Santa Monica’s Outdoor Drinking Zone Now Open For Weekend Cocktails

SANTA MONICA, CA — The city's Entertainment Zone is open for business as of Friday, allowing people to walk around parts of Downtown Santa Monica with a cocktail in hand.

In the zone, located on the 3rd Street Promenade between Wilshire Boulevard and Broadway, visitors are able to purchase alcoholic beverages at certain bars and restaurants and consume them anywhere within the area between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturday and Sundays. That marks an expansion of hours since the plan was approved last month.

So far, these are the participating businesses: 1212, Barney’s Beanery, Cabo Cantina, Casa Martin, Holey Moley and Pickle Pop.

Participating businesses will check IDs as they normally do and provide customers with a city-approved wristband. Revelers will need to wear those wristbands while consuming alcohol outside.

The only alcohol that can be consumed in the zone is that served by participating establishments and served in to-go cups.

Patrons are allowed to take a drink from a participating bar outside onto the promenade. From there, they're allowed to window shop and enjoy and activities happening out on the street — but cannot bring their drink into another business.

• Read more: 4 Things To Know About Santa Monica's Loosened Public Drinking Rules