Ashland Hill Gastropub sits on Main Street in Santa Monica’s historic Ocean Park neighborhood, right where you can walk over to the beach after lunch. The setup works really well if you’re bringing your dog—there’s a garden patio where dogs are welcome, so you’re not stuck inside while everyone else enjoys the California sunshine. The tap room itself has that relaxed vibe you want from a gastropub, with a rotating selection of small-batch beers and wines that actually change enough to give you a reason to come back.

The food is solid bar fare done well. Their bar bites are legitimately good—the kind of thing you’ll find yourself ordering again on your next visit—and the kitchen takes care with ingredients rather than just throwing together standard pub food. You can eat on the patio with your dog or head inside to the cooler tap room depending on the weather and what you’re in the mood for.

The whole place has that laid-back beach-town energy without trying too hard. It’s the kind of spot where you can grab a quick bite with your dog before heading to the Pier or Palisades Park, or settle in for a longer afternoon if the weather’s nice. The staff doesn’t make you feel rushed either way. Since it’s in Ocean Park rather than right on the main Santa Monica tourist drag, it gets a better mix of locals who actually live in the neighborhood, which keeps the atmosphere from getting too scene-y.

If you’re planning to come on a weekend afternoon, the patio fills up pretty quickly, so arriving earlier in the day gives you better odds of getting a good spot for you and your dog. The beer selection changes regularly enough that even if you’ve been before, there’s usually something new to try.