Hudson House

Within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean, this laid-back-yet-elegant bar and restaurant provides a welcome dose of atmospheric charm to the city of Redondo Beach. The decor is spare and modern, featuring exposed brick walls and a low-slung ceiling over an intimate dining area. A blackboard mounted beside the bar advertises the day’s specials. The lighting is low and moody, mostly tabletop candles and yellow bulbs dangling from the ceiling, lending a pleasant air of romance to the space. Seating is divided between a long row of tables beside the wall and tall stools and tables in the center of the room. There’s seating for 10 along the bar, which is the real focus of the venue. The drinks and strong and tasty, luring locals and tourists alike from their seaside pursuits for an hour or two of escape. The menu is composed mostly of gourmet bar food, but with a culinary flair missing from the average burger and chicken dishes. There’s a marinated skirt steak with garlic and truffle cheese fries, the mouth-watering Hudson Pretzel Burger with grilled onion, bacon, jarlsberg cheese and wild arugula, and the ground lamb sugarcane skewers with honey yogurt harisa sauce and marinated olives. Lighter appetites will enjoy the simple the simple romaine salad or the grilled shrimp tacos.