants, the Sand Section stands alone in its access.

It’s also the oldest part of town, home to the original late 1800s settlement when the unincorporated village was known as Potencia - Spanish for “power.” Residential neighborhoods quickly filled the sandy slope approaching the ocean along the 2.1-mile oceanfront. Those homes are now arguably the most sought-after places to live in all 88 cities of LA County.

Even within the small framework of the Sand Section, there are also subsections with their own spirit. West of Highland vs. East of it. Walk streets. The Strand. North Manhattan, or as locals call it - El Porto. The debate is so strong on that, and opinions abound. El Porto is what long term residents know as a surfer’s paradise. The parameters are anything North of Rosecrans along Highland running down to the water. Realtors and business owners in the area have attempted a rebranding to North Manhattan, primarily to avoid mistaking Manhattan city limits for a separate municipality. But a lot of people call anything North of Bruce’s Beach North Manhattan (myself included). It remains confusing.

The Sand Section is peppered with both dining and retail businesses. Residents and tourists alike enjoy boutiques like Marine Layer, Gum Tree, and Founded 1912 - a cute place named for the year Manhattan Beach was founded. Metlox Plaza hosts high-end businesses like Kasai Hair, Waterleaf, and great restaurants. The Manhattan Beach Library, an ultra-modern glass box full of my favorite things, boasts panoramic ocean views and the cheapest bookstore in the city. Adjacent sits the Light Gate, one of Manhattan’s Gems. Women-owned Waste Less Shop and Sand Spa both call (my version of) North Manhattan home, along with culinary staples like Pancho’s and North End Caffe. Check out our Dining Guide on Page 66 for more on restaurants.

The Sand Section’s nearness to alluring downtown and unrivaled views of our iconic Pier make it the special community it is. There’s nothing better than having the Roundhouse in your sights, which is why the Sand Section is so exclusive and inviting.

But what about Manhattan isn’t inviting? Whether you’re enjoying the space and peace in East Manhattan, the slowness and homey feel of the Tree Section, the grandeur and beauty of the Hill Section, or the quintessential Manhattan-ness of the Sand Section - Manhattan Beach is a trove of gifts for all.