Music Festival Doubles Down on Culinary Draw Ocean Way Festival, debuting September 26–27 on Santa Monica Beach, is anchoring its inaugural event with more than 25 restaurants, positioning food as a co-equal draw alongside headliners The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White, Khruangbin, and Sublime. Produced by Goldenvoice, the two-day festival will unfold against the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Ocean. The culinary lineup emphasizes Westside operators: 15 of the 25-plus participating restaurants are based locally, including Tacos 1986, Cobi's, Border Grill, Kogi, Khan Saab, Sweetfin, Sidecar Doughnuts, Farmhouse Kitchen Thai Cuisine, Prince St. Pizza, and Shrimp Daddy.

Breadth Over Novelty The roster reflects contemporary L.A. dining culture—tacos and Thai, pizza and fried chicken, sushi and onigiri, seafood and sandwiches, plus plant-based concepts like Maneatingplant, Mac & Yease, and Cena Vegan. Michelin-recognized operators include Cobi's (tropical Southeast Asian) and Khan Saab (Pakistani); James Beard Award winners Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken helm Border Grill. Kogi, Mac & Yease, and Menotti's will operate food trucks. Offhand Wine Bar, based in Santa Monica, will curate a wine bar within the festival grounds.

Premium Hospitality Tier For attendees seeking elevated access, the Proper Beach Club partnership with Proper Hotels offers a private beachfront lounge designed by Kelly Wearstler Studio, with panoramic Main Stage views, all-day dining, and premium beverages sourced from Calabria and Palma restaurants at Proper Hotel Santa Monica. Menu items include Lamb Belly Taco, Lobster Corn Dog, King Crab Salad, Caviar Fried Egg, and Salmon Cones.

Why It Matters

Festival food programs have historically been an afterthought—mass-market concessions designed for convenience, not cuisine. Ocean Way's strategy of recruiting established, chef-driven independents with loyal followings signals that Goldenvoice sees food as core festival identity, not ancillary revenue. For Westside restaurants, the event offers outsized exposure to a major audience; for attendees, it reframes the festival itinerary around dining discovery.

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Written by FBM Publications Editors