Famous for its exorbitant real estate prices, beach volleyball, bright white sand and boisterous nightlife, Manhattan Beach is home to only a select few, but it's a popular haunt for visitors hungry for a little Southern California warmth and glamour. Little wonder it has earned itself the moniker "Pearl of the South Bay."

SYANTANI CHATTERJEE >LA.COM

>recreation

Owing to their exquisite constitution, the shifting sand dunes that once made roads disappear in Manhattan Beach were used to replenish the beaches of Waikiki. The beach is an ideal place for outdoor activities.

The Strand
Walkway along the beach.

The Strand is as inundated with bikers and pedestrians as the 405 Freeway is with cars. But that's no excuse for avoiding these serpentine paths. The Strand stretches all the way to Hermosa Beach and is great for a casual stroll or a more rigorous jog or ride. It also offers a good vantage point from which to watch others at play. Surfers swear by the impish waves that are fun to tame and amenable to aerial stunts. And The Strand borders the beach where beach volleyball was reinvented. The Manhattan Beach Open is a must-see each August, but the fun lasts year-round for recreational players.

>nightlife

Shellback Tavern
116 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
(310) 376-7857 www.shellbacktavern.com

Voted the best beach bar in Los Angeles by editors of Citysearch.com, Shellback Tavern is home to parched and beat volleyball players, surfers and Rollerbladers. On the weekends, however, you'll find 20-somethings flooding to the dive bar.

Ercoles Bar
1101 Manhattan Ave.
(310) 372-1997

Ercoles, a favorite among the dive-bar set, offers affordable drinks and juicy hamburgers, along with a jukebox and pool table.

The Side Door
900 Manhattan Ave.
(310) 372-1684 www.thesidedoor.biz

Concealed by a cathedral facade and stained-glass windows, The Side Door is a lounge bar as famous for its wicked cocktails as for its sinful plush interiors.

>food

Outdoor enthusiasts tend to work up vigorous appetites, and Manhattan Beach does not disappoint.

Uncle Bill's
Pancake House
1305 Highland Ave.
(310) 545-5177

An early-morning surf must be topped off with a visit to Uncle Bill's. Treat yourself to any one of the variety of omelettes on the menu,
or enjoy a specialty pancake.

Rock'N Fish
120 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
(310) 379-9900 http://rocknfishmb.com

Rock'N Fish's distinctive presence on the Manhattan Beach Pier is matched by its steak and seafood fare.

Cafe Pierre
317 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
(310) 545-5252 www.cafepierre.com

This monolith has marked the landscape of Manhattan Beach for more than 30 years. Cafe Pierre's sophisticated bistro experience features Tuscan and Provencal cuisine, and fine wine.

>shop

Shopping in Manhattan Beach centers around two main hubs: the Village Mall and the downtown district.

The Village Mall
3200 Sepulveda Blvd.
(310) 546-5555 www.shopmanhattanvillage.com

Equipped with 80 stores ranging from Victoria's Secret to Fry's Electronics, this may not be the mall to go to if you are looking for the coolest bargains, but it is the mall to hang out in if low-stress shopping and hassle-free parking are major players in your shopping experience.

Downtown shopping district

Along Highland Avenue, from Manhattan Beach Boulevard to 15th Street

Every corner of the city's upscale downtown is populated with quaint boutiques and trendy designer shops. The elegance and character of the stores make shopping not just pleasant but also uncomplicated. Two such stores are Mandarine

Boutique and Bacchus Wine Made Simple. Mandarine

(1000 Manhattan Ave. and 329 Manhattan Beach Blvd.) offers a distinctive and affordable selection of women's clothing and accessories. And at Bacchus Wine Made Simple (1000 Manhattan Ave.), wines are organized by character (crisp, smooth, fruity, mellow) rather than geography, giving the shop an edge over other wine stores. Tastings are held daily except Mondays.