Mar Vista apartments for rent - Los Angeles, CA

Overview of Mar Vista

As Angelenos know, Mar Vista apartments provide an excellent escape from summer heat and city crowds. Here, residents have proved effective in blocking large development projects. This preserved much of Mar Vista's neighborhood feel. The good schools, the relatively quiet streets, and the ocean breeze all help make the area welcoming. It's located just southwest of where the Santa Monica and San Diego freeways cross. Santa Monica, West L.A., Palms, Culver City, Del Rey, and Venice surround Mar Vista.

Spanish for "sea view," Mar Vista hit its growth spurt in the 1920s. At that time, it was called Ocean Park Heights. The name changed to Mar Vista in 1924 and it was annexed to the City of Los Angeles in 1927. Back then, the area was mostly farmland. Lima beans were the popular crop. Now Mar Vista is a residential community, offering rental houses in a range of prices, plus apartments on major streets like Barrington. You'll contend with some airport and freeway noise here, but likely find Mar Vista to be one of L.A.'s more eco-conscious, family-friendly areas.

Mar Vista Lifestyle and Entertainment

Mar Vista area restaurants are stepping up their game. A-Frame and Waterloo & City are popular eateries worth a try. They're both found on Washington Boulevard. Nightlife isn't huge in the neighborhood, but entertainment options are more easily found in Venice next-door. Within Mar Vista, the Good Hurt nightclub serves up fine prescription cocktails. There's a bowling alley for more family-focused fun.

Shopping in Mar Vista is fine for everyday needs. You'll have access to a Sunday farmer's market and grocery stores plus the normal assortment of shops. You won't find a lot of boutiques here, however. Try along the Santa Monica Promenade, instead. In terms of parks, the Mar Vista Recreation Center is where you'll find barbeque pits, a baseball diamond, and an outdoor pool. You're also just a stones throw from the Pacific Ocean and the people watching on Venice Beach.

Mar Vista Info and the Rental Market

Mar Vista is an economically diverse neighborhood. Major streets are lined with apartment buildings and there's also UCLA graduate student housing in the area. You'll find the nicer single-family homes up towards the Santa Monica border. Mar Vista is good for singles and families and it's primarily renters here. A one-bedroom averages $1,268 a month.

If you're looking to commute from Mar Vista, you're near the 405 and the 10 freeways. While the surface streets here aren't too busy, the freeways do fill up around rush hour. There's no escaping L.A. traffic. For public transit, look to the Big Blue Bus system. There are also Culver City buses and others.

Mar Vista Resources

The Mar Vista Branch Library of the Los Angeles Public Library system is found on Venice Boulevard. The neighborhood's US Post Office is close by on Grand View. On the northeast border of Mar Vista, you'll also find the Santa Monica Municipal Airport. The area is in California's 36th Congressional District.

Mar Vista Zip Codes

Zip codes serving Mar Vista are 90064 and 90066.