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Spotlight on Playa del Rey

Man and a Child

Man and a Child

Associate Partner Josh Stein Sapir has lived in Playa del Rey for the past 12 years and describes it as a “gateway from the busy city to your own private oasis.” Read more below about insights on the area & tips on places to visit:

In 2006, I decided to make the move out to California from New York. The first apartment I saw was in Playa del Rey, and I rented it on the spot. 7 years later, I bought my condo around the corner and have considered myself a Playa del Rey local ever since. This sleepy beach town has, up until recently, been one of LA’s best kept secrets. It is sometimes referred to as “The Island of Playa Del Rey,” surrounded by towering bluffs on the east, Ballona Creek on the north, and Los Angeles Airport to the south. The town has gone through many changes, originally starting off as swampy marsh in the 1800s, then being developed into a beach resort town in 1920s with the development of the grand Hotel del Rey and turning the lagoon into a swimming plunge pool, and finally going “all in” on residential development, as it remains today. Within the already small area of Playa del Rey, there are micro-neighborhoods: the more bohemian Jungle, the ritzy Bluffs, the family friendly Lagoon, and the vibrant Lower Playa, which is home to some of the greatest dive bars in the city: The Shack, The Harbor Room, and the famous Prince O’ Whales. Before my wife and I had our son, we were regulars at the Prince O’ Whales, and you can still catch us there every so often doing karaoke. New restaurants and bars are drawing more and more people to our “island.” Chef Brooke Williamson, winner of Top Chef: All Stars, has opened two restaurants on Playa’s main drag at the end of Culver Blvd: The Tripel, a gastropub with a fantastic beer list, and Playa Provisions, which includes four different restaurants within one 7,000 sq. ft. building featuring an open-air patio steps away from the beach. Playa del Rey translates to “the beach of the king,” which is fitting due to its secluded location and unbeatable sunset views, and I love that it still remains a sleepy beach town.

Playa del Rey is also relatively affordable compared to its beachside neighbors of Marina del Rey and Venice, but prices are steadily increasing. In 2013, Brad Keyes represented the buyer on the purchase of a condo located at 64000 Pacific Avenue. He purchased it for $757,500.
Four years later, Keyes Real Estate represented him as the seller, and it sold for $981,000.