Belmont Shore, Long Beach, CA

Belmont Shore is the beach neighborhood of Long Beach that runs along Second Street, with the sand a couple of blocks south and Alamitos Bay at its east end. Second Street is the draw, a long run of restaurants, coffee bars and shops that stays busy from breakfast to last call. Homes here sit close together on small lots, mixing Spanish-style houses from the 1920s and 1930s with remodeled cottages, newer two-story rebuilds and plenty of small apartment buildings. Belmont Heights is to the north and Naples across the bridge to the east. The beach is wide and calm because the offshore breakwater keeps waves small, which makes it popular with kitesurfers, kayakers and sailors more than surfers. Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier is the walking landmark, Rosie's Dog Beach on Ocean Boulevard lets dogs run off leash, and Bay Shore Avenue closes to cars on summer days for walkers and bikes. Second Street feeds the whole neighborhood. George's Greek Cafe is known for lamb chops and saganaki flamed at the table, The Second Owl takes Thai and Lao cooking in new directions, and Roe Seafood doubles as a place to buy fish to take home. L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele brings Naples-style pizza to the street. Daily life is walkable. Vons on Ocean Boulevard covers groceries, the Bay Shore Neighborhood Library is on Bay Shore Avenue, and most errands happen on foot or by bike. Belmont Brewing Company sits right by the pier for a sunset beer. Parking is the constant struggle, especially on summer weekends and during events like the September car show, and Second Street crowds spill onto residential blocks. Belmont Shore residents plan their trips around that, and in exchange get a morning walk that goes from coffee on Second Street to the end of the pier in about fifteen minutes.