Big Dean's Cafe

Parking:
Happy Hour Bustling, Bar Scene, Area Classic, Laid Back Casual, Tourist Spot Diner Bustling Boardwalk Sidewalk

Everything in Big Dean’s has a story, starting with the fact that it was named for a guy named Stan. The rest of its appellation comes from the original Muscle Beach, which originated a few feet away on the Santa Monica seashore, where the Santa Monica Pier stands now, before it shuffled on to Venice. For proof, the walls are adorned with antique photos attesting to it (there can also be found a yellowed newspaper clipping which clears up the whole Stan/Dean thing). To understand the Big Dean vibe, know it first opened in 1901, and only six owners have held it since then, often former customers. It’s just that beloved by its authentic crowd of good-natured clientele. When things get really animated, there’s a simple patio out back, but the fun tends to congregate up front.

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