What to Do Around Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey combines waterfront recreation with everyday dining, shopping, and entertainment, making it easy to build a day around the neighborhood without heading across Los Angeles.
For residents of Stella, several everyday destinations sit directly across Maxella Avenue, while parks, beaches, bike routes, and the marina waterfront are nearby. Here are some of the places to know around Marina del Rey.
Explore Marina Marketplace
Directly across from Stella, Marina Marketplace brings together restaurants, shopping, fitness, groceries, and entertainment in one location.
Current tenants include Gelson’s Market, Equinox, Ulta Beauty, Yard House, Tender Greens, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Le Pain Quotidien, and AMC DINE-IN Marina 6. That mix makes the center useful for everything from a quick meal or grocery run to dinner and a movie.
Location: 13450 Maxella Avenue
Best for: Dining, shopping, movies, and everyday errands
Stop for Coffee or Brunch at Le Pain Quotidien
Le Pain Quotidien is a Belgian bakery-café located inside Marina Marketplace. The menu includes organic breads, pastries, coffee, eggs, tartines, soups, salads, and other breakfast and lunch options.
The Marina del Rey location also has outdoor seating, making it an easy place to start a weekend morning or stop for coffee without traveling far from home.
Location: 13455 Maxella Avenue
Best for: Coffee, pastries, breakfast, and brunch
Catch a Movie at AMC DINE-IN Marina 6
For an easy evening nearby, AMC DINE-IN Marina 6 combines first-run movies with food and drinks delivered to your seat.
The theater offers reserved seating, dine-in service, mobile ordering, and a MacGuffins Bar, making it possible to combine dinner and a movie in a single stop.
Location: 13455 Maxella Avenue, Suite 280
Best for: Movies, casual date nights, and an easy evening out
Walk the Waterfront at Burton Chace Park
Burton W. Chace Park extends into the marina’s main channel, creating one of the neighborhood’s best places for waterfront views.
The 10-acre park includes broad lawns, picnic areas, harbor overlooks, guest docks, and walking space. It also hosts public programming throughout the year, from fitness classes and walking groups to seasonal events.
Location: 13650 Mindanao Way
Best for: Waterfront walks, picnics, sunsets, and marina views
Spend Time at Marina “Mother’s” Beach
Marina Beach, commonly known as Mother’s Beach, offers nearly a half-mile of sand along a sheltered section of Marina del Rey.
Unlike the open Pacific beaches nearby, the swimming area has no surf. The beach also includes volleyball courts, picnic areas, barbecue grills, showers, a promenade, and access for kayaking and other water activities.
Los Angeles County completed a series of upgrades to the beach in 2026, including improved landscaping, picnic shelters, a renovated restroom building, and enhanced beach access.
Location: 4101 Admiralty Way
Best for: Beach time, kayaking, volleyball, and waterfront recreation
Shop the Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market
Saturday mornings bring the Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market to Marina Lot #11 on Panay Way.
The year-round market runs from 9 AM to 2 PM and features fresh produce alongside prepared foods, packaged products, flowers, and artisan goods. Its waterfront setting also makes it easy to combine the market with a morning spent exploring the marina.
Location: 14101 Panay Way
Best for: Saturday mornings, fresh produce, and local food vendors
Bike the Marina and LA Coastline
Marina del Rey also connects into the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, a paved route extending along more than 20 miles of the Los Angeles County coastline.
The Marina del Rey section connects toward Venice Beach to the north and Dockweiler State Beach to the south, offering another way to experience the Westside beyond driving.
For residents of Stella, bike lanes and nearby coastal routes expand the neighborhood beyond the immediate marina and make places like Venice part of the surrounding recreational landscape.
Best for: Cycling, coastal views, and exploring the Westside
Everyday Life Around Marina del Rey
One of Marina del Rey’s advantages is the combination of practical convenience and waterfront access.
Around Stella, daily needs such as groceries, restaurants, fitness, shopping, and movies are concentrated around Marina Marketplace, while the marina itself adds beaches, parks, bike routes, boating, and outdoor recreation.
That creates a neighborhood where an ordinary weekend can move easily from coffee or brunch to the waterfront, a bike ride, the farmers’ market, or dinner and a movie without requiring a trip across Los Angeles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some of the best things to do in Marina del Rey?
Popular options include walking around Burton Chace Park, visiting Marina Beach, biking along the coastal trail, shopping at the Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market, and exploring the restaurants and entertainment at Marina Marketplace.
What shopping and dining are near Stella in Marina del Rey?
Marina Marketplace sits directly across Maxella Avenue from Stella and includes Gelson’s Market, Le Pain Quotidien, Tender Greens, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, AMC DINE-IN Marina 6, Equinox, and other businesses.
Is there a beach in Marina del Rey?
Yes. Marina Beach, also known as Mother’s Beach, is a sheltered sandy beach along Admiralty Way with swimming, volleyball, picnic areas, kayaking, and other waterfront activities.
Can you bike from Marina del Rey toward Venice Beach?
Yes. Marina del Rey connects with coastal cycling routes, including the Marvin Braude Coastal Bike Trail, which runs through the marina toward Venice Beach and other communities along the Los Angeles coastline.
Is there a farmers’ market in Marina del Rey?
Yes. The Marina del Rey Farmers’ Market operates year-round on Saturdays from 9 AM to 2 PM at Marina Lot #11, 14101 Panay Way.