September has a different feel in Santa Monica.
Summer may technically be winding down, but the sunshine, beach mornings and outdoor lifestyle are still very much here. Once Labor Day passes and some of the busiest summer crowds begin to ease, Santa Monica settles into a rhythm that feels a little more relaxed.
The beach is still calling. Main Street is still active. Locals are walking their dogs, riding bikes, meeting friends for breakfast and grabbing coffee before heading toward the ocean.
For visitors and locals alike, September can be one of the most enjoyable times to slow down and appreciate the neighborhood.
And there may be no better way to start than with good coffee and breakfast at Dogtown Coffee.
September Is a Great Time to Rediscover Santa Monica
September falls into that perfect Southern California transition period.
The calendar may say fall is approaching, but mornings can still feel like summer. That means you can grab breakfast, walk Main Street, spend time near the beach and enjoy the neighborhood without rushing into a completely different season.
It is also a great time for locals to rediscover places they may overlook during the busiest summer months.
Instead of trying to fit every major Santa Monica attraction into one day, September is a good excuse to keep things simple.
Start with breakfast.
Grab some coffee.
Walk around Main Street.
Head toward the beach.
See where the morning takes you.
Sometimes those are the best Santa Monica days.
Start the Morning on Main Street Santa Monica
Main Street offers a different side of Santa Monica than some of the city’s biggest visitor destinations.
It is a neighborhood where longtime residents, surfers, cyclists, dog walkers, independent businesses and visitors all mix together.
Dogtown Coffee sits right in the middle of that experience at the historic corner of Main and Bay.
If you are planning a morning in the neighborhood, our A Local’s Guide to Main Street Santa Monica is a great place to start.
The guide covers the kind of Santa Monica experience we love most: coffee, breakfast, neighborhood businesses, beach views and enough time to actually enjoy where you are.
September makes that kind of morning even better.
Breakfast Before the Beach
A beach morning is always better when you aren’t starting it hungry.
Dogtown Coffee serves all-day breakfast, making it an easy stop whether you’re getting an early start or easing into the day later.
If you’re searching for breakfast santa monica options before heading toward the ocean, you’ll find everything from hearty breakfast burritos to lighter choices.
The Munchies Burrito combines organic egg, white cheddar, tater tots, avocado, pico de gallo and DTC chipotle sauce with your choice of protein.
The Classic Burrito keeps things simple with organic egg, white cheddar, avocado and pico de gallo.
For something lighter, the Acai Energy Bowl brings together organic açaí, hemp granola, banana, strawberry, coconut and honey.
You can also choose from avocado toast, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and other morning favorites.
For more ideas, take a look at our guide to where to eat breakfast on Main Street Santa Monica.
A Coffee Shop With a Story
There are plenty of places to grab a cup of coffee, but Dogtown Coffee has a connection to Santa Monica that goes far beyond what’s in the cup.
Our Main & Bay location occupies the historic space that was once home to Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions.
That history connects the building directly to the surf and skateboard culture that helped put Dogtown on the map.
Today, however, the location is still very much a working neighborhood coffee shop santa monica residents and visitors can make part of their everyday routine.
Regulars stop in before work.
Friends meet for breakfast.
Visitors learn about the history.
Surfers and cyclists fuel up before heading out.
Dogs hang out with their owners.
People come in for a quick coffee and sometimes stay longer than they planned.
That combination of history and everyday neighborhood life is what makes Dogtown feel like Dogtown.
September Coffee: Hot, Iced or Somewhere in Between
September creates a very Southern California coffee question.
Do you order hot coffee because fall is approaching?
Or do you order cold brew because it’s still warm enough for the beach?
Fortunately, there is no wrong answer.
Dogtown Coffee serves organic house coffee, espresso drinks, cold brew, Nitro Cold Brew and favorites like the Salty Dog Iced Coffee made with 24-hour cold brew, caramel and sea salt foam.
If you’re looking for coffee santa monica style—laid-back, local and close to the beach—September is a perfect time to experience it.
And if fall flavors are already on your mind, September is also when you can start leaning into the change of season without completely giving up the iced drinks.
That’s part of the fun.
Take Your Coffee Toward the Ocean
One of the best things about starting the morning on Main Street is how easy it is to continue toward the beach afterward.
Finish breakfast, grab another coffee to go and start walking west.
You don’t necessarily need a detailed itinerary.
A simple morning might look like this:
Breakfast at Dogtown Coffee.
A walk along Main Street.
A stop at a local shop.
A stroll toward the ocean.
Some time on the beach.
Maybe another coffee later.
Santa Monica is especially enjoyable when you leave enough room in the day to be spontaneous.
If you prefer being out before things get busier, we also put together a guide to the best way to experience Santa Monica before the crowds arrive.
That approach works especially well during September.
What Makes the Best Coffee Experience?
People often search for the best coffee santa monica has to offer, but a memorable coffee experience is about more than the drink itself.
Of course, quality matters.
But so does where you are drinking it.
Who you’re with matters.
The neighborhood matters.
The atmosphere matters.
The story behind the place matters.
At Dogtown Coffee, you’re drinking coffee just blocks from the Pacific Ocean inside a building connected to one of Southern California’s most influential surf and skate stories.
That is difficult to recreate anywhere else.
The coffee, food, history, neighborhood and people all become part of the experience.
Bring a Little Dogtown Home
Maybe your September morning is over before you’re ready for it to end.
That doesn’t mean Dogtown has to disappear when you leave Main Street.
For locals who want fresh coffee at home, our coffee subscription santa monica option makes it easier to keep Dogtown coffee in your regular morning routine.
It’s also a simple way to bring a little bit of the Main Street coffee-shop experience home when you can’t make it down to the café.
Because sometimes the next best thing to sitting a few blocks from the beach with a cup of coffee is brewing that coffee in your own kitchen.
Support Local as Summer Winds Down
September is also a good reminder of how important local businesses are to the identity of Santa Monica.
Summer brings visitors from around the country and around the world.
But neighborhood businesses continue serving the community long after the busiest travel weekends are over.
Meeting a friend for coffee, choosing a local restaurant, visiting independent shops or making a neighborhood café part of your weekly routine helps maintain the character that makes Main Street special.
Dogtown Coffee was built around that sense of community.
The historic location connects us to Santa Monica’s past, but the people walking through the door every day are what keep that story moving forward.
Every breakfast meeting, coffee run, dog visit, weekend hangout and conversation becomes another small part of Dogtown.
Make a September Morning of It
You don’t need a vacation to have a great morning in Santa Monica.
September is a perfect excuse to keep things simple.
Come down to Main Street.
Grab breakfast.
Order your favorite coffee.
Walk toward the beach.
Bring a friend.
Bring your dog.
Turn off your phone for a little while.
Explore somewhere local you haven’t visited before.
Sit near the ocean.
Enjoy the fact that summer in Southern California never seems to disappear all at once.
Dogtown Coffee is located at 2003 Main Street in Santa Monica, at the historic corner of Main and Bay.
Come for coffee and breakfast.
Stay for the neighborhood, the history and the unmistakable Dogtown atmosphere.
Explore Dogtown Coffee and make us part of your next September morning in Santa Monica.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is September a good time to visit Santa Monica?
Yes. September is an excellent time to enjoy Santa Monica’s beaches, Main Street, outdoor activities, restaurants and coffee shops while transitioning out of the busiest part of summer.
Where can I get breakfast near Main Street Santa Monica?
Dogtown Coffee at Main and Bay serves all-day breakfast with breakfast burritos, açaí bowls, avocado toast, oatmeal, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies and organic coffee.
Is Dogtown Coffee close to Santa Monica Beach?
Yes. Dogtown Coffee’s Main & Bay location is only a short walk from the beach, making it a convenient stop before a beach walk, bike ride or morning near the ocean.
What makes Dogtown Coffee different from other Santa Monica coffee shops?
Dogtown Coffee occupies the historic former Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions space. The location has a direct connection to the Dogtown surf and skate culture that helped influence modern skateboarding, while today serving as a neighborhood coffee shop and breakfast destination.
Can I get Dogtown Coffee delivered regularly?
Yes. Dogtown Coffee offers a coffee subscription for customers who want to enjoy fresh Dogtown coffee as part of their regular home routine.