Santa Monica’s Locanda del Lago to Close After 27 Pasta-Filled Years

Santa Monica’s long-running Locanda del Lago will close at year’s end. The 27-year-old Italian mainstay helped to anchor the busy tourist-heavy Third Street Promenade for decades, but now will be turning out the lights after one final New Years Eve bash.

Locanda has remained a staple even as other restaurants, including many chains, have come and gone throughout the years at the Promenade. The corner tenant offered patio views up the walking street and around the corner and down Arizona, with white tablecloths inside and a full bar to complement the northern Italian food, said to be done in the style of the food found near Lake Como.

In a Facebook post, ownership says they will be saying goodbye on New Years Eve, adding:

We thank our talented staff and loyal guests for the love and support we received over the years. It has been an incredible journey from 1991 to present, and we are immensely grateful to all our guests, family, friends, co-workers, farmers, vendors, and the Santa Monica community for making our tenure unforgettable.

The group does still operate Caffe Bella, a more modest all-day space further down the Promenade. Plans are to expand the offerings at that location once Locanda says goodbye. In the meantime, Locanda continues to operate, waiting for diners to come in and give their final goodbyes, just like seminal Santa Monica Italian eatery Valentino, which will also be closing at the end of this year.

Locanda del Lago. 231 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, CA.

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