Milo & Olive

Tucked along Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, Milo & Olive feels like walking into your favorite neighborhood hangout—the kind of place where you could easily spend hours nursing a glass of wine and watching the kitchen crew work their magic. Since opening in 2011, this cozy bakery-pizzeria has barely changed, and that’s exactly the point. The hand-drawn artwork still adorns the walls, the bar hums with energy, and the open kitchen operates with the precision of a well-rehearsed orchestra.

The pizza here stands out as the crown jewel of the Westside pizza scene. The mixed mushroom pie arrives loaded with an impressive variety of fungi, finished with bright lemon zest and melted fontina that ties everything together. The pork belly sausage with kale delivers savory depth, while the roast potato pizza with rosemary cream offers something unexpectedly comforting. But before any pizza hits your table, you absolutely need to order the garlic knot—a warm, doughy pocket bursting with olive oil and roasted garlic that sets the tone for everything to come.

Whether you’re stopping by for brunch, lunch, or dinner, Milo & Olive delivers. Morning visitors should make a beeline for the creamy polenta with egg and bacon, or the legendary breakfast pizza topped with potato and egg. The full dinner menu is available at lunch too, making this a versatile destination no matter when hunger strikes. A bottle of wine, a few garlic knots, and the arugula and radicchio salad provide the perfect pacing between carb-heavy courses.

This is the kind of restaurant that becomes a regular haunt—a reliable go-to for first dates, casual dinners with friends, or lazy weekend brunches. While newer spots have popped up across the Westside, Milo & Olive remains a steadfast favorite that continues to earn its devoted following one perfectly charred pizza at a time.