What's New On Abbot Kinney This Summer In Venice

Abbot Kinney has seen a steady run of openings in 2026, but the more interesting story is how these new spaces are meant to be used.

The clearest pattern this summer is time. New cafés invite guests to sit rather than simply collect a drink. Retailers are adding appointments, repair services, and hands-on showrooms. Restaurants are treating dinner as an occasion while still making room for a more casual neighborhood visit.

For Venice residents, that changes the practical rhythm of the boulevard. A morning coffee can turn into time with a book. An afternoon errand can include a furniture test or jewelry appointment. Dinner now includes new coastal Mexican and modern Indian options. First Friday continues to tie the pieces together after 5 p.m.

Here is what is new and how to make sense of it as of July 11, 2026.

A simple summer plan: Start with coffee at Chamberlain Coffee or Fast Times, browse the new service-oriented shops during the afternoon, and choose between San Damián and Badmaash for dinner. For a busier evening, save Friday, August 7, for the next First Friday.

San Damián gives the former Atla space a coastal reset

San Damián opened June 4 at 1025 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, taking over the former Atla address.

The connection between the two restaurants matters. San Damián comes from Casamata, the hospitality group behind Atla, so this is a new concept shaped by a team that already knows the space. Chef Jesus “Chuy” Cervantes leads a menu focused on coastal Mexican seafood.

Opening dishes included oysters with turnip salsa, clams with cucumber and salsa macha, locally sourced rockfish ceviche, and Santa Barbara sea urchin. The menu also extends to seafood preparations, tacos, fried chicken with pasilla glaze, and hanger steak carne asada. Agave spirits and Mexican wines shape the beverage side.

The restaurant has described its goal in two useful ways: a place where neighbors can stop for a taco and a drink, and a dinner destination when the evening calls for something more considered. That flexibility fits the broader shift on the boulevard. The strongest new concepts are giving residents more than one reason to return.

Badmaash adds a livelier dinner option near Venice Boulevard

A few blocks away, Badmaash opened its Venice location on March 27 at 1616 Abbot Kinney Boulevard. It occupies the former Yours Truly and Piccolo space.

The family-operated modern Indian restaurant brought established Badmaash dishes to the Westside, including chicken tikka poutine and a spiced lamb burger, along with additions created for the Venice location.

Badmaash is currently open Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. That makes it a clear evening stop rather than an all-day café, and it adds another distinct dinner format to the southern end of the boulevard.

San Damián and Badmaash arrive with different menus and moods, but together they make the same point. This summer’s dining additions are not interchangeable versions of what Abbot Kinney already had. Each brings a defined point of view and enough range to work for a planned dinner or a more spontaneous evening.

The new coffee stops are designed for staying

Two additions stand out because they treat coffee as the beginning of the visit rather than the entire purpose.

Chamberlain Coffee

Chamberlain Coffee is now open at 1142 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, across from The Butcher’s Daughter and next to Le Labo. It is the brand’s first full standalone café and operates daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The space includes seating and ceramic service, with a seasonal menu, pastries from local makers, exclusive merchandise, and drinks inspired by Emma Chamberlain’s personal favorites. Proem Studio designed the café as an extension of Chamberlain’s kitchen, using marble, warm woods, soft greens, and vintage details.

The practical distinction is straightforward: this is a café where sitting down is part of the plan. For residents who want to meet someone, read, or pause between errands, the longer daily hours make it one of the more flexible new options.

Fast Times

Fast Times is tucked into the Buck Mason property at 1629 Abbot Kinney Boulevard. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The concept combines a café with books and gallery-like elements. Its location behind the primary storefront gives it a more discreet feel than a standard sidewalk coffee counter.

Fast Times and Chamberlain Coffee serve different parts of the boulevard, yet both support the same emerging pattern. The experience around the drink carries nearly as much weight as the drink itself.

Shopping is becoming more hands-on

The shift is even clearer in the new retail mix. Several 2026 arrivals have built services or physical interaction into the visit.

Cozey opened its 5,000-square-foot pop-up on April 8. It is scheduled to remain through December, giving residents several more months to test its modular sofas and see its Shinuk outdoor collection. Current hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

Astrid & Miyu opened its first West Coast boutique in April. The store also carries Blue Lace Agate designs exclusive to the Abbot Kinney location. Current hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

VEJA opened its first West Coast store at 1108C Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Cobbler services are available in addition to footwear shopping. The store is currently open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

These are still shops, but the services change the reason to walk in. A fitting, repair, appointment, or furniture trial creates a more deliberate visit than a quick browse.

The Stronghold offers a useful counterpoint

The newer international arrivals do not tell the entire retail story. The Stronghold gives the boulevard a more heritage-focused option.

An Abbot Kinney Boulevard Association business spotlight published in March reported that The Stronghold’s flagship carries more than 40 brands founded at least 50 years ago. Its selection is limited to goods still manufactured in the country where each brand began.

That tight point of view matters because a strong commercial street benefits from contrast. New concepts can draw attention, while established and specialized operators give residents reasons to develop routines. The boulevard feels most useful when both are present.

First Friday remains the evening that connects the block

The next Abbot Kinney First Friday is scheduled for Friday, August 7, 2026. The monthly event begins at 5 p.m. and combines a rotating selection of vetted food trucks with late merchant hours and special store activities.

The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs says the event generally brings around two dozen trucks to the boulevard. The August truck roster had not been posted as of July 11, so it is best to check the official First Friday page closer to the event.

There is also a small timing discrepancy to keep in mind. The city’s current listing shows an August end time of 9 p.m., while recent First Fridays in June and July ran until 9:30 p.m. Confirm the closing time before making a late-evening plan.

A few practical details are already clear:

• The event starts at 5 p.m.
• Food trucks rotate from month to month.
• Participating merchants may stay open later or host special activities.
• Portable restrooms are provided on Palms Boulevard.
• The official event page posts the monthly truck list when it becomes available.

The boulevard also entered 2026 with new street lighting, a modest physical update that supports these later evening hours.

What these openings say about Abbot Kinney right now

A restaurant opening or retail pop-up should never be treated as a direct measure of residential value. It does, however, offer useful context about how a neighborhood’s daily routines are changing.

This summer, the pattern on Abbot Kinney is less about collecting the newest names and more about how people use the block. San Damián can serve a casual drink or a planned seafood dinner. Chamberlain Coffee and Fast Times invite a longer pause. Cozey, Astrid & Miyu, and VEJA build the visit around trying, fitting, repairing, or personalizing something. First Friday turns those individual addresses into a shared monthly evening.

For current Venice residents, that means more ways to use the boulevard at different points in the day. For buyers and investors studying neighborhood dynamics, it is a reminder to look beyond a directory of amenities. The more revealing question is whether local businesses support repeat routines rather than one-time visits.

Abbot Kinney’s latest openings make a persuasive case for the former. They give people concrete reasons to return, stay awhile, and experience the boulevard at a calmer pace.

Quick questions for planning a visit

Which new cafés open earliest?

Chamberlain Coffee and Fast Times both open at 7 a.m. Chamberlain Coffee closes at 7 p.m., while Fast Times closes at 5 p.m.

Which new restaurants are strongest for dinner?

San Damián focuses on coastal Mexican seafood at 1025 Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Badmaash serves modern Indian cooking at 1616 Abbot Kinney Boulevard and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

When is the next First Friday?

The next event is Friday, August 7, beginning at 5 p.m. Check the official event page shortly beforehand for the food-truck lineup and confirmed closing time.

If Abbot Kinney is part of your Venice routine and a move is beginning to take shape, I am always happy to help you think through the next steps with clear information and no pressure. I am Janet Heinzle, a Westside Los Angeles REALTOR® affiliated with Douglas Elliman and a hands-on advisor for buyers, sellers, and investors. CA DRE# 02080077.

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