Bower Surf Club, Santa Monica, revives power lunch with Aussie-inspired coastal fare

Bower Surf Club gives the Mid-City business corridor a surf-minded lunch spot that can handle both a working meal and a slower afternoon. The Australian-coastal menu and shared tables offer office teams and remote workers a change from the usual downtown circuit, while free parking and straightforward Resy bookings make it easy to return. For a neighborhood that spends long hours at desks, the place supplies a coastal pause that still fits a full day.

The eatery borrows its spirit from Fairy Bower, the well-known surf break at Manly Beach in Sydney, and turns that energy into a breezy lounge. Founder Dave Harper, a lifelong surfer, shaped Bower Surf Club around the swell’s mix of beauty, power, and challenge, landing on a friendly Australian beach-house feel. Sean Tully’s wall art traces the movement of water, a family corner called Teddy’s World displays drawings by Harper’s son, and objects pulled from the beach keep the room grounded in real surf culture.

The kitchen draws Australian café habits while Harper’s surf trips through Mexico, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Central America shape the flavors. Rigatoni Bolognese and Ginger Miso Salmon stand out among the entrees; the salmon is noted for its sweet-spicy miso glaze. Shareable whole fish, roasted chicken, and smaller market bites change with what arrives from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. Mornings bring organic smoothies, coconut mochi pancakes, a fennel pork sausage brekkie, halva oatmeal cookies, and a flat white for anyone starting the day early.

The restaurant occupies part of the 6,500-square-foot Colorado Center in the middle of Santa Monica’s Mid-City business district. Guests can sit inside or outside, use free Wi-Fi, and park for three hours with validation. Hours run 7:30am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday and 9:00am to 6:00pm on weekends, with reservations available through Resy.

🏄 Surf-Inspired Menu Highlights

Bower Surf Club’s kitchen pairs California coastal produce with flavors Harper gathered on surf trips. Rigatoni Bolognese offers a hearty plate with a West Coast lean, while Ginger Miso Salmon balances a sweet miso glaze against ginger heat, the kind of contrast that recalls an early morning in the water.

For tables that want to share, whole fish and whole roasted chicken come from the oven with crisp skin, joined by small bites that shift with the day’s farmer’s market haul. That market rhythm keeps the menu moving and ties the kitchen to local growers, matching the room’s emphasis on neighborhood life.

Breakfast and brunch follow the same line. Organic smoothies, coconut mochi pancakes, and an Australian-style plate with fennel pork sausage sit next to halva oatmeal cookies and a carefully pulled flat white, giving both nearby residents and people working remotely a steady start.