Santa Monica’s Casual French Newcomer Just Oozes Charm

Here’s a first look at Massilia, the cozy French follow-up to the longstanding Border Grill in Santa Monica. The restaurant is the work of Emmanuel Dossetti, the founder of Zinqué cafe.

Whereas Zinque is itself a popular French restaurant that first opened in 2012 in Venice, and has since spawned additional outlets in West Hollywood and Orange County (along with plans to land in Downtown LA eventually), Massilia is somehow even more laid back and charming. There’s a ton of greenery out on the front patio and a soaring ceiling inside that lends the entire restaurant an open, airy vibe. Brick work and plush interior banquettes round out the look, while pendant lights hang over the bar and herringbone wood floors run the length of the space.

Massilia officially opened last weekend, with plans to run as an all-day French restaurant. That means coffee and pastries and eggs in the mornings, transitioning into salads and basic daytime staples for lunch, and then into cocktails and steak frites and housemade pasta for dinner. Expect daily hours from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Massilia. 1445 4th St., Santa Monica, CA.

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